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AFTER READING
OBJECTIVES
Genre Rules
Writer's Craft Eliminating
Wordiness
Writing Trait Sentences
  • Identify the characteristics of rules.
  • Write a list of rules without wordiness.
  • Focus on sentences.
  • Use a rubric.
ELL
Sentences Read imperative, exclamatory, and interrogative sentences aloud to English learners, using tone to show how these sentences add excitement to writing. Add think-aloud comments to explain how punctuation helps readers understand sentences.
Writing Trait
FOCUS/IDEAS Only essential
information for doing a job is included.
ORGANIZATION/PARAGRAPHS
Each rule describes a new aspect of the topic.
VOICE Writing is clear. The writer
shows understanding of how to do a job.
WORD CHOICE The writer uses
strong, precise verbs
(straighten, dust) to describe actions.
SENTENCES The writer shows
understanding of commands.
CONVENTIONS There is
excellent control and accuracy, including correct spelling of singular and plural nouns.
DAY 1
Model the Trait
DAY 2
Improve Writing
DAY 3
Prewrite and Draft
DAY 4
Draft and Revise
DAY 5
Connect to Unit Writing
READING-WRITING CONNECTION
  • A Day's Work tells how a man teaches his grandson the ethics of working with integrity.
  • The story uses spare dialogue with commands and questions to establish and resolve conflict.
  • Students will write rules as brief commands.
MODEL SENTENCES Discuss Writing Transparency 7A. Then discuss the model and the writing trait of sentences.
Think AloudEach rule is stated as a command. Each command begins with a strong verb and includes only necessary words. For example, Rule 2 states, "Make your bed." To give complete instructions, important details are clearly stated in few words, such as "Pull up the sheet, blanket, and bedspread smoothly." To add anything else would be too much detail for a rule.
Writing Transparency
Writing Transparency 7A
with | without Answers
WRITER'S CRAFT
Eliminate Wordiness
Display Writing Transparency 7B.
Read the directions and work
together to revise wordy sentences.
Think AloudELIMINATE WORDINESS
Tomorrow we will write
rules for getting along.
How can I get from a
paragraph summarizing how
people get along to a command
that summarizes the rule it
illustrates? A paragraph describing how my sister and I agreed to
trade off days using the video
game station could be summed up
as "Use the station only on days
when it is your turn."
 
GUIDED WRITING Some students
may need more help eliminating wordiness. Display some wordy sentences from students' writing
and have students suggest
revisions.
Writing Transparency
Writing Transparency 7B
with | without Answers
READ THE WRITING PROMPT
on page 193 in the Student Edition.
A Day's Work describes one rule for living and getting along with others.
Think about rules for getting along with family members, friends, or neighbors.
Now write the rules as commands.
Writing Test Tips
  • List what actions are most important in getting along with others.
  • Add interesting and useful details to each main idea.
  • Use a command with a strong verb to describe each rule.
GETTING STARTED Students can do any of the following:
  • Take notes about situations that cause people to fight or argue. Then recall how they resolve conflicts.
  • Pick the topic—family, friends, or neighbors—and brainstorm ideas for getting along with those people.
  • Consider both do's and don'ts in keeping the peace with others.
EDITING/REVISING
CHECKLIST
  • Are unnecessary words included?
  • Does each rule describe a different idea related to the topic?
  • Is each rule in the form of a command with a strong verb?
  • Are words ending in -le spelled correctly?
See The Grammar and Writing Book, pp. 86–91.
Revising Tips
Sentences
  • Make sure sentences present clear directions and are not wordy.
  • Use a subject and a verb in each sentence. (The subject of a command is you but is not usually stated.)
  • Consider using compound as well as simple sentences.
PUBLISHING Students can create comic strips to illustrate their rules and display them together. Some students may wish to revise their work later.
 
ASSESSMENT Use the scoring rubric to evaluate students' work.
Week 1
Summary
173g–173h
Week 2
Rules
197g–197h
Week 3
Problem/Solution
223g–223h
Week 4
Feature Story
249g–249h
Week 5
Explanatory
Paragraph
271g–271h
How-to Report
PREVIEW THE UNIT PROMPT
Think of something you learned or figured out how to do that involves a few simple steps. Write the steps in a how-to report. Make sure you provide all the necessary information.
 
APPLY
  • A how-to report explains the steps for making or doing something.
  • Make sure the how-to report is clear and to the point, with no extra words.
   Writing Workshop Rules
Trait of the Week
Sentences
 
   
Close  
Writing Trait Rubric  
Rubric 4 3 2 1
Sentences
Clear, interesting, unique sentences;
excellent variety of sentence
structure
Clear sentences; variety of sentence
structure
Some sentences clear; limited variety
of sentence structure
Most sentences unclear; no variety of
sentence structure
Rules stated as strong commands
with effective verbs
Rules stated as commands beginning
with action words
Rules sometimes stated as commands
Rules not stated as commands