Writing Tips for







Julian Harris students will focus
on different types of writing throughout the school year. The first
three types listed below are those our 5th grade students will be
tested on later this year. Persuasive writing is tested in the 7th
grade Alabama Writing Assessment Test.
- DESCRIPTIVE
WRITING - A good
description paints a vivid word picture for the
reader.
- EXPOSITORY
WRITING - Writing that
explains. Explanation may involve giving directions and
instructions, explaining a process or a device, explaining what
something is, or explaining an idea.
- NARRATIVE
WRITING - A good narration
tells a story. It can be real or fantasy and can take place in the
past, present, or future.
- PERSUASIVE
WRITING - You are
attempting to convince someone to agree with your ideas and
opinions.
TIPS FOR
PARENTS
In helping your child to learn to
write well, remember that your goal is to make writing easier and
more enjoyable.
- Provide a
place. It's important for a child to
have a good place to write--a desk or table with a smooth, flat
surface and good lighting.
- Have the
materials ready. Provide plenty of
paper--lined and unlined--and things to write with, including
pencils, pens, and crayons.
- Allow time to
write. Help your child spend time
thinking about a writing project or exercise. Good writers do a
great deal of thinking. Your child may dawdle, sharpen pencil, get
papers ready, or look up the spelling of a word. Be patient--your
child may be thinking.
- Respond.
Do respond to the ideas your child expresses verbally or in
writing. Make it clear that you are interested in the true
function of writing which is to convey ideas. This means focusing
on "what" the child has written, not "how" it was written. It's
usually wise to ignore minor errors, particularly at the stage
when your child is just getting ideas together.
- Praise.
Take a positive approach and say something good about your child's
writing. Is it accurate? Descriptive? Thoughtful? Interesting?
Does it say something?
- Make it
real. Your child needs to do real
writing. It's more important for the child to write a letter to a
relative than it is to write a one-line note on a greeting card.
Encourage the child to write to relatives and friends. Perhaps
your child would enjoy corresponding with a pen pal.
- Suggest
note-taking. Encourage your child to
take notes on trips or outings and to describe what (s)he saw.
This could include a description of nature walks, a boat ride, a
car trip, or other events that lend themselves to note-taking.
- Brainstorm.
Talk with your child as much as possible about his/her impressions
and encourage the child to describe people and events to you. If
the child's description is especially accurate and colorful, say
so.
- Encourage keeping a
journal. This is excellent writing
practice as well as a good outlet for venting feelings. Encourage
your child to write about things that happen at home and school,
about people (s)he likes or dislikes and why, things to remember
or things the child wants to do. Especially encourage your child
to write about personal feelings--pleasures as well as
disappointments. If the child wants to share the journal with you,
read the entries and discuss them--especially the child's ideas
and perceptions.
- Write
together. Have your child help you
with letters, even such routine ones as ordering items from an
advertisement or writing to a business firm. This helps the child
to see firsthand that writing is important to adults and truly
useful.
- Use word
games. There are numerous games and
puzzles that help a child to increase vocabulary and make the
child more fluent in speaking and writing. Remember, building a
vocabulary builds confidence. Try crossword puzzles, word games,
anagrams and cryptograms de- signed especially for children. Flash
cards are good, too, and they're easy to make at home.
- Suggest making
lists. Most children like to make
lists just as they like to count. Encourage this. Making lists is
good practice and helps a child to become more organized. Boys and
girls might make lists of their records, tapes, baseball cards,
dolls, furniture in a room, etc. They could include items they
want. It's also good practice to make lists of things to do,
schoolwork, dates for tests, social events, and other reminders.
Information and tips found at:
Preparing
for the Alabama Direct Assessment of Writing
U.S.
Department of Education - Office of Educational Research and
Improvement