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Best-of-Smekens Writing Conference:
Writing Remix 2019

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Six-Traits Essentials | Grammar & Conventions | Writing About Reading

Modes & Genres | Writer’s Workshop Management | Text-Based Responses

Modes & Genres

Quick Links:
Session 1: Meet the Argumentative Writing Standard
Session 2: Target Key Skills within an Informative Writing Unit
Session 3: Plan the Year of Writing Units
Session 4: Know the Narrative Non-Negotiables
Session 5: Teach Developmentally-Appropriate Writing in the Primary Grades

SESSION 2

Target Key Skills within an Informative Writing Unit

Find the smallest topic | Template | Strong Example
Identify strong v. weak thesis statements.

Put research topics to the test.

Read from relevant sources

Explain the value of multiple sources.

Define what makes a source relevant.

Organize information collected from sources.

Website | Template

Ads for “dehydrated” water
Warnings against dihydrogen monoxide (H2O = water)
“Help Save the Endangered Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus”
Dangers of bread
Promotion for ideal living community for dogs

Navigate the internet

Navigate the internet.

Advanced Search PPT

Clarify the role of Wikipedia.

Rethink the possibilities when using search sites.

Alert readers to subtle misspellings in fake websites.

Fact, Fiction, or Opinion? Evaluating Online Information

Integrate expert words

Lifting information, and especially expert opinions, requires explicit instruction.

Provide explicit instruction on how to paraphrase author ideas.

Weave the what, which, and where details into a textual citation.

Discern when to quote v. paraphrase.

Organize related information

Sequential | Procedural | How-To

Categorical | Main Idea & Details

Compare-Contrast
Teach compare-contrast writing.

Practice sorting details

Smartboard Version

Generate a grocery list of details.

List, Sort, Label within a grocery list.

Craft strong introductions and conclusions

Purchase dry-erase puzzle pieces to introduce the ingredients in different mini-lessons.

Piece together informative introductions.

BME 3-Page PDF

Craft informative conclusions.

Download student writing samples with strong introductions and conclusions