How can using highlighters help to improve the quality of your ideas when writing?

How can using highlighters help to improve the quality of your ideas

when writing?

Depth of Development: the Key to Ideas

Controlling Idea

Main Ideas

Major Details

Specific ExamplesAnd Elaboration

Ideas: Score Point 1

Dear Mrs. T.,I think that students should not be required to clean up your school. Because some time students do not make the school mess and students should not be cleaning. Because some students do not mess up the school because not all of the students. Mess up the school and some students help clean up the school and some do not and. Some of the students that do not help clean up some time mees up. Some students from different school come and mess up the school and we should not be at school for cleaning up the school the students that mess up should clean up and the students that clean up should not clean up again. Because students should not clean up the school. But some time the students that mess up clean up because some of the student. That do not mess up talke to them and they here them and thay go and clean up the school. I think that some time the teacher mees up the school and the students should not clean up the school and some time. Teacher should clean up because this is ther school to and they should clean the school to and the students not have to clean up the school.

Main Idea

Major Details

Supporting Details and

Examples

When writing your body paragraphs, you should include the following types of sentences…

7

EXAMPLE: Illegal Immigration Prompt

Writing SituationThis unit, we have discussed the positive and negative impact that illegal immigrants have on the United States. The President of the United States would like to hear from Osborne students about the issue of illegal immigration.

Directions for WritingWrite an letter to the President explaining the positive and negative impact that illegal immigrants have on the United States today. Include specific examples and details to support your statements .

General Topic

Context for the

Topic

Writer’s task:Format, purpose,

audience

9

Example of Depth of Developmentin Score Point 1

I think immigration is a good topic. Some people think immigrants raise our taxes. Others think they help our economy. Some crimes are committed by immigrants. Immigrants take some jobs Americans don’t want. I like all immigrants. I hope they stay in the U.S.

Write an letter to the President explaining the positive and negative impact that illegal immigrants have on the United States today. Include specific examples and details to support your statements .

10

We have been discussing illegal immigration as a class. There are positives and negatives to this topic.

One positive is that immigrants help our economy. Many immigrants work jobs that Americans do not want. Many immigrants also work for less money than Americans. Finally, immigrants spend a lot of the money they earn in the U.S. These are all benefits.

Some people feel that illegal immigrants create problems, though. For example, some immigrants are charged with crimes. Some U.S. citizens also feel that immigrants raise taxes for everyone. Nobody likes higher taxes.

I don’t know what we can do about this topic. It is very complicated. I hope the Congress and the President have some good ideas.



11

The issue of illegal immigration is a tough one. We have been discussing

many of positives and negatives as a class. Read on and you will see what I’m talking about.

One positive is that immigrants help our economy. Many immigrants work jobs that Americans do not want. This helps the people who own those companies. Many immigrants also work for less money than Americans, which also helps those companies. Finally, immigrants spend a lot of the money they earn in the U.S. This helps American businesses like restaurants, supermarkets, and landlords.

Some people feel that illegal immigrants create problems, though. For example, some immigrants are charged with crimes. Some U.S. citizens also feel that immigrants raise taxes for everyone because they use healthcare and send their kids to schools. Neither of these services is free, and some of the expense is paid by American taxpayers.

As you can see, immigration is not an easy topic to think about. I support immigration, though. I’ve made a lot of friends from other countries, and I would hate to see them leave.

The writer stays focused on the topic. There are some specific details, but there are several instances where the writer could expand the analysis (e.g., a more specific discussion of how immigrant workers help American enterprises).



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In this nation a great majority of immigrants have this exhausting amount of pressure on their shoulders. When people have this terrible luck they would want someone to help them. This huge issue is one thing the government can change. The government should immediately allow illegal immigrants to stay in the United States if currently here!

If people know or not, these immigrants raise the economy of both Latin America and USA. A horrific way of doing this is paying illegal immigrants less than they worked for. People may ask how this raises the economy of a factory. Well, if they can work for less the owner doesn’t pay them as much as they pay an American worker so this means more money for the owner. Also, when immigrants come to the US to work they raise the employment standard witch allows the factory to expand. This brings the supply of the product up so they can sell it for less still making a profit.

They raise countries like Mexico’s economy too because most immigrants send money to their humble hometown. So people there spend more. My father owns a business and the people that work there are all illegal immigrants. They work so hard and when they get that paycheck the first thinhg they do is divide the money then send it back home. That means that spending increases in the immigrant’s home county. Increased spending helps that economy.

I strongly believe that immigrants currently at the United States of America should be able to remain here. These people have endured a lot to get here, so our government should do everything in our power to help them.



13

Imagine you’re an illegal immigrant sending money home to your wife and kids. Without you

they would die of hunger. And the next day you get deported! What are you going to do now? In this nation a great majority of people have this exhausting amount of pressure on their shoulders. When people have this terrible luck they would want someone to help them. It is clear that immigrants strengthen the U.S. economy while helping their own as well. Therefore, our government should allow illegal immigrants to stay in the United States!

If people know or not, these immigrants raise the economy of the USA. A horrific way of doing this is paying ellegal immigrants less than they worked for. People may ask how this raises the economy of a factory. Well, if they can work for less the owner doesn’t pay them as much as they pay an American worker so this means more money for the owner. Also, when immigrants come to the US to work they raise the employment standard which allows the factory to expand. This brings the supply of the product up so they can sell it for less still making a profit.

They raise countries like Mexico’s economy too because most immigrants send money to their humble hometown. So people there spend more. My father owns a business and the people that work there are all illegal immigrants. They work so hard and when they get that paycheck the first thing they do is divide the money then send it back home. That means more money is being spent in the immigrant’s hometown. This increased spending helps that economy.

Some people feel that illegal immigrants create problems, though. For example, I read that illegal immigrants were charged with 2% of all murders committed in Georgia in 2007 and 3% of all drunk-driving incidents. These percentages do not seem high, but the rates would be lower if immigrants did not live in Georgia. Some U.S. citizens also feel that immigrants raise taxes for everyone because they use healthcare and send their kids to schools. Neither of these services is free. Who pays the bill? Is it Americans who are taxed?

I’m not sure if all of the negatives I hear about immigrants are true. If they are, they are hard to ignore. It is also hard to ignore the positives. My best friend is from Guatemala, and she has lived here for three years. Her family works hard, and she works hard in school. They came here for a better life. Didn’t everyone come to America for a better life? Let’s welcome immigrants.



Main Idea

Major Details

Supporting Details and Examples

Using highlighters can help us to identify rather or not we are using specific details to develop

our ideas within our writing.

Highlighter Breakdown

Step One: Main IdeasGo through the writing sample and mark the topic sentence of each paragraph with a BLUE highlighter.

Step Two: Major DetailsGo back through the writing sample and highlight in RED or PINK the sentences that are used to elaborate or develop topic sentence.

Step Three: Supporting Details Now highlight in GREEN the sentences that provide specific examples, anecdotes, facts, and statistics to fully develop the major details.

Highlighter Breakdown: In Action

Sample Body Paragraph

Immigrants don’t only help the American economy. They also help the economies of their home counties. They do this by sending home a lot of the money they make, so people there spend more. My father owns a business and the people that work there are all mostly immigrants. They work so hard, and my dad tells me that when they get that paycheck the first thing they do is divide the money, then send it back home. Their families need the money for food and other life necessities. Spending the money in their country helps businesses in that country, which means that economy improves.

Topic: Write an letter to the President explaining the positive and negative impact that illegal immigrants have on the United States today.

Include specific examples and details to support your statements.

Example of Depth of Development

Sample Body ParagraphImmigrants don’t only help the American economy. They also help the economies of their home counties. They do this by sending home a lot of the money they make, so people there spend more. My father owns a business and the people that work there are all mostly immigrants. They work so hard, and my dad tells me that when they get that paycheck the first thing they do is divide the money, then send it back home. Their families need the money for food and other life necessities. Spending the money in their country helps businesses in that country, which means that economy improves.

Main Idea

Major Details

Supporting Details and Examples

Topic:Write an letter to the President explaining the positive and negative impact that

illegal immigrants have on the United States today. Include specific examples and details to support your statements..

General Topic

Context for theTopic

Format, purpose,audience, & task

Writing Situation In some countries, students are responsible for the basic cleaning of their school buildings. Fifteen minutes is set aside each day for all students to sweep, dust, and clean their classrooms and hallways. Think about how you would feel if students were responsible for cleaning your school.

Directions for WritingWrite a letter to your teacher in which you convince the teacher that students should or should not be required to clean your school. Defend your position with specific reasons and detailed examples.

Example Writing Topic for our Practice Paragraph

Highlighter Breakdown: In Action

Sample Body Paragraph

Topic:Include specific examples and details to support your statements.

For one thing students are in the classroom all morning and afternoon working hard. All of our class are so demanding. History and Science classes, which take us back in time, drag on and on until we start to think “man, now I know what a glacier feels like!” Oh, now don’t forget English and reading because in there we learn a copious supply of grammar and literature, and you can never go wrong with that. These are prime examples of how hard we really work; then our reward is cleaning the school?

Controlling Idea: Students should not clean the school.

Sample Body ParagraphFor one thing students are in the classroom all morning and afternoon working hard. All of our class are so demanding. History and Science classes, which take us back in time, drag on and on until we start to think “man, now I know what a glacier feels like!” Oh, now don’t forget English and reading because in there we learn a copious supply of grammar and literature, and you can never go wrong with that. These are prime examples of how hard we really work; then our reward is cleaning the school?

Main Idea

Major Detail

Specific Details and Examples

Controlling Idea: Students should not clean the school.

Example of Depth of Development

Now that we have practiced identifying main ideas, major

details and specific details and examples, let’s examine the

thinking process involved with adding specific details to writing.

IDEAS exercise

Main Idea/Major Detail:

It’s tough to do your best when you have to worry about cleaning toilets. We have more important things to do.

Ask yourself: What kinds of important things do you have to do?

IDEAS exercise#



Major Details• There is a lot of work to do in Science.

• Spanish takes a lot of time and practice.

• Did I mention after-school activities?


What questions can you ask yourself to get more specific regarding each of these major details?

IDEAS exercise#



Major Details• There is a lot of work to do in Science.

• Spanish takes a lot of time and practice.

• Did I mention after-school activities?


What types of Science work?

What types Spanish practice? How much time?

What types of after-school activities?

IDEAS exerciseMain Idea/Major Detail:



What types of Science work?

What types Spanish practice? How much time?

What of afterschool activities?

We have to get our projects ready for the Science fair next month?

Each week we have 25 verbs to learn in Spanish.

???????

There is a lot of work to do in Science.

Spanish takes a lot of time and practice.

Did I mention after-school activities?

Ideas: Score Point 3

There are many historical events that led to the conflict between Israel and Palestine. For example, there were programs. Jews were hated and killed. This happened all over Europe. Second, there is Zionism. Jews wanted a home of their own. So, they asked Britain for the land, the Palestines did not like this. They went to war over it., War between Israel and Palestine continues today.

What questions could you ask yourself to get more specific details for this paragraph?

What types of programs? How specifically was the hate shown? How specifically were they killed?

How did Zionism led to the conflicts?

Writing Topics 31

Sample Expository PromptSample Expository Writing Topic

Writing SituationYour class has been given the opportunity to design a brand new television show for children. It could be a news show, a talk show, a game show, a cartoon, or any kind of show you want for children.

Directions for WritingWrite a report to be read to your class in which you explain your idea for the new children’s television show. Be sure to include specific details so that your classmates will understand what the new show will be like.

Ideas 32

Sample Body ParagraphThe tv show could give kids creative ways to make an A. I know a lot of kids would like to do better in school. But kids also want to have fun. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.

Controlling Idea: The obvious choice would be a television show about how to make studying fun and easy.

Adding IDEAs: In Action

Directions: Read the incomplete paragraph. Add specific details and examples that elaborate the main idea and major details already presented.

Expository Writing TopicWriting Situation

Your class has been given the opportunity to design a brand new television show for children. It could be a news show, a talk show, a game show, a cartoon, or any kind of show you want for children.

Directions for WritingWrite a report to be read to your class in which you explain your idea for the new children’s television show. Be sure to include specific details so that your classmates will understand what the new show will be like.

Ideas 33

Example of Depth of Developmentin a Paragraph

Sample Body ParagraphThe tv show could give kids creative ways to make an A. I know a lot of kids would like to do better in school. But kids also want to have fun. One fun way to memorize facts is to make up a song or rap. I once made up a rap to help me remember the 50 states. The tv program would show kids how to make a good beat and add words. It would have special guests, like the Outkast, to help. We would have fun and do a great job in school all at the same time.

Main Idea

Major Details


Controlling Idea: The obvious choice would be a television show about how to make studying fun and easy.

Writing Topics 34

Sample Persuasive PromptSample Expository Writing Topic

Writing Situation The school principal is considering adding a fast food restaurant to the cafeteria line. Write a letter to him stating your opinion as to why or why not this is a good idea for school lunches. In your request, you may want to specify the type of fast food restaurant that would be most successful and why you feel that way.

Directions for WritingWrite a letter to your principal explaining your opinion concerning fast food restaurants in the cafeteria line. Be sure to state your opinion and include convincing reasons and details to support your choice.

Ideas 35

Sample Body ParagraphAdding fast food restaurants to the cafeteria would be beneficial. I know that some are concerned about fast food being unhealthy; however, in recent years, several fast food restaurants have begun to add a healthier side to their menu. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Controlling Idea: Adding fast food restaurants to the cafeteria line would be great for the school.

Adding IDEAs: In Action

Directions: Read the incomplete paragraph. Add specific details and examples that elaborate the main idea and major details already presented.

Persuasive Writing TopicWriting Situation

The school principal is considering adding a fast food restaurant to the cafeteria line. Write a letter to him stating your opinion as to why or why not this is a good idea for school lunches. In your request, you may want to specify the type of fast food restaurant that would be most successful and why you feel that way.

Directions for WritingWrite a letter to your principal explaining your opinion concerning fast food restaurants in the cafeteria line. Be sure to state your opinion and include convincing reasons and details to support your choice.

Ideas 36

Example of Depth of Developmentin a Paragraph

Sample Body ParagraphAdding fast food restaurants to the cafeteria would be beneficial. I know that some are concerned about fast food being unhealthy; however, in recent years, several fast food restaurants have begun to add a healthier side to their menu. Just the other day, my family and I went to Wendy’s. My younger brother had the option to order fruit instead of fries. And, we can’t forget the plethora of Subway advertisements about “Jerry” who lost over a hundred pounds just by eating Subway. These are just a few examples to illustrate that concerns about fast food restaurants being unhealthy are no longer valid.

Main Idea

Major Details


Restating Major Detail

Controlling Idea: Adding fast food restaurants would be great for the school .

We have discussed the NEED to add SPECIFIC details and examples to each of our paragraphs on the writing test. But, the writing test requires that we write more than one paragraph,

How should we go about organizing our entire essays BEFORE we begin to write?

So….

Main Idea

Major Detail

Controlling Idea

Major Detail

Major Detail

Specific Detail/Example






3 Body Paragraph Organizer

Introduction Techniques

Conclusion Techniques

Documents

How can using highlighters help to improve the quality of your ideas when writing?