Writing Curriculum Overview

                          Sullivan Middle School           Mrs. Rothschild

          The Writing Oncore curriculum at the Sullivan Middle School is focused on the students developing effective writing skills. With this goal in mind, the students are made aware of the many purposes of writing, the many audiences to which they may be writing to, and the appropriate forms of writing available for their use. In order to see any improvement in student writing skills, daily composition practice is required. The more students write, the easier the writing becomes. The more students write, the better the quality of writing becomes. Students write in class each and every day, either in their journals (responding to a prompt) or with the ongoing composition of assigned essays. While developing their essays, the students use all of the vital steps of the “writing process” as well as the features of the Collins Writing Program. Grading for essays is based upon student compliance with 3 assigned focus correction areas (FCAs). The FCAs selected for each assignment are dependent upon what skills are needed to be taught at the time. Total point value for the 3 selected FCAs equals 100 points. Self-evaluation and peer evaluation are integral parts of Writing Oncore. Students are responsible for maintaining their own journals, writing folders, and “yellow pages” – reference material. Benchmark/exemplar essays re also reviewed during class.

5^th grade -different types of writing and when they should be used –graphic organizers –intro to “writing process” –John Collins program and format – complete sentence structure- characteristics of well developed paragraph: topic sentence, detail sentences, and concluding sentence – transitional words – responding to a prompt – standard conventions: end points, commas, quotation marks – capitalization- word choice- intro to components of a multi-paragraph essay: intro, body, conclusion – self evaluation – peer evaluation 

7^th grade – different types of writing and when they should be used – continued use of graphic organizers – using all steps of “writing process” – consistent use of John Collins program and format – review of sentence structure – emphasis placed on structure of 5 paragraph essay: intro with thesis statement, body involving 3 paragraphs to support thesis, and conclusion – evidences/details to support thesis – self evaluation – peer evaluation

8^th grade – demonstration of different types of writing and when they should be used – create own graphic organizers – use all steps of “writing process” – ease in use of John Collins program and format – review of complete sentence, complete paragraph, and multi-paragraph structure – review of 5 paragraph essay structure – coherent organization- creativity- varied word choice and sentence structure – development of individual writing style – self evaluation – peer evaluation