04/20 Organize, Support, and Develop Topics

04/20 Organize, Support, and Develop Topics

Objective

I will be able to add details to support my topic by using chronological order, topic order, and describing characters, plot, and setting in detail.

C.H.A.M.P.S.

• C - 0 - unless called on

• H - raise your hand

• A - notes, quiz

• M - at your desk

• P - answering questions, taking notes

• S - 80% or better on the Study Island quiz

Expectations

Pay Attention

Take Notes

Stay in your seat

No games or YouTube while Mr. Brown is teaching

Raise your hand to speak

Respond when called on

Do your best on the Study Island Quiz

Multiple Select

Bellwork, Part 1: What are some reasons to write an introduction?

Choose THREE answers!

• State an opinion

• Grab the reader's attention

• State a fact

• Make your opinion on a topic unclear

Multiple Select

Bellwork, Part 2: What are some rules for conclusions?

Choose THREE answers!

• Give new information

• Give a solution to a problem

• Wrap up your topic naturally

• Allow the reader to consider your point of view

Supporting and Developing Topics

When you write informative, explanatory, or opinion pieces, you state your topic at the beginning of the passage. The rest of the sentences in the passage should add details that support your topic. It is important to use reasons, facts, and definitions to tell more about your points. Your writing will be easier to understand if you include supporting details.

Sample Passage #1

Strictland Elementary should allow students to bring toys to school because that would make school more fun. If kids had fun at school, they would not mind going. Also, students should be able to take toys to school because that would help them make friends. When kids share their own toys with each other, they become friends. Strictland Elementary would be a better place if it let kids bring toys to school.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following sentences could be added to the passage as a supporting detail?

• Children like to play with a lot of different kinds of toys.

• Teachers would have to deal with the kids that lose or break toys.

• Parents would not have to beg their children to get out of bed.

• Students think that watching movies at school is a lot of fun.

Explanation

The topic or main idea of the paragraph is that Strictland Elementary should let students bring their toys to school. The author supports his or her opinion with reasons why Strictland Elementary should allow students to bring toys to school. The first reason that the author states is that school would be more fun if students could bring their toys. The author tells more about why it is important for school to be more fun. In the correct answer C, the idea that parents would not have to beg their children to get out of bed supports the reason why school should be more fun.

Sample Passage #2

Dubble Bubble was the first bubble gum ever sold. In 1906, Frank Fleer tried to make bubble gum. He called it Blibber–Blubber gum. But it was too sticky to sell. In 1928, Walter Diemer worked for Fleer Chewing Gum Company. He tried a new mix for chewing gum. Walter's mix had bubbles in it. Also, his mix was softer than other gum and was not too sticky. The company started selling the bubble gum as Dubble Bubble. It was the first bubble gum that was sold. Walter later became a vice president in the company.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following sentences could be added to develop the topic?

• Walter tested his gum out by selling it at a store.

• People chewed tree sap before gum was made.

• Bazooka gum started selling in the mid-1940s.

• Pink is the most common bubble gum color.

Explanation

The topic or main idea of the passage is that Dubble Bubble was the first bubble gum ever sold. The author uses supporting details to tell more about how Dubble Bubble was the first gum to be sold. In the correct answer A, the idea that Walter tested his gum out tells more about Dubble Bubble.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following sentences from the passage least supports the topic?

• In 1906, Frank Fleer tried to make bubble gum.

• Walter later became a vice president in the company.

• The company started selling the bubble gum as Dubble Bubble.

• Also, his mix was softer than other gum and was not too sticky.

Explanation

The topic or main idea of this passage is that Dubble Bubble was the first bubble gum ever sold. The other sentences in the passage need to tell more about how Dubble Bubble was the first gum to be sold. The correct answer B is the sentence that least supports the topic and tells about Walter changing jobs in the company. This information does not add any details about Dubble Bubble.

Narrative Details

A narrative is a story. When you write a story, you need to describe the plot, characters, and settings in a certain way.

Multiple Choice

What is a narrative?

• An informational text

• A story

• A biography

• Realistic Fiction

Plot

The events of a story are called the plot. Plot is also the order of the events in a narrative. Use clear details to describe what happens in the narrative.

Setting

Setting is the time and place in which a narrative takes place. Use clear details to describe the setting. Use sensory words, or words that are related to the five senses. These words should describe how the setting looks, smells, feels, sounds, and tastes.

Characters

Characters are the people in the story. Use clear details to describe how the characters look and what they do.

Clear Descriptions

Clear descriptions give exact information like names, sizes, colors, numbers, and locations. They let the reader picture in their minds exactly what is going on in the story. The clearest descriptions use definite language.

Multiple Choice

Why should we use descriptive language when we write?

• To let the reader figure it out for themselves.

• So we can get a good grade on Study Island

• So the reader can picture exactly what is going on in their mind.

• It will make the reader lose interest.

Description Example

example: The dog dug some holes.

change to: The poodle dug five big holes in the backyard.

Words to Avoid

Avoid words that are not precise (clear). Here are some words to stay away from: "cool," "neat," "stuff," "thing," "sort of," and "some kind." These types of words make it hard for the reader to picture what is going on in the story.

Multiple Choice

Why should we avoid vague words in our writing?

• So Mr. Brown doesn't get upset.

• Vague words make it hard for the reader to understand what is going on in the story.

• Vague words make the story more interesting.

• Vague words tell a more complete story.

Example of Words to Avoid

example: The new girl is really cool.

change to: The new girl is smart and funny.