1st Semester: Sentence Writing, 2nd Semester: Paragraphs

Six Traits of Writing Posters - Modify these to make my own *Move this to writing program page
1. Review the Parts of a Sentence (Parts of Speech).

• Glencoe Grammar and Language Workbook, Grade 7 (Free!)
• Unit 1: Subjects, Predicates and Sentences
• Unit 2: Nouns
• Unit 3: Verbs
• Unit 4: Pronouns
• Unit 5: Adjectives
• Unit 6: Adverbs
• Unit 7: Clauses and Complex Sentences
• Unit 8: Verbals (Participles, Participial Phrases, Gerunds and Gerund Phrases, Infinitives and Infinitive Phrases)
• Unit 9: Subject-Verb Agreement
• Unit 10: Diagramming Sentences 
• The Art of Styling Sentences by Ann Longknife, Ph.D. and K.D. Sullivan
• Chapter 1: The Sentence
• Writers Inc. by Patrick Sebranek, Dave Kemper, and Verne Meyer
• Understanding the Basics, p. 86
• Inverted Order, p. 86
• Writing Complete Sentences, p. 87-88
• Sentence Composing for Middle School by Don Killgallon (See also: The Grammar for Middle School Teacher's Guide)
• Part 1: Sentence Unscrambling, Activities 1-8
• Board Game: Cooking Up Sentences

• The Art of Styling Sentences by Ann Longknife, Ph.D. and K.D. Sullivan
• Chapter 2: The Twenty Patterns (20 Patterns from the Art of Styling Sentences)
• Pattern 1A, 1B, 1C (Exercises 1-3)
• Pattern 2 (Exercises 1-4)
• Pattern 3 (Exercises 1-5)
• Pattern 4 (Sentences for Analysis 1-3, Exercises 1-5)
• Pattern 4A (Sentences for Analysis 1-3, Exercises 1-5, 1-3)
• Pattern 5 (Exercises 1-4, 1-3)
• Pattern 6 (Exercises 1-3, 1-2)
• Pattern 7 (Exercises 1-3, 1-4)
• Pattern 7A (Exercises 1-5, 1-3)
• Pattern 8 (Exercises 1-5)
• Pattern 9 (Exercises 1-3, 1-2)
• Pattern 9A (Exercieses 1-3)
• Pattern 10 (Sentence for analysis, Exercises -5)
• Pattern 10A (Exercises 1-2, 1-2)
• Writers Inc. by Patrick Sebranek, Dave Kemper, and Verne Meyer
  
  • Writing Clear Sentences, p. 89-90
  • Writing Natural Sentences, p. 91-92
  • Writing Acceptable Sentences, p. 93-94
  • Combining Sentences, p. 95
  • Modeling Sentences, p. 96
  • Expanding Sentences, p. 97
  • Sentence-Writing Tips, p. 98

• Methods and Materials for Composition in Intermediate and Grammar Grades by Alhambra Georgia Denning (Free!)
• The Art of Styling Sentences by Ann Longknife, Ph.D. and K.D. Sullivan
• Chapter 4
• Word Painting: A Guide to Write More Descriptively by Rebecca McClanahan

1. The student understands and develops a focused written piece that includes plot elements (e.g. initiating event, rising and falling action, climax, conflict, setting, character development resolution).
2. Uses (1) personal experience (2) observations (3) prior knowledge in written text.
3. Clarifies the main ideas by selecting relevant details that enrich the central theme or storyline.
4. Analyzes and understands implications of plagiarism (e.g. ethical, legal).
5. Understands and independently uses appropriate strategies to generate narrative text (e.g. brainstorming, listing, webbing, identifying information from print sources).
6. Writes a piece with an inviting introduction, appropriate body, and satisfying conclusion that leaves the reader with a sense of resolution.
7. Selects transitions to connect ideas within and between paragraphs in the writing piece.
8. Selects original and compelling vocabulary and/or figurative language appropriate for the purpose and audience.
9. Selects words that are suitable and precise, which create appropriate imagery (e.g. explicit nouns, vivid verbs, natural modifiers).
• Word Painting: A Guide to Write More Descriptively by Rebecca McClanahan
10. Includes vocabulary particular to the topic and provides ease of understanding.
11. Varies sentence structures and lengths (e.g. simple, compound, complex).
• The Art of Styling Sentences by K.D. Sullivan
• Sentence Composing for Middle School: A Worktext on Sentence Variety and Maturity by Don Killgallson
12. Develops a variety of sentence beginnings that build upon previous sentence to guide the reader from one sentence to another.
13. Identifies and avoids writing sentence fragments.
14. Writes using effective dialogue that sounds conversational and natural.
15. Demonstrates correct use of mechanics and punctuation (e.g. semi-colons, colons, underlining, italics, and centered titles).
• A Writer's Guide to Perfect Punctuation by Victor C. Pellegrino
16. Uses correct grammar and usage for clarity.
17. Spells familiar and most unfamiliar words correctly and uses available resources (e.g. dictionary, spell check).
18. Uses correct paragraph divisions to reinforce the organizational structure of the text.
• A Writer's Guide to Powerful Paragraphs by Victor C. Pellegrino
• Paragraph Construction Sandwich Chart: Graphic Organizer from Education Place

• Adventures in Fantasy: Lessons and Activities in Narrative and Descriptive Writing, Grades 5-9 by John Gust
• Teaching the Story: Fiction Writing in Grades 4-8 by Carol Baldwin
• Traits of Writing: The Complete Guide for Middle School by Ruth Culham
• Writers Inc: A Student Handbook for Writing and Learning by Patrick Sebranek, Dave Kemper, and Verne Meyer