Course Description

In this course, students will learn about the writing process, audience, how to write a paragraph and staying on topic. Students will apply this knowledge to three different types of writing. Students will be guided through a step-by-step process to teach them how to write a story, how to write to inform, and how to write about an argument. This writing course follows Common Core state standards.

Writing a Story:
Students will use the writing process to write a descriptive paragraph, personal narrative, and a fiction story. Students will start the unit by identifying and practicing how to write with sensory details, similes and metaphors. Then, students will write a descriptive paragraph and create a personal narrative. After that, students will review what makes a fiction story: parts of a fiction story, setting, characters, dialogue, point of view. Students will explore and brainstorm ideas on how to create a realistic and fantasy story. Finally, students will choose one of the ideas they’ve brainstormed about and create a fiction story using the writing process. 

Writing to Inform:
Students will learn multiple ways to write to inform readers by writing two different pieces of writing (How-to instructions, Informational report). Students will start the unit by doing multiple writing exercises about the following topics: spatial organization, comparing objects and characters, cause-and-effect, reporting an event, explanatory writing, and directions. Then, students will use skills they’ve learned to help them write a paper on how to do something. After that, students will focus on practicing more skills to aid them in writing an informational report. Students will identify features of informational writing and reliable sources. Students will also practice using quotes and paraphrases, taking notes, utilizing an outline, citing sources, and using graphics and visual aids in a report. 

Writing an Argument:
Students will write a persuasive article about an issue they’re passionate about. In order to write their argumentative paper, students will identify what persuasive writing is. Then, students will practice writing facts, opinions, bias and emotional appeals. After that, students will identify and write arguments, identify and evaluate claims, and identify problems and solutions through reading and responding to various writing prompts. Finally students will learn to use order of importance and put what they’ve learned together to write a persuasive article.