Classroom Resource

More Than One Way to Create Vivid Verbs

Subject Area

English Language Arts

Grade(s)

6, 7, 8

Overview

After reviewing specific nouns, students create a two-column list of nouns and ordinary verbs specific to a particular occupation. They then pair a specific noun from the first column with an occupation-related verb from the second column to create descriptive lines with vivid verbs being used in a different context. The trick lies in the fact that the verbs must be used in a new way, having nothing to do with the occupation. Often this approach to writing leads to a natural metaphorical passage as a result. Students refine this writing strategy by rotating through computer stations, each housing a descriptive passage begun by other students, revising and suggesting improvements or just adding lines to the descriptive passages.

English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 6

ELA21.6.R4

Utilize a writing process to plan, draft, revise, edit, and publish writings in various genres.

Unpacked Content

UP:ELA21.6.R4

Vocabulary

  • Writing process
  • Plan
  • Draft
  • Revise
  • Edit
  • Publish
  • Genres

Knowledge

Students know:
  • The writing process steps are to plan, draft, revise, edit, and publish.
  • Various genres of writing.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Plan writings in various genres.
  • Draft writings in various genres.
  • Revise writings in various genres.
  • Edit writings in various genres.
  • Publish writings in various genres.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • The writing process is a set of steps that make writing easier.
  • There are different categories, or genres, of writing that can be used for different purposes.
English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 6

ELA21.6.7

Produce clear, coherent narrative, argument, and informative/explanatory writing in which the development, organization, style, and tone are relevant to task, purpose, and audience, using an appropriate command of language.

Unpacked Content

UP:ELA21.6.7

Vocabulary

  • Narrative writing
  • Argument writing
  • Informative/explanatory writing
  • Writing development
  • Writing organization
  • Style
  • Tone
  • Task
  • Purpose
  • Audience
  • Command of language

Knowledge

Students know:
  • A narrative is a piece of writing that tells a story.
  • Informative or explanatory text is a piece of writing that provides factual information that was gathered from multiple research sources.
  • The purpose of argumentative writing is to convince the reader to take action or adopt a particular position.
  • The development, organization, style, and tone of writing will change depending on the writing task, the purpose of the writing, and the intended audience.
  • Formal academic writing should demonstrate an appropriate command of language.

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • Produce clear, coherent narrative, argument, and informative/explanatory writings.
    • Identify the writing task, the purpose of writing, and the intended audience in order to appropriately adapt the development, organization, style, and tone of the writing.
    • Demonstrate command of the written language.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
    • There are different genres of writing that serve various purposes.
    • The writing task, purpose, and audience should be considered in the development, organization, style, and tone of the writing.
    • Formal academic writing should display their command of the English language.
    English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 6

    ELA21.6.24

    Write about research findings independently over short and/or extended periods of time.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:ELA21.6.24

    Vocabulary

    • Research findings

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • Research strategies.
    • Independent writing skills.

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • Write about their research findings.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
    • They can demonstrate their thorough understanding of a topic by writing about their research findings.
    • Some research projects will be shorter, while others will be longer.
    English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 7

    ELA21.7.R4

    Utilize a writing process to plan, draft, revise, edit, and publish writings in various genres.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:ELA21.7.R4

    Vocabulary

    • Writing process
    • Plan
    • Draft
    • Revise
    • Edit
    • Publish
    • Genres

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • The writing process steps are to plan, draft, revise, edit, and publish.
    • Various genres of writing.

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • Plan writings in various genres.
    • Draft writings in various genres.
    • Revise writings in various genres.
    • Edit writings in various genres.
    • Publish writings in various genres.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
    • The writing process is a set of steps that make writing easier.
    • There are different categories, or genres, of writing that can be used for different purposes.
    English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 7

    ELA21.7.17

    Identify the conventions of standard English grammar and usage in writing.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:ELA21.7.17

    Vocabulary

    • Conventions
    • Standard English grammar
    • Standard English usage

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • The conventions of standard English grammar and usage.

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • Identify conventions of standard English grammar and usage in texts.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
    • Writing should demonstrate the appropriate use of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage.
    English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 7

    ELA21.7.26

    Produce research writings over extended periods with time for research, reflection, and revision and within shorter time frames, with minimal guidance.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:ELA21.7.26

    Vocabulary

    • Research writing
    • Research
    • Reflection
    • Revision

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • Research strategies.
    • Independent writing skills for all steps of the writing process.

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • Produce writing that contains information obtained through research.
    • Reflect on and revise their research given the occasion and time constraints.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
    • Research can happen in short and extended time frames.
    • It is important to reflect upon information obtained through research before incorporating it into one's own writing.
    • It is important to revise work that contains research to ensure proper use for the given occasion.
    English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 8

    ELA21.8.R4

    Utilize a writing process to plan, draft, revise, edit, and publish writings in various genres.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:ELA21.8.R4

    Vocabulary

    • Writing process
    • Plan
    • Draft
    • Revise
    • Edit
    • Publish
    • Genres

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • The writing process steps are to plan, draft, revise, edit, and publish.
    • Various genres of writing.

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • Plan writings in various genres.
    • Draft writings in various genres.
    • Revise writings in various genres.
    • Edit writings in various genres.
    • Publish writings in various genres.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
    • The writing process is a set of steps that make writing easier.
    • There are different categories, or genres, of writing that can be used for different purposes.
    English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 8

    ELA21.8.R6

    Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks, demonstrating command of formal English when indicated or appropriate.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:ELA21.8.R6

    Vocabulary

    • Adapt
    • Speech
    • Contexts
    • Tasks
    • Command
    • Formal English

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • Some contexts and tasks require formal English speech, while others permit more casual speech.

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • Adapt speech to a variety of contexts and tasks.
    • Demonstrate command of formal spoken English when appropriate.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
    • Certain contexts and tasks will require them to speak in formal English.
    • They can change their speech, such as the vocabulary and sentence structure used, depending on the occasion.
    English Language Arts (2021) Grade(s): 8

    ELA21.8.25

    Produce research writings independently over extended periods of time which encompass research, reflection, and revision and over shorter time frames.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:ELA21.8.25

    Vocabulary

    • Research writing
    • Research
    • Reflection
    • Revision

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • Research strategies.
    • Independent writing skills for all steps of the writing process.

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • Produce writing that contains information obtained through research.
    • Reflect on and revise their research given the occasion and time constraints.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
    • Research can happen in short and extended time frames.
    • It is important to reflect upon information obtained through research before incorporating it into one's own writing.
    • It is important to revise work that contains research to ensure proper use for the given occasion.
    Link to Resource
    http://readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/lesson-plans/more-than-create-viv…

    CR Resource Type

    Lesson/Unit Plan

    Resource Provider

    ReadWriteThink
    Accessibility
    License

    License Type

    Custom

    Custom License Type (URL)

    http://www.readwritethink.org/util/legal.html

    Comments or Notes

    This lesson plan was developed as part of a collaborative professional writing initiative sponsored by the Kennesaw Mountain Writing Project (KMWP) at Kennesaw State University.

    Approved Date

    raulstoncg
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