READING WORKSHOP OBJECTIVES

• Recognize, organize, and interpret the structure of key elements of literature.

 Theme

 Author’s purpose

 Imagery

 Figurative language

 Story elements (character, setting, plot, conflict, resolution)

 Predictions

 Point of view

• Decode words and demonstrate mastery of new vocabulary.
• Summarize main ideas.
• Make inferences using information in the text.
• Identify and evaluate characteristics of different genres of literature:

Fiction (various genres)

      Non-fiction (Learn importance of text features)

      Poetry

      Drama

• Express your opinion about literature through written and oral response
  (Use evidence from the text to support your ideas both orally and in writing.)

ORAL PRESENTATION & DISCUSSION OBJECTIVES

• Use good listening skills
• Ask questions
• Contribute opinions
• Use appropriate gestures
• Volume
• Eye contact
• Visuals
• Use pacing and language for dramatic effect
   

WRITING WORKSHOP OBJECTIVES

THE WRITING PROCESS

You will be able to:

• List the steps in the writing process.
• Explain/define each step of the writing process.
• Use the steps of the writing process in a written piece (brainstorming, drafting, editing, revising, and creating a final draft)

EDITING/REVISING

You will be able to:

• Examine a personal written piece.
• Recognize and self-correct errors in a personal writing piece.
• Locate and explain editing errors in a piece written by a peer during a peer conference.

• Critique personal and peer writing and generate suggestions to improve the work.
• Revise your work based on critiques personally and from peers

EDITING FOCUS AREAS

Spelling – esp. homonyms

Punctuation (commas, semi-colons)

Capitalization

Sentence structure (fragments, run-ons, rambling)

REVISING FOCUS AREAS

• Leads/Clinchers
• Organization
• Staying on topic
• Paragraph form
• Transitional words/phrases
• Word choice (also using new vocabulary)
• Details (sensory details, strong adjectives, strong adverbs)
• Vivid Verbs (active vs. passive voice)
• “Show don’t Tell”
• Style
• Sentence Variety (sentence beginnings)
• “Slo-Mo” Technique (slowing down a moment)
• Tone (writing with purpose – thinking of the audience)
• Voice
• Using Dialogue
   

THE PARTS OF SPEECH OBJECTIVES

• Define and give examples of the 8 parts of speech (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, interjections, conjunctions, prepositions, and pronouns).
• Apply knowledge of the parts of speech to improve writing (see focus areas, above)
   

RESEARCH SKILLS OBJECTIVES

• Locate key information
• Evaluate sources for credibility
• Evaluate information for purpose
• Gather information using a note-taking system
• Understand paraphrasing vs. plagiarizing
• Organize information to create a final product

Helpful & Fun Language Arts Websites

Science Fiction related links:

The Sci-Fi Zone

http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/articles/20041110/SciFiZone.asp

Part of the Science News for Kids website, this link allows students who are science fiction lovers to meet real sci-fi authors, take the “sci-fi challenge,” ask questions of real scientists, and much more!

Writing Workshop related links:

 Online Writing Lab, Purdue University

            http://owl.english.purdue.edu

This site includes features such as a grammar “hotline” and one-on-one tutorials with staff writers in the Purdue community.  This site is great for all levels of writers, including ESL students and struggling writers.

Grammar related links:

Grammar Help

http://www.ruthvilmi.net/hut/help/grammar_help/

This site is perfect for students who are looking for “skill and drill” activities to improve their understanding of the parts of speech.  It also includes review activities on many other grammar and usage areas.  This site is perfect for ESL students or any student who wants a little extra practice with basic grammar.

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