ALEX Classroom Resources

   View Standards     Standard(s): [ELA2015] (6) 22 :

22 ) Write informative or explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content. [W.6.2]

a. Introduce a topic; organize ideas, concepts, and information, using strategies such as definition, classification, comparison or contrast, and cause and effect; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., charts, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension. [W.6.2a]

b. Develop the topic with relevant facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples. [W.6.2b]

c. Use appropriate transitions to clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts. [W.6.2c]

d. Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic. [W.6.2d]

e. Establish and maintain a formal style. [W.6.2e]

f. Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from the information or explanation presented. [W.6.2f]

[ELA2015] (6) 37 :

37 ) Demonstrate command of the conventions of Standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking. [L.6.1]

a. Demonstrate knowledge of subject-verb agreement when interrupted by a prepositional phrase, with inverted word order, and with indefinite pronouns as subjects. (Alabama)

b. Ensure that pronouns are in the proper case (subjective, objective, possessive). [L.6.1a]

c. Use intensive pronouns (e.g., myself, ourselves). [L.6.1b]

d. Recognize and correct inappropriate shifts in pronoun number and person.* [L.6.1c]

e. Recognize and correct vague pronouns (i.e., ones with unclear or ambiguous antecedents).* [L.6.1d]

f. Recognize variations from Standard English in their own and others' writing and speaking, and identify and use strategies to improve expression in conventional language.* [L.6.1e]

[ELA2015] (7) 21 :

21 ) Write informative or explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content. [W.7.2]

a. Introduce a topic clearly, previewing what is to follow; organize ideas, concepts, and information, using strategies such as definition, classification, comparison or contrast, and cause and effect; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., charts, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension. [W.7.2a]

b. Develop the topic with relevant facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples. [W.7.2b]

c. Use appropriate transitions to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts. [W.7.2c]

d. Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic. [W.7.2d]

e. Establish and maintain a formal style. [W.7.2e]

f. Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the information or explanation presented. [W.7.2f]

[ELA2015] (7) 36 :

36 ) Demonstrate command of the conventions of Standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking. [L.7.1]

a. Demonstrate knowledge of subject-verb agreement when interrupted by a prepositional phrase, with inverted word order, with indefinite pronouns as subjects, compound subjects joined by correlative and coordinating conjunctions, and collective nouns when verb form depends on the rest of the sentence. (Alabama)

b. Explain the function of phrases and clauses in general and their function in specific sentences. [L.7.1a]

c. Choose among simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences to signal differing relationships among ideas. [L.7.1b]

d. Place phrases and clauses within a sentence, recognizing and correcting misplaced and dangling modifiers.* [L.7.1c]

[ELA2015] (8) 21 :

21 ) Write informative or explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content. [W.8.2]

a. Introduce a topic clearly, previewing what is to follow; organize ideas, concepts, and information into broader categories; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., charts, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension. [W.8.2a]

b. Develop the topic with relevant, well-chosen facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples. [W.8.2b]

c. Use appropriate and varied transitions to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts. [W.8.2c]

d. Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic. [W.8.2d]

e. Establish and maintain a formal style. [W.8.2e]

f. Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the information or explanation presented. [W.8.2f]

[ELA2015] (8) 36 :

36 ) Demonstrate command of the conventions of Standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking. [L.8.1]

a. Apply rules of subject-verb agreement when interrupted by a prepositional phrase, with inverted word order, with indefinite pronouns as subjects, compound subjects joined by correlative and coordinating conjunctions, and collective nouns when verb form depends on the rest of the sentence. (Alabama)

b. Explain the function of verbals (gerunds, participles, infinitives) in general and their function in particular sentences. [L.8.1a]

c. Form and use verbs in the active and passive voice. [L.8.1b]

d. Form and use verbs in the indicative, imperative, interrogative, conditional, and subjunctive mood. [L.8.1c]

e. Recognize and correct inappropriate shifts in verb voice and mood.* [L.8.1d]

Students will combine higher order thinking with creativity in this lesson from ReadWriteThink using diamante poems to illustrate the phenomenon of cause and effect. Students define and identify instances of cause and effect to help them generate their own examples. After practicing the diamante format in shared writing experiences, students construct their own diamante poems illustrating cause-and-effect scenarios of their choice.

   View Standards     Standard(s): [ELA2015] (6) 10 :

10 ) By the end of the year, read and comprehend literature, including stories, dramas, and poems, in the Grades 6-8 text complexity band proficiently, with scaffolding as needed at the high end of the range. [RL.6.10]

[ELA2015] (6) 17 :

17 ) Integrate information presented in different media or formats (e.g., visually, quantitatively) as well as in words to develop a coherent understanding of a topic or issue. [RI.6.7]

[ELA2015] (6) 24 :

24 ) Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. (Grade-specific expectations for writing types are defined in standards 21-23 above.) [W.6.4]

[ELA2015] (6) 25 :

25 ) With some guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach. (Editing for conventions should demonstrate command of the first three Language standards in Grades K-6.) [W.6.5]

[ELA2015] (6) 37 :

37 ) Demonstrate command of the conventions of Standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking. [L.6.1]

a. Demonstrate knowledge of subject-verb agreement when interrupted by a prepositional phrase, with inverted word order, and with indefinite pronouns as subjects. (Alabama)

b. Ensure that pronouns are in the proper case (subjective, objective, possessive). [L.6.1a]

c. Use intensive pronouns (e.g., myself, ourselves). [L.6.1b]

d. Recognize and correct inappropriate shifts in pronoun number and person.* [L.6.1c]

e. Recognize and correct vague pronouns (i.e., ones with unclear or ambiguous antecedents).* [L.6.1d]

f. Recognize variations from Standard English in their own and others' writing and speaking, and identify and use strategies to improve expression in conventional language.* [L.6.1e]

[ELA2015] (7) 27 :

27 ) Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, using search terms effectively; assess the credibility and accuracy of each source; and quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of others while avoiding plagiarism and following a standard format for citation. [W.7.8]

[ELA2015] (7) 29 :

29 ) Write routinely over extended time frames, including time for research, reflection, and revision, and shorter time frames such as a single sitting or a day or two for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences. [W.7.10]

[ELA2015] (8) 23 :

23 ) Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. (Grade-specific expectations for writing types are defined in standards 20-22 above.) [W.8.4]

[ELA2015] (8) 36 :

36 ) Demonstrate command of the conventions of Standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking. [L.8.1]

a. Apply rules of subject-verb agreement when interrupted by a prepositional phrase, with inverted word order, with indefinite pronouns as subjects, compound subjects joined by correlative and coordinating conjunctions, and collective nouns when verb form depends on the rest of the sentence. (Alabama)

b. Explain the function of verbals (gerunds, participles, infinitives) in general and their function in particular sentences. [L.8.1a]

c. Form and use verbs in the active and passive voice. [L.8.1b]

d. Form and use verbs in the indicative, imperative, interrogative, conditional, and subjunctive mood. [L.8.1c]

e. Recognize and correct inappropriate shifts in verb voice and mood.* [L.8.1d]

In this lesson, the traditional autobiography writing project is given a twist as students write alphabiographies—recording an event, person, object, or feeling associated with each letter of the alphabet. Students are introduced to the idea of the alphabiography through passages from James Howe's Totally Joe. Students then work with the teacher to create guidelines for writing their own alphabiographies. Students create an entry for each letter of the alphabet, writing about an important event from their lives. After the entry for each letter, students sum up the stories and vignettes by recording the life lessons they learned from the events. Since this type of autobiography breaks out of chronological order, students can choose what has been important in their lives. And since the writing pieces are short, even reluctant writers are eager to write!