Expository Writing: The New Narrative

1. Expository Writing: The New Narrative Literacy Team

2. Workshop goals. . . The ELAR TEKS require students to “write expository texts to communicate ideas and information to specific audiences for specific purposes.” To help students move beyond writing the typical narrative texts, teachers must provide students with opportunities to write in a variety of genres…especially expository. During this workshop, participants will identify how the standards address expository writing, familiarize themselves with samples of expository mentor texts, review mini lessons to implement expository writing in their classrooms, and sample lessons on teaching expository writing.

3. Housekeeping • Restrooms • Cell Phones • Snacks

4. Texas Voices: STAAR -gazing -gazing can get out of hand.

5. K-W-L

6. Writing for REAL!

7. What was the last thing you wrote? • A text message? • A social media post? • A letter? • A description? • A referral? • A lesson plan? • A review? • An email message? • A thesis paper? • Directions?

12. Mini STAAR Update

13. Types of Writing Assessed • Grade 4 • Personal Narrative • Expository (not “how to”) • Grade 7 • Narrative with Extension (extension weaved into writing; not added at the end) • Expository • English I • Expository • English II • Persuasive • English III • Analytic

14. Reading Genres Assessed Literary Strand • Fiction • Literary Nonfiction • Poetry • Drama • Assessed beginning at 4th grade • Media Literacy • Embedded Readiness Genre Supporting Genre Supporting Genre Supporting Genre

15. Reading Genres Assessed Informational Strand • Expository • Persuasive • Assessed beginning at 5th grade • Procedural • Embedded • Media Literacy • Embedded Readiness Genre Supporting Genre

16. What’s in a Genre?(as defined by TEA)

17. Stop to Process

18. STATE OF TEXAS ASSESSMENTS OF ACADEMIC READINESS (STAARTM) Grades 3−8 ReadingGrades 4 and 7 WritingEnglish I, II, and III Victoria Young Director of Reading, Writing, and Social Studies Assessments Texas Education Agency

19. STAAR Writing Rubric • Score Point 1—VERY LIMITED • Score Point 2—BASIC • Score Point 3—SATISFACTORY • Score Point 4—ACCOMPLISHED Teachers and students need to have an in-depth understanding of the writing rubric for each type of writing!

20. Writing Scoring Model for STAAR Rubrics Summed Scores Weighting • Rubrics (used in conjunction with student responses representing each score point) are the basis for assigning scores • Two readers score each student writing response. If there is perfect or adjacent agreement, the two readers’ scores are summed. • Summed scores range from 2−8 (0 = nonscorable)

21. Scoring Model for STAAR

22. From TEA’s Victoria Young…. “You've got to think about this as a continuum. What we're trying to do with summing is to pinpoint more accurately where the kid is on this writing continuum."

23. STAAR Writing • READ: A short synopsis of some kind or a quote. • THINK: The synopsis or quote generalized and reworded • WRITE: An even more focused rewording • BE SURE TO: A reminder to proof

27. Reflection • Do you have a thesis statement? • Did you find it harder or easier to write in expository mode? • Did you drift into a narrative? • Could your essay fit onto the 26-lined page?

28. Expository and Literary Rubric Dissection

31. Review Column 1 “Limited” Highlight the most important words or phrases

32. Review Columns 2 & 3“Basic” & “Satisfactory Record key, recurring words for these score points

33. Score Point 4“Accomplished” Work with your team to create main idea statement about these three categories in 10 words or less.

34. Review a few Released Papers

35. Score your paper

36. Check the TEKS

37. Writing TEKS Grades K – 12, Writing Process: Students use elements of the writing process (planning, drafting, revising, editing, and publishing) to compose text. Grade K-12: Writing/Expository Texts. Students write expository [and procedural or work-related] texts to communicate ideas and information to specific audiences for specific purposes. Grade 7: (17) Writing/Expository Texts. Students write expository [texts to communicate ideas and information to specific audiences for specific purposes. Students are expected to write a multi-paragraph essayto convey information about a topic.

38. Jim Burk said. . . “One cannot develop such intelligence by osmosis; instead, it requires deliberate instruction. Writing is often assigned, but if students are to master this complex craft, it must be taught.” (2009) Burke, Jim. Content Area Writing. New York, NY Scholastic

39. Putting it into practice Demonstration Lesson – lots of modeling!

40. In Groups. . . • Take a piece of chart paper and markers • Divide the paper up in four parts • Label each part with the following: • Books • Television shows • Movies • Songs

41. In Groups. . . Songs Books Bridge to Terrabithia Lean On Me - Bill Withers Movies TV Shows Harry Potter The Golden Girls

42. Qualities of Friendship • List the main characters from the books, movies, TV shows and songs just brainstormed • Discuss the qualities of friendship the characters show • Independently, come up with 3 – 5 characteristics that you think is most important

43. Think Aloud • Encouraging / supportive • Honest • Challenges me • Holds me accountable • Watch as I model how I would begin this piece of writing.

44. “A friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still, gently allows you to grow.” - William Shakespeare READ the following quotation. THINKcarefully about the following statement. Friendships are important, but everyone has a different opinion of the qualities of a friend. WRITE an essay explaining what makes a person a good friend. Be sure to – Clearly state your controlling idea Organize and develop your explanation effectively Choose your words carefully Use correct spelling, capitalization, punctuation, grammar, and sentences

45. Text Structures Stanford University: http://www.stanford.edu/~arnetha/expowrite/info.html

46. Formula vs. Text Structures

47. Formula v. Text Structure FORMULA Text structures Student choice • Predetermined number of paragraphs

48. Text Structures Stanford University: http://www.stanford.edu/~arnetha/expowrite/info.html

49. Examples: Matching Controlling Idea (or Thesis) to Organizational Structure