Forms of Composition

• Expository

• Narrative

• Descriptive

• Persuasive

Persuasive

• Tells writer’s feelings

• Lists reasons

• Asks readers to agree with the writer

Schools should be year round.Schools should be year round. Take your stand.

Reason 1 Reason 2

Reason 3 Wrap-up

The center box states your position.

Three boxes tell reasons why.

The last box is the wrap-up.

•detail

•detail

•detail

•detail

•detail

•detail

•detail

•detail

•detail

Tell me more.

One reason, Also,

In addition,

In summary,,

First Paragraph

• Topic Sentence

Center of 4 Square

• Wrap-Up Sentence Without

Transition Word

• Personal /Feeling Sentence (Hook)

Improving the Final Paragraph

• Wrap-up Sentence with a Transition

• Personal/Feeling Sentence, Question or Exclamation(closing with a punch!)

Schools should be year round.Schools should be year round. Take your stand.

Summer Lag

Bonus for Teachers

Cost Effectiveness

Wrap-up

The center box states your position.

Three boxes tell reasons why.

The last box is the wrap-up.

•Research

•Summer camps

•Review

•Work intersessions

•Remediation

•Travel off season

•Save money

•Less vandalism

•Relieve overcrowd

Tell me more.

One reason,Also,

In addition,

In summary,,

Moving to 5 Paragraphs

Have you ever considered the many advantages to going to school year round? Reduction of summer slump, more pay for teachers, and cost effective options are but a few reasons to advocate alternative school schedules. Just when you have just about had it with correcting mounds of papers, you think about the three-week break that looms ahead like a green oasis in the desert. Relief is in sight!

One reason that year round schools are often preferred is that two to three months’ gains in reading can be lost due to summer lag in the early grades. Current research shows that students who do not read over the summer start school behind in the fall. Summer camps can help; however, children most at risk often do not attend. Seventy percent of our elementary school participants in 2005 maintained or improved reading scores by attending summer reading camps. Teachers often must waste valuable time reviewing in the fall instead of covering new material.

Also, teachers have the option of taking advantage of several additional benefits. Educators have the opportunity to work intersession and to make higher pay. In fact, a district in Houston extends teacher contracts enabling teachers to have an additional thirty-six days pay each year. Educators would also be able to travel during off peak times and

and save money during vacation times. With the emphasis on academic performance and test scores, children are afforded quality remediation opportunities during intercessions.

In addition, many stakeholders feel that year round schools are more cost effective. Several studies have indicated that there is a potential for districts to save money on day-to-day operating costs such as utilities and maintenance. According to the NEA Research Division, most studies indicate a savings of about 8% if schools are operating at maximum capacity. If schools are open, the likelihood for vandalism is reduced. Opportunities for staggered enrollment may pose an option for problems of overcrowding.

In summary, among the many benefits of year round schools are higher academic achievement due to a reduction in “summer lag,” extra “perks” for teachers and staff, and the possibility of financial gains in cost effectiveness for districts. This, however, remains a highly contested topic and needs further study. It appears that negotiation rather than mandate is more desirable. It seems that little change comes about without controversy!

Improving the Essay

• Time to add vivid language (vocabulary)

• Adjectives, adverbs, prepositional phrases

• Similes, metaphors, onomatopoeia

• Use the 5 senses• Choose words

selectively

Elaboration

Explanation

Examples

ExperienceRemember to pick only one detail from each of the three boxes to Elaborate.

Writing in the Content Areas

• Group info together as a Study Guide for easier recall.

• 4 Square is a Graphic Organizer

• Break students into groups to cover longer sections of text.

• Cover the essentials without having to worry about the “readability” of the text.

Formula for Word Problems

Question

Process Information

Compute Answer

Science and Social Studies

Folding Faults

VolcanoesAs you can see, mountains on our planet can be formed by faults, folding of the earth’s crust, or volcanic action.

Magma

Lava

Cascade Mts.(Or.Wa)

San Andreas,Ca.

Plates shift= fault lines

Earthquakes

Crumpled rock

Earth contracts

AppalachiansHow are mountains formed?

Covering that Social Studies Text

Scientist

Moldboard Plow

Astronomer-telescope

Studied botany-plants from Lewis & Clark

Thomas Jefferson was a Renaissance man of many talents.

Architect

Monticello

University of Virginia

Virginia State Capital

Diplomat

Declaration of Indep.

Minister to France

3rd Pres.

As you can see, Thomas Jefferson was much more than a past president of the US. He was also a scientist, architect, and diplomat.

Persuasive = Convincing Argument(Sales Pitch)

• Complaints

• Letter to the Editor

• Memo to the Boss

• Job in Sales

• Working with Customers

• Dealing with Vendors