Drafting

Before students begin to write pieces, it is important that they take the first steps and plan what they will write about.

plan first drafts by selecting appropriate genres [personal narrative] to convey intended meaning to an audience and generating ideas through a range of strategies (e.g., brainstorming, writer’s notebook) ||
 * **3.17A**

Students can use a variety of graphic organizers for pre-writing.

[|Online Essay Map!]

- Make a List:  Students just brainstorm a long list of everything that comes to mind. Every detail! Even things that students might think are not important. Colors, feelings, thoughts, any memories that come with thinking about the topic should be listed. Then, once all ideas are down, students can read back through and see if the terms can be organized into logical groupings. If it is a story, what things describe events at the beginning of the story, the middle, and the end? When students begin writing, they will have that list to guide them and spark more memories.

- Web:  Students use a web plan where the central idea is in enclosed in a circle in the middle and the smaller ideas are enclosed in smaller circles around the larger one.

-Block Plan : This plan is great for students who like more structure. The organizer is broken down to introduction, three main events, and a closing or conclusion.

- Five Senses - Students use the five senses to help spark memories about their topic. They try to think of everything they saw, heard, smelled, touched, and tasted. This can lead to some very specific details!

[|Rafts Graphic Organizer.doc]