Step Up to Writing

This is the writing program we use that focuses on making the writing process simple and easy to remember. Students will become familiar with the 3 main steps in writing by relating them to colors-- green, yellow and red. At each grade level, students master skills of increasing length and complexity.

 

 

 

Title

Topic Sentence: The main topic of the composition is stated.

Reason/Detail/Fact : Give the reader a main reason, detail or fact that relates to and supports the topic sentence. Use transitions (First,... First of all,... In addition,... Also,...) to start these sentences.

Explain/Example: Give an example for the statement made in the reason/detail/fact sentence.

Concluding Sentence: The topic is restated to remind the reader what the composition was about. (Begin this sentence with Clearly,... In conclusion,... All in all,...)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This method is used to write one paragraph or multiple paragraph essays.

The following is an example of a 7-sentence paragraph composition:

Pandas

My favorite animal is the Giant Panda for two reasons. First of all, I like the panda because it looks so cute and cuddly. The panda's black and white body colors are simple, make it stand out, and look soft. Its sad looking face makes me want to hug it and make it happy. In addition, I am fond of the giant panda because it is endangered. We all should try to preserve the animals, like the panda, that are in danger of extinction. Clearly, the Giant Panda is the animal I like best.

There are many ways the three main steps (green, yellow, red) can be applied. You can see some examples in the chart below.

By the third quarter of second grade, it is expected that each student will be writing 10 sentence paragraphs using a pattern like number four in the chart below.

1

Topic, Reason/Detail/Fact, Explain/Example, Reason/Detail/Fact, Explain/Example, Conclusion

2

Topic, Reason/Detail/Fact, Explain/Example, Explain/Example, Reason/Detail/Fact, Explain/Example, Conclusion

3

Topic, Reason/Detail/Fact, Explain/Example, Reason/Detail/Fact, Explain/Example, Reason/Detail/Fact, Explain/Example, Conclusion

4

Topic, Reason/Detail/Fact, Explain/Example, Reason/Detail/Fact, Explain/Example, Reason/Detail/Fact, Explain/Example, Reason/Detail/Fact, Explain/Example, Conclusion

Step Up To Writing incorporates the standard writing process of other programs:


If you would like to practice your writing using the Step Up to Writing process, click one of the pencils below.

 

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