Get a writing assignment. Look at a blank piece of paper for hours. Cry.
Is this what happens with your students?
No need for weeping. In this week’s Intro to Writing, your students will learn what ingredients to put into their introductions and conclusions. In addition, they will grade other students’ work and then write their own effective introduction and conclusion.
If you have been following along with the Intro to Writing tutorials on Writing with Sharon Watson, you likely have noticed something weird.
Your students did not begin writing at the beginning. That is, they did not sit down, stare at a blank piece of paper, and have to come up with a brilliant first sentence. They began their writing by brainstorming, narrowing down a topic, brainstorming points and selecting a few of them to write about, and then writing the body of the essay.
If they want to begin at the beginning and they have a great idea of where to go with their ideas, they can go right ahead. But if they do not have a clear idea, then they can write the body first and the introduction and conclusion last, adjusting as they go.
Introductions and Conclusions Tutorials
Because this week’s tutorials are a little longish, with exercises, you can download them in printable PDF format.
For the 8-page high school tutorial, click here. >>
Enjoy!
Intro to Writing, Parts 1-6
In case you missed the first 6 parts of this Intro to Writing series, feel free to check out the links below.
In Parts 1 & 2 of Intro to Writing, students practiced narrowing down a topic, brainstorming, and organizing their ideas. You can find that tutorial here. >>
Intro to Writing, Part 3 takes some of the pain out of outlines by using material your students are already very familiar with: restaurant categories and the way grocery stores are organized. Grab it and the free printables here. >>
Part 4 features a tutorial on writing effective paragraphs. In it you’ll find a chart, an example paragraph written from the chart, and an empty chart your students can use again and again for their own paragraph constructions. Separate charts and examples for middle school and high school students.
Part 5 is a tutorial on point orders, with a link to a video explaining point orders. You can get it here. >>
Part 6 teaches your students how to easily develop thesis statements (main ideas). >> Downloadable tutorial and exercises included.
Part 7 finishes off this series with free tutorials on introductions and conclusions. Separate tutorials for middle school and high school
Success to you!
Yours for more vibrant writing,
