We are in the midst of a biography unit of study in both Reading and Writing Workshop.
Reading Workshop
We read about Eleanor Roosevelt and practiced taking notes. We jotted down our notes on the chart below. We learned how this chart can help us organize our thinking and set a purpose for reading.
KNOW (confirm) WANT TO LEARN LEARN (((new wondering)
KNOW in this column we jot down everything we think we know about our subject before we read our book.
confirm in this column we confirm what we thought we knew. Sometimes we discover that we had misconceptions or incorrect information. When this happens, we correct our thinking by jotting down the accurate fact. If we discover that our before reading was correct, we simply place a check in this column next to the fact in the KNOW column. We jot down notes in this column during our reading.
WANT TO LEARN in this column we jot down what we want to learn about our subject. This is done before reading.
LEARN in this column we jot down facts we are learning about our subject. This is done during our reading.
new wondering in this column we jot down questions or thought we have about our subject. This is done during and after our reading.
After reading and jotting down notes, we are ready to write about our reading and research. We should have developed a "big idea" about our subject. Ifyou have a thesis then you are ready to draft a literary essay.
The literary essay should include at least 4 paragraphs. The essay should be structured and organized with the following paragraphs:
Introduction Paragraph this introduces the subject and incudes a thesis statement.
At least three body paragraphs each paragraph is organized to connect to the thesis. State your point in the beginning of each paragraph and connect it to your thesis. Remember to use the same language used in your thesis.
Conclusion this is a summary of your entire essay. You are simply restating your thesis. Do not include any new information.
Always reread as you write. It is also wise to reread out loud. Focus on clarity and your individual writing goals.
