Kindergarten
Opinion/Argument:
- Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to compose an opinion piece in which you tell the reader the topic or the name of a book and state your opinion or preference about the topic or book.
Example topic -
- My favorite book is & what is it about & why is it better than other books?
- Which kind of pet is best, a cat or a dog?
- What is your favorite snack? Why is it better than other snacks?
Informative/Explanatory:
- Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to compose an informative/explanatory text (writing) in which you name what you are writing about and supply some information about the topic.
Example topic -
- What can you do to save water?
- Tell about an interesting animal. Where does it live? What does it eat? What does it look like?
- What is rain? What does it look like? Have you ever been in a rainstorm? How do people act in a rainstorm?
Narrative:
- Use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to narrate a single event or several loosely linked events, tell about the events in the order in which they occurred, and provide a reaction to what happened.
Example topics -
- What makes me laugh? I laugh when...I laugh because...Laughing makes me feel...
- Write about a helpful person. Who is the person? How & when does the person help you?
- Kitty the cat is stuck on the roof. How will you get her down? With pictures & words tell what happens next.
Grade 1
Opinion/Argument:
- Introduce a topic or name a book, state your opinion about it, supply a reason for your opinion, and provide some sense of closure.
Example topic-
- My favorite book: the title & what is the book about? Why is it better than other books?
- Which kind of pet is best, a cat or a dog?
- Would you rather be a bird or a fish? I would rather be...I choose this because...I also choose this because...
Informative/Explanatory:
- Write about a topic, supply some facts about the topic, and provide some sense of closure.
Example topic-
- What can you do to save water?
- Tell about an interesting animal. Where does it live, what does it look like, what does it eat?
- What is your favorite food? When do you eat it? Why do you like it?
Narrative:
- Recount two or more appropriately sequenced events, include some details about what happened, use temporal words to signal event order, and provide some sense of closure.
Example topics -
- Who is your best friend? What do you do together?
- A magic genie has come to your home. You may ask him for three wishes. He will give you what you ask for, my first wish is, my second wish is, my third wish is...
- Pretend you found a treasure chest full of gold. What would you buy first, next, and with the rest of it?
Grade 2
Opinion/Argument:
- Introduce a topic or name a book, state your opinion about it, supply a reason for your opinion, use linking words (e.g., because, and, also) to connect your opinion and reasons, and provide some sense of closure.
Example topic-
- My favorite book: the title & what is the book about? Why is it better than other books?
- Which kind of pet is best, a cat or a dog?
- Which is better, a big sister or a litter sister? Or, which is better, a big brother or a little brother?
Informative/ Explanatory:
- Write about a topic, use facts and definitions to develop points, and provide a concluding statement or section.
Example topics-
- What can you do to save water?
- Think of something that is green. Where do we use it? What is it like? Is it used for something?
- Tell about an interesting animal. Where does it live? What does it look like? What does it eat?
Narrative:
- Recount a well-elaborated event or short sequence of events, include details to describe actions, thoughts, and feelings, use temporal words to signal event order, and provide a sense of closure. You can write about real or imagined events.
Example topics -
- You have received a very mysterious package from a friend. Inside is a very unusual egg. Write a story about what happens next. What does the egg look like? does it hatch? What is inside?
- This Thanksgiving I am thankful for...tell about 4 things you are thankful for...
- Willie the wolf pup went exploring and got lost. Now it is getting dark in the forest. How will Willie the pup wolf get back to his mother and the pack? Write a story about what happens next. Is Willie's mother looking for him? Does he find his pack?
Grade 3
Opinion/Argument:
- Introduce your topic or text, state your opinion, & create an organizational structure and provide reasons that support your opinion. Use linking words and phrases (e.g., because, thereafter, since, for example). Provide a concluding statement or section.
Example topic-
- My favorite book: the title & what is the book about? Why is it better than other books?
- Which kind of pet is best, a cat or a dog?
- What is your favorite thing to do on a Saturday afternoon? Why is it your favorite? Why is it better than other activities?
Informative/Explanatory:
- Introduce a topic and group related information together; include illustrations when useful to aiding comprehension, develop your topic with facts, definitions, and details, using linking words and phrases (e.g., also, another, and, more, but) to connect ideas within categories of information, and provide a concluding statement or section.
Example topic -
- What can you do to save water?
- Write about your state. What are some interesting facts about it?
- Write about your hometown. How big is it? What are some interesting facts about it? What is the weather like?
Narrative:
- Establish a situation and introduce a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally; use dialogue and descriptions of actions, thoughts, and feelings to develop experiences and events or show the response of characters to situations; use temporal words and phrases to signal event order; and provide a sense of closure.
Example Topics -
- Tell a story about a time you went to a restaurant. Who were you with? What did you eat? Why did you go to the restaurant? Was it good?
- Tell me about a special day you had. What did you do? Was anyone with you? Why was it special?
- Mrs. Carrie Cow and her calf Caroline have gone to the grocery store. Caroline wants a can of goat cheese, but Mrs. Cow is in a hurry. Tell me what happens next. Will Caroline get her cheese?