How to select sources for narrative and analytic writing

1. How to select sources for narrative and analytic writing (c) Parcc, Inc. December 2015 Module 2

2. What is narrative writing? • Purpose is to entertain and/or to convey personal experiences using a narrative structure. There are three large types of narrative writing, with only the first two measured on the PARCC assessments: • Narrative story • Narrative description • Creative writing • The PARCC Model Content Frameworks contain Writing Progression Charts that highlight skills new to a grade for narrative writing (focus on Writing Standard 3). (c) Parcc, Inc. December 2015 Module 2

3. Narrative Writing Standard progression from grade 3 to grade 4 • Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences. • Establish a situation and introduce a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally. • Use dialogue and descriptions of actions, thoughts, and feelings to develop experiences and events or show the response of characters to situations. • Use temporal words and phrases to signal event order. • Provide a sense of closure. • Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, descriptive details, and clear event sequences. • Orient the reader by establishing a situation and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally. • Use dialogue and description to develop experiences and events or show the responses of characters to situations. • Use a variety of transitional words and phrases to manage the sequence of events. • Use concrete words and phrases and sensory details to convey experiences and events precisely. • Provide a conclusion that follows from the narrated experiences or events. (c) Parcc, Inc. December 2015 Module 2

4. How to select sources for narrative writing • Sources serve as stimulus for writing to level the playing field (all students have a place to start) • Sources may be fiction, poetry, non-fiction, multimedia, photographs, charts, etc. • Sources can serve as models for student writing (e.g. a short story can serve as a model for how to develop characters; a poem can serve as a model for how to tell a story using verse) • Not all narrative writing must be tied to sources—narrative writing can be based on personal experiences and/or “creative” writing • The PARCC Passage Selection Guidelines are a useful tool in selecting text sources. (c) Parcc, Inc. December 2015 Module 2

5. What is analytic writing? • Purpose is to inform, persuade, share an opinion, or some combination of these. • In grades 3-5, students often focus on description, exposition, comparison/contrast where students describe one idea fully and then tell how another idea is similar or different, and/or opinion writing. • The PARCC Model Content Frameworks contain Writing Progression Charts that can aid a teacher in understanding which features to focus on to help students develop as stronger writers of analytic writing. (c) Parcc, Inc. December 2015 Module 2

6. Analytic Writing Standard 1 - progression from grade 3 to grade 4 • Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons. • Introduce the topic or text they are writing about, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure that lists reasons. • Provide reasons that support the opinion. • Use linking words and phrases (e.g., because, therefore, since, forexample) to connect opinion and reasons. • Provide a concluding statement or section. • Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information. • Introduce a topic or text clearly, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure in which related ideas are grouped to support the writer's purpose. • Provide reasons that are supported by facts and details. • Link opinion and reasons using words and phrases (e.g., for instance, in order to, in addition). • Provide a concluding statement or section related to the opinion presented. (c) Parcc, Inc. December 2015 Module 2

7. Analytic Writing Standard 2 - progression from grade 3 to grade 4 • Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas and information clearly. • Introduce a topic and group related information together; include illustrations when useful to aiding comprehension. • Develop the topic with facts, definitions, and details. • Use linking words and phrases (e.g., also, another, and, more, but) to connect ideas within categories of information. • Provide a concluding statement or section. • Write opinion pieces on topics or texts, supporting a point of view with reasons and information. • Introduce a topic or text clearly, state an opinion, and create an organizational structure in which related ideas are grouped to support the writer's purpose. • Provide reasons that are supported by facts and details. • Link opinion and reasons using words and phrases (e.g., for instance, in order to, in addition). • Provide a concluding statement or section related to the opinion presented. (c) Parcc, Inc. December 2015 Module 2

8. How to select sources for analytic writing • Sources provide the content for writers to substantiate claims and to present facts and ideas. • Sources may be literary (e.g. in the LAT) or informational (e.g. in the RST). • Sources should allow for measurement of reading comprehension at the appropriate grade level, and therefore must align to the reading, language, and/or speaking and listening standards/evidences. • Sources can serve as models for student writing (e.g. a biography can serve as a model for a biography, a blog post can serve to show students how to organize a blog post) • The PARCC Passage Selection Guidelines are a useful tool in selecting text sources. (c) Parcc, Inc. December 2015 Module 2

9. Activity to see Standards Alignment • Using the Grade 4 evidence table for reading information, discuss with a partner which of the RI standards could be taught with Owen & Mzee-The Language of Friendshipfrom the released grade 4 RST item set. (c) Parcc, Inc. December 2015 Module 2