The actual sept 28 webinar claire writing (1)

A Word is just a bunch of letters and sounds A Sentence is just a bunch of words A Paragraph is just a bunch of sentences An Essay is just a bunch of paragraphs Teaching Writing Concepts Paragraph Writing Techniques “It‟s not wise to violate the rules until you know how to observe them.” T.S Elliot “When we encounter a natural style, we are astonished and delighted; for we expected to find an author - and we find a man [woman]!” Blaise Pascal By the end of this webinar, you will have increased understanding of how and why to: 1. Pass on key writing concepts so learners can plan and write paragraphs anything from short answers in workbooks to longer paragraphs in essays. 2. Teach learners to use a simple „Is-it-a-sentence‟ checklist for each sentence 3. Teach learners to use a simple „Is-it-a-paragraph‟ checklist for each paragraph Learning Outcomes A By the end of this webinar you will have basic understanding of how to: 4. Teach how paragraphs are constructed by showing learners that : • there is one main idea for each paragraph (or two closely linked ideas); • the focus of the whole paragraph is controlled via the topic sentence; • a topic sentence is constructed with both a topic and a controlling focus; 5. Build learner confidence and skill by: 1. modelling the paragraph writing process showing thinking, revising and editing (3 ways to write a paragraph introduced) • focussing on topic sentence construction initially and then • providing activities for learners to explore visually how using the same topic yet a different controlling focus generally leads to totally different paragraph content. Learning Outcomes B Is it a sentence? Look at the 5 sentences below For each ask: ‘Is it a sentence?’ 1. high school leavers enrol in vocational courses every year 2. Tutors teach writing skills such as note taking and paragraph writing and tutors link writing skills to course context. 3. Vocational tutors embed writing skills into their course context 4. Students enrol in vocational courses because they see them as practical options. 5. Students enjoy studying and my cat had kittens yesterday. Sentences • begin with a capital letter • end with a full stop • contain one main point • can be long or short tutors link writing skills to course context. No No No Yes, but Yes High . . For each paragraph below ask: ‘Is it a paragraph?’ Is it a paragraph? 1. A tutor asks students to write answers in their workbooks. She asks them to write short sentences for each question. The tutor reminds them that sentences start with a capital letter and end with a full stop. 2. The Warehouse Distribution tutors know that shift workers are required to write a short report at the end of each shift. Shift work is challenging and tiring. Tutors ask their students to write such reports, and also teach them how to write those kinds of reports. The students learn to use simple report writing frames such as: „Who? What? How? When? Why?‟ A paragraph is • a group of sentences joined together (not a list) • about the same topic • indented in many different ways • short or long This is a list so not a paragraph „Shift work is challenging and tiring‟ a different topic so not a paragraph Suggest deciding whether that topic needs its own paragraph. If so, Shift work is challenging and tiring may be topic sentence for another paragraph. 3. Learning how to take good notes is worthwhile as poor notes can lead to problems later on. If a learner cannot understand their own writing or has not organised their notes well, they will struggle to retain important information. Taking good notes requires good listening skills, confidence to check and confirm key information with the tutor and lots of practice. Good notes make it easier to study for end of year exams; learners are more likely to pass their course requirements with lower stress levels and higher grades. A paragraph is • a group of sentences joined together • about the same topic • indented in many different ways • short or long Taking good notes requires good listening skills, confidence to check and confirm key information with the tutor and lots of practice. Two topics in one paragraph! This is not a paragraph. Suggest taking the second topic (below) and making a new paragraph. Learning how to take good notes is worthwhile Topic Controlling focus Topic Controlling focus 4. Note taking is a valuable skill, and there are note taking strategies that we can all use. Shortened words, abbreviations and symbols can help you get the information on to the page faster. Use of mind maps, bullet points and numbered lists are ways to organise ideas on a page. Some people also like to draw pictures, create flow charts, or use coloured pens or highlighters to illustrate main points. A paragraph is • a group of sentences joined together • about the same topic • indented in many different ways • short or long 5. Note taking style is personal to the individual. Experimenting with the different note taking strategies taught in class, and then deciding on a style that suits will benefit learners in the long term. Are 4 and 5 paragraphs? Yes Short or long Yes Indented in many ways Note taking is a valuable skill, and there are note taking strategies that we can all use. Topic Controlling focus (a) Controlling focus (b) The learning progressions set out in this book provide a framework that shows what adult learners know and can do at successive points as they develop their expertise in literacy learning. This framework can be used as a guide to identifying the next steps for adult learners. Each progression covers a particular aspect of learning. The progressions can be used in many different adult learning settings. They describe what is learned in the order that it is usually learned. The first little pig that went off met a Man with a bundle of straw, and said to him, "Please, Man, give me that straw to build me a house"; which the Man did, and the little Pig built a house with it. Presently came along a Wolf, and knocked at the door, and said, "Little Pig, little Pig, let me come in.“ To which the Pig answered, "No, not by the hair of my chinny chin chin." "Are we all here?" asked the Doctor, after he had got used to the dim light. "Yes, I think so," said the duck and started to count them. "Where's Polynesia?" asked the crocodile. "She isn't here." "Are you sure?" said the Doctor. "Look again. Polynesia! Polynesia! Where are you?" "I suppose she escaped," grumbled the crocodile. "Well, that's just like her! Sneaked off into the jungle as soon as her friends got into trouble." Why on earth is indenting in the list??? • a group of sentences joined together • about the same topic • indented in many different ways • short or long A great time to learn about text types and different formatting required and What on earth is indenting? Indentation determines the distance of the paragraph from either the left or the right margin. Within the margins, you can increase or decrease the indentation of a paragraph or group of paragraphs. You can also create a negative indent (also known as an outdent), which pulls the paragraph out toward the left margin. You can also create a hanging indent, in which the first line of the paragraph is not indented, but subsequent lines are. Page margins Indentation http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/word-help/indent- paragraphs-HP010016528.aspx [...]... added two kittens to her family They fed from her and played with the puppies just as if they were puppies themselves Then bring another of the examples to show another way of writing a paragraph: Examples Dogs come in many shapes and sizes Give three examples of this (without writing „for example‟) This brings focus to a paragraph Dogs come in many shapes and sizes There are huge Great Danes and medium-sized... sometimes friendly to cats Then bring one of the examples to show one way of writing a paragraph: Question / Answer Dogs are sometimes friendly to cats Ask a question in your mind about the controlling focus Q: When can this happen? Just writing the answer brings focus to a paragraph Dogs are sometimes friendly to cats This usually happens when they are pets living in the same home together However, an instinct... topic sentence construction initially and then • providing activities for learners to explore visually how using the same topic yet a different controlling focus generally leads to totally different paragraph content Thank you for attending this webinar: Teaching Writing Concepts You may need to return to the PowerPoint to review some of the ideas before trialing them with your learners Please feel free... the easy topic „dogs‟ reduces the learning burden while they are figuring out skills around topic and controlling focus Learners transfer this knowledge to their own context later So, you ask your learners to think about ‘dogs’ Each learner calls to mind their own version of ‘dog’ Some are still thinking about the weekend How do you bring focus? Suggestion Play with the whole idea first Get your learners... brings focus to a paragraph Dogs come in many shapes and sizes There are huge Great Danes and medium-sized dogs like spaniels and some poodles The very small dogs are those such as Pekinese or Chihuahua Then bring another of the examples to show another way of writing a paragraph: Proof Dogs have a highly developed sense of smell Evidence Ask your learners to: „Prove it!‟ Research-based citations or... paragraphs are constructed by showing learners that : • there is one main idea for each paragraph (or two closely linked ideas); • the focus of the whole paragraph is controlled via the topic sentence; • a topic sentence is constructed with both a topic and a controlling focus; 5 Build learner confidence and skill by: 1 modelling the paragraph writing process showing thinking, revising and editing (3... how paragraphs are constructed by showing learners that: 1 there is one main idea for each paragraph (or two closely linked ideas); 2 the focus of the whole paragraph is controlled via the topic sentence; 3 a topic sentence is constructed with both a topic and a controlling focus; How do we teach our learners to start writing a paragraph? Reduce the learning burden Is it worth spending time teaching topic... always chase a cat? •Does the owner need to encourage or teach a dog to care for a cat? •What story do I know about a dog who has cared for a cat? etc What question has been answered below? Another great exercise to get groups to write a paragraph on large sheets of paper and other learners then try to guess what question has been answered Dogs are sometimes friendly to cats There was a report of a dog... Experiments have been conducted to show that even if their toys, food or items of clothing are locked inside containers, dogs are still able to smell them and so track them down Dogs are able to sniff out drugs at airports and track lost hikers or people on the run Summary Learning Outcomes A Have you increased understanding of how and why to: 1 Pass on key writing concepts so learners can plan and write... the same home together However, an instinct to care for a cat or kitten that has been injured or is cold and needs help can sometimes surface There are reports of dogs keeping cats warm and safe as if they were one of their own Question / Answer Thinking of the many questions that can be asked is a great exercise for learners It can be a competition where learners are thinking of as many questions . indenting? Indentation determines the distance of the paragraph from either the left or the right margin. Within the margins, you can increase or decrease the indentation of a paragraph or. dogs like spaniels and some poodles. The very small dogs are those such as Pekinese or Chihuahua. Then bring another of the examples to show another way of writing a paragraph: Examples Dogs. 2. Tutors teach writing skills such as note taking and paragraph writing and tutors link writing skills to course context. 3. Vocational tutors embed writing skills into their course context