The Writing Rope

A Framework for Explicit Writing Instruction in All Subjects

by Joan Sedita, M.Ed. Keys to Literacy Rowley, Massachusetts

Contents

About the Downloads ... vii
About the Author ... ix
Foreword Jan Hasbrouck, Ph.D ... xi
Acknowledgments ... xiii
Introduction ... xv

I Laying the Foundation for Teachers and Students

Chapter 1 Introduction to The Writing Rope ... 3
The Writing Rope ... 3
Teaching Writing in All Subject Areas ... 6
Three Types of Content Writing Tasks ... 8
Summary ... 9

Chapter 2 What Do We Know About Effective Writing Instruction? ... 11
Findings From Writing Research ... 11
Writing Is Complex ... 13
Seven Teaching Principles ... 15
Summary ... 21

Chapter 3 Transcription Skills ... 23
Spelling ... 24
Handwriting ... 25
Early Handwriting Instruction ... 31
Summary ... 32

Chapter 4 Writing Craft ... 33
Task, Audience, and Purpose ... 34
Elements of Writing Craft ... 35
More About Using Mentor Text for Writer’s Craft ... 38
Summary ... 41

II Skills and Strategies: Learning to Write

Chapter 5 Critical Thinking: Stages of the Writing Process ... 45
Using The Process Writing Routine ... 46
Delivering Explicit Strategy Instruction for Each Stage ... 47
Providing Opportunities for Feedback and Revision ... 57
Summary ... 58

Chapter 6 Syntax and Sentence Skills ... 59
Building Syntactic Awareness ... 60
Teaching Sentence Basics ... 61
Syntactic Awareness and Sentence Elaboration Activities ... 62
Weaving Sentence Skills Into the Writing Process ..... 74
Summary ..... 74

Chapter 7 Text Structure: Paragraph Skills ..... 77
Teaching Paragraph Structure ..... 78
Teaching Patterns of Organization ..... 79
Weaving Paragraph Skills Into the Writing Process ..... 82
Summary ..... 82
Chapter 7 Appendix: Paragraph Templates ..... 83

Chapter 8 Text Structure: Three Types of Writing ..... 89
Suggested Distribution of Writing Types ..... 90
Helping Students Craft Introductions ..... 91
Helping Students Craft Conclusions ..... 92
Teaching Body Organization: Topic Webs to Plan Writing ..... 94
Using Mentor Models ..... 95
Providing Writing Templates for the Three Types of Writing ..... 98
Providing Feedback to Students ..... 98
Summary ..... 100
Chapter 8 Appendix: Writing Templates and Checklists ..... 101

III Application: Writing to Learn

Chapter 9 Critical Thinking: Summary Writing

About the Author

Joan Sedita, M.Ed.

Joan Sedita has been in the literacy education field for more than 40 years...
Joan received her B.A. from Boston College and her M.Ed. in reading from Harvard University.

Foreword

Writing is hard, even for authors who do it all the time...In this wonderful book, The Writing Rope, Joan Sedita offers clear, evidence-based, and, so importantly, highly useful information and guidance so that teachers can successfully teach the complex process of writing to all their students, including those with learning challenges and disabilities, and in every content area.

INTRODUCTION

The ability to write is as essential to learning as the ability to read... This book was written for teachers of all subjects in Grades 4–8 who seek to integrate writing instruction into their content teaching with the combined goals of improving students’ writing ability and content learning.

SECTION I: Laying the Foundation for Teachers and Students

Chapter 1, "Introduction to The Writing Rope," summarizes the five components that lead to proficient writing... Chapter 4, "Writing Craft," explains writing craft, often referred to as writer’s moves.

SECTION II: Skills and Strategies: Learning to Write

Chapter 5, "Critical Thinking: Stages of the Writing Process," presents a model for helping students learn and apply the stages of the writing process...

SECTION III: Application: Writing to Learn

Chapter 9, "Critical Thinking: Summary Writing," offers suggestions for teaching students how to summarize...

THE WRITING ROPE

The Writing Rope organizes multiple writing skills, strategies, and techniques into five components: critical thinking, syntax, text structure, writing craft, and transcription. Instruction for some elements can be readily integrated into content instruction in any subject area.