Starring Details
Helping Writers Revise by Adding Details
Activity Description
Preparation:
-
Prepare the Writer's Revise cart
- On a piece of chart paper write the heading Writer's Revise
-
Below the heading write a statement about revising
- For example: When we like our writing, we look back and say how can I make this even better?
- Below the statement write the subheading Re-read
-
Make a list of strategies you have already discussed and practiced
- For example: add dialogue, add to the bottom
- Prepare a short report for modeling new strategy
-
Gather sentence strips and glue
- You will need 2-3 sentence strips for modeling strategy
- Students will need 1-2 sentence strips each
-
Gather special revising pens
- For example: regular pens kept in a special container can be given this name to help motivate students to revise
Implementation:
Session 1:
-
Refer to the Writer's Revise chart
- Prompt students by asking What can we do when we are revising our work?
- Record the new strategy of adding details to the middle of a piece of writing on the Writer's Revise chart
-
Model strategy with a report
- Read report aloud
-
After the report has been read aloud have students share ideas about where details can be added
- Record ideas on separate sentence strips and anchor the sentence strips using glue beside the original idea from the text
- Draw a star with a marker beside the original idea and a matching star on the sentence strip
Session 2:
- Have students work on task independently
- Work with small groups or hold teacher-student conferences
- Have students share their revised piece of writing
- Ask students to read their original piece of writing first followed by the new details that have been added
Adaptations For
English Language Learners/ESL:
- Provide a visual cue, symbol or picture for each heading and strategy
- Prior to the activity, pre-teach each strategy and model examples for student
- Scribe written paragraph for student so that the students ideas are the focus
LD/Reading & Writing Difficulties:
- Have students reread their first draft aloud during a one-on-one conference
- Repeat the instructions prior to independent work
- Allow paragraph to be written using a typing program or speech-to-text software program
Cultural Appropriateness & Diversity:
- Use a report for modeling to which students are familiar
Differentiated Instruction:
- Use a think-pair-share prior to group activity to verify students' understanding of the expectations
Related References
Evidence: McKensie, L. & Tomkins, G. E. (2010). Evaluating students' writing: A process approach. Journal of Teaching Writing, 201-212.
Activity Objective
The goal of Star Details: Helping Writers Revise by Adding Details is to aid students in understanding the various interacting stages of the writing process, including revising, and to provide students with a strategy for adding detail to their writing.
What You Need
Prep Time:
20 minutes - Prepare Writers Revise chart
- Prepare short report for modeling
- Gather sentence strips, glue and revising pens
Task Time:
2, 20 minute sessions Session 1:
- Teacher introduces task
- Students brainstorm revising strategies
- Teacher models new revising strategy
Session 2:
- Students revise first draft of a report
- Students share their new draft and revisions
Materials Required:
Teacher:
- Chart paper
- Markers
- Sentence strips
Students:
- First draft of a piece of writing
- Sentence strips
- Special revising pens
What You Do
Teacher Role:
Direct instruction:
- when introducing task
Facilitator:
- while students brainstorm revising strategies
Modeling:
- while showing how to use new strategy
Consultant:
- while students work independently on task
Student Grouping:
Whole class:
- during introduction of task, brainstorming session, while teacher models new strategy and during sharing time
Individual:
- while students work on making revisions
Assessment Ideas:
- Record anecdotal comments on students new draft providing them with formative feedback
- Use a rubric to assess how well students made revisions to their first draft
Quick Tips
Activity Extensions:
- Have students publish their new drafts by using a computer software program
- Create a classroom book with each student's report on a separate page
- Create a revising center and include sentence strips, glue, scissors and special revising pens for students to access when working on writing
Additional Comments:
- Connecting the new information to the original text using matching stars provides students and the reader with a visual cue and keeps the process manageable and fun.
- One-on-one writing conferences allow the teacher to work with small groups or one-on-one on a specific concept. This is a great opportunity to give formative feedback to students.
- Emphasize revising as adding details to the text or making the piece of writing more interesting by including new and interesting words.
- Teach other revision strategies as part of a wider "Writers Revise" theme.
Other Adaptations/Modifications:
- Provide a quiet working space for students disturbed by sound