Page 33 - SpringBoard_Writing_Workshop_Grade8_Flipbook

Writing Workshop 3 (continued)
13. Make a list of transitional words and phrases in the class essay:
14. Rewrite at least one sentence from the class essay to add transitional words or
phrases, and then share your proposed revision with the class.
Editing
15. After presenting your revisions to the class and hearing the suggested revisions of others, it’s time to polish the final draft of the expository essay by editing
for mistakes. Consider all of the elements listed in the Scoring Guide in the Language category.
ACTIVITY 3
Writing an Expository Essay with Peers
WRITING PROMPT: Think about how you get from place to place. What is your mode of transportation to school or to a friend’s house? Write a multi-paragraph essay that compares and contrasts two different modes of transportation, explaining both the similarities and the differences between them (e.g., personal car versus public transportation, walking versus skateboarding). Be sure the essay:
• Presents effective introductory and concluding paragraphs • Contains a clearly stated purpose or controlling idea
• Is logically organized with appropriate facts and details
• Includes no extraneous information or inconsistencies
• Uses a variety of rhetorical devices
• Uses a variety of sentence structures
• Uses a variety of transitions to link paragraphs
Prewriting/Drafting
1. With your writing group, reread and mark the prompt to highlight major elements of the task you are being asked to do.
2. Review the writing steps from the class-constructed expository essay and apply them to your group-constructed essay.
• Brainstorm and choose a topic.
• Draft a thesis that includes your topic and a position.
• Create graphic organizers (such as the one on page 5 or a Venn diagram) to brainstorm and organize your supporting ideas and details.
• Draft an introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion.
Peer Review
3. You will evaluate and provide feedback for another group’s essay, based on criteria established in the writing prompt and the Scoring Guide. Another group will review the work your group has done. Use the revision checklist that follows to guide your peer review.
8 SpringBoard® Writing Workshop with Grammar Activities Grade 8
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