The best time to reinforce essential writing concepts and set expectations is right before students pick up their pencils to write. In short, I train my students to begin a piece of writing with the end in mind.
Clearly, I do this review and reinforcement before large and important writing assignments, but I also do it across the curriculum with all kinds of writing. Regardless, I’m always prepared with a model to guide us.
Although I have my favorite models, I also train my student to examine and think about writing in different ways using different models. Let’s take a look at a few exciting models!
Traits Models
I frequently use traits models for this activity, including genre-specific Common-Core traits models. Be sure to read my free eBook How to Use the Six Traits of Writing and the Common Core Traits to Teach Writing Across the Curriculum for more on this. Here are a few models that I use:
1. Six Traits: 1) Ideas, 2) Organization, 3) Sentence Fluency, 4) Word Choice, 5) Conventions, 6) Voice.
2. Common Core Gr. 6-8 Argument Rubric (New York State): 1) Content and Analysis, 2) Command of Evidence, 3) Coherence, Organization, and Style, 4) Control of Conventions
3. Common Core Gr. 5 Narrative Rubric: (Elk Grove U.S.D., CA): 1) Focus/Setting, 2) Organization/Plot, 3) Narrative Techniques, 4) Language
4. Riverside USD, CA (Gr. 3) (Opinion/Argument Rubric): 1) Focus/Information, 2) Organization, 3) Support/Evidence, 4) Language-Conventions of Grammar, Capitalization, Punctuation, and Spelling
“It’s amazing that in two months I was able to get my students writing better than I had been able to in an entire year previously.” Pattern Based Writing: Quick & Easy Essay! It works!
Rhetorical Triangle Models
Aristotle created the Rhetorical Triangle over 2,000 years ago. And ever since, we have been building on and adapting his model. Here are four related models:
1. Aristotle’s Rhetorical Triangle: 1) Logos/Logic, 2) Pathos/Emotion, 3) Ethos/Ethics/Credibility /Character.
2. The Modern Rhetorical Triangle: 1) Author, 2) Audience, 3) Purpose/Text
3. RAFTS: 1) Role, 2) Audience, 3) Format, 4) Topic, 5) Strong Verb = Purpose and/or Genre
4. SOAPSTone: 1) Speaker, 2) Occasion, 3) Audience, 4) Purpose, 5) Subject, 6) Tone
Summary of Rhetorical Triangle Terms and Concepts: Purpose, Genre, Audience, Speaker, Author, Occasion, Format, Subject/Topic, Position or Point, Point of View, Tone
If you have a state writing assessment coming up, be sure to download a few collections of released writing prompts here and practice analyzing the writing prompts using some of these models. You and your students will be happy you did!
