Writing
Helpful Links:
Narrative
Narrative writing is writing that tells a story, whether true or fictional.
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•Biographical narrative
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•Fictional narrative
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•Personal narrative
Link: Narrative Writing
Persuasive
In persuasive writing the writer presents his or her opinion and tries to convince the reader to agree.
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•Opinion essay
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•Problem-solution essay
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•Pro con essay
Link: Persuasive Writing
Expository
Expository writing is writing that explains or shares information.
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•Compare-contrast essay
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•How-to essay
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•Informative essay
Link: Expository Writing
Response to Literature
A response to literature examines the theme, plot, characters, or other aspects of a chapter, story, book, or poem.
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•Character sketch
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•Plot summary
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•Theme analysis
Link: Response to Literature
Our Book:
Chapter 1: The Writer in You
Chapter 2: A Walk Through the Writing Process
Chapter 3: Paragraphs and Compositions: Structure and Style
Chapter 4: Narration: Autobiographical Writing
Scoring Rubric for Evaluating Autobiographical Writing (PDF)
Scored Models for Autobiographical Writing (PDF)
Chapter 5: Narration: Short Story
Scoring Rubric for Evaluating Short Stories (PDF)
Scored Models for Short Stories (PDF)
Chapter 6: Description
Scoring Rubric for Evaluating Descriptive Writing (PDF)
Scored Models for Description (PDF)
Chapter 7: Persuasion: Persuasive Essay
Scoring Rubric for Evaluating Persuasive Essays (PDF)
Scored Models for Persuasive Essays (PDF)
Chapter 8: Exposition: Comparison-and-Contrast Essay
Scoring Rubric for Evaluating Comparison-and-Contrast Essays (PDF)
Scored Models for Comparison-and-Contrast Essays (PDF)
Chapter 9: Exposition: Cause-and-Effect Essay
Scoring Rubric for Evaluating Cause-and-Effect Essays (PDF)
Scored Models for Cause-and-Effect Essays (PDF)
Chapter 10: Exposition: How-to Essay
Scoring Rubric for Evaluating How-to Essays (PDF)
Scored Models for How-to Essays (PDF)
Chapter 11: Research: Research Report
Scoring Rubric for Evaluating Research Reports (PDF)
Scored Models for Research Reports (PDF)
Chapter 12: Response to Literature
Scoring Rubric for Evaluating Responses to Literature (PDF)
Scored Models for Responses to Literature (PDF)
Chapter 13: Writing for Assessment
Reference Links
Reference Links for Writing
OWL—The Purdue University Online Writing Lab
This site provides useful advice and exercises to improve your writing. There are also more than 100 handouts on writing, grammar, spelling, and punctuation topics, plus slide shows that will be particularly useful when you are doing research writing.
The Write Place
This site, created jointly by St. Cloud State University in Minnesota and Literacy Education Online, provides lots of help on the writing process, organizing writing projects, writing styles, grammar, punctuation, and business writing.
Writer's Workshop at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
This is a good place to find tips for writing different types of essays, responses to literature, and assessment essays. Another part of the site contains a very helpful Grammar Handbook.
Paradigm Online Writing Assistant
This site provides step-by-step assistance for writing different kinds of essays plus a large number of interactive exercises.
A Guide to Reading Other Students' Writing Critically
You might find this essay included on the Web site of George Mason University's Writing Center useful. It is entitled "You Lost Me in the Third Paragraph: A Guide to Gracious Criticism." It provides a step-by-step process for reading other students' writing with a critical eye and offers helpful hints for improving your own writing, too.
Last Name, First Name
8th Grade English
Month/date/year
Period #
FORMAT FOR PAPERS:
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•Font: Times, Arial, or Helvetica (NOT BOLD)
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•12 point
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•double spaced
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•Proper heading (top RIGHT corner Header)
