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Mentor textsTreasures, 6th grade
Writing to Inform
Main idea and supporting details
Nonfiction article
Hurricane Andrew was a devastating natural disaster for South Florida. In terms of property damage, it is one of the worst calamities ever to hit the United States. When Andrew swept ashore with wind gusts of 175 miles per hour, thousands of people lost their homes. The storm also nearly destroyed Miami’s Metrozoo, home to thousands of wild animals. (Treasures, p. 182)
Main idea and supporting details…
Hurricane Andrew was a devastating natural disaster for South Florida.
In terms of property damage, it is one of the worst calamities ever to hit the United States.
When Andrew swept ashore with wind gusts of 175 miles per hour, thousands of people lost their homes.
The storm also nearly destroyed Miami’s Metrozoo, home to thousands of wild animals.
Why?
Europe: We Are All in This Together
As a citizen of Sweden, I believe our government made a huge mistake when it decided not to adopt the euro. As a result…Sweden will not benefit from the obvious advantages a single currency brings to the countries of Europe.
The biggest benefit to having a single European currency is economic. With the euro, we would be able to trade with our European neighbors at better prices. We could enjoy more tourism, since it would be much easier for other Europeans to visit without changing their money. Finally, we would be able to share the cost savings of having our currency controlled by the European Central Bank rather than paying for a separate system. (Treasures, p. 540).
Main idea and supporting details…
The biggest benefit to having a single European currency is economic.
With the euro, we would be able to trade with our European neighbors at better prices.
We could enjoy more tourism, since it would be much easier for other Europeans to visit without changing their money.
Finally, we would be able to share the cost savings of having our currency controlled by the European Central Bank rather than paying for a separate system.
Why?
Portable Music: Taking It with You
Turn It DownIn July of 1979, life for the music lover
was about to change. Family sing-alongs would be no more. Never again would people have to hum their favorite song while waiting at the doctor’s office. And all the kids who had ever heard “Turn that music down!” were about to get what they always wanted. They were going to be able to turn it up loud, really loud.
Main idea and supporting details…
In July of 1979, life for the music lover was about to change.
Family sing-alongs would be no more.
Never again would people have to hum their favorite song while waiting at the doctor’s office.
And all the kids who had ever heard “Turn that music down!” were about to get what they always wanted.
They were going to be able to turn it up loud, really loud.
How will it change?
The Music In Your Head
Before the birth of the portable tape player, people were stuck having to listen to whatever was playing. Everyone knows that feeling, the frustration of being trapped in a long line as the worst song you’ve ever heard blasts from a speaker in the ceiling. Most of us also know the feeling of being trapped when buckled into a friend’s car but not allowed to touch the radio. Before it was portable, music was something that groups of people shared. Whole rooms were forced to listen to the same music.
(Treasures, p. 710)
Main idea and supporting details…
Before the birth of the portable tape player, people were stuck having to listen to whatever was playing.
Everyone knows that feeling, the frustration of being trapped in a long line as the worst song you’ve ever heard blasts from a speaker in the ceiling.
Most of us also know the feeling of being trapped when buckled into a friend’s car but not allowed to touch the radio.
Before it was portable, music was something that groups of people shared. Whole rooms were forced to listen to the same music.
Why?
Our turn
Let’s choose an easy topic to practice supporting our main ideas in writing to inform…
Such as topics we know about…
For example, the benefits of School rules Fields trips Homework School dances
School dances rock! At a dance, we get to hang out with our friends. We also meet new people who are not in our classes. And, of course, we get to dance which is a lot of fun.
Main idea and supporting details…
School dances rock!
we get to hang out with our friends
we get to meet new people who are not in our classes
we get to dance which is a lot of fun
Why?
Your turn
With a partner, choose a topic that you know about and write a paragraph with main idea and supporting details
On your own…
Revise a paragraph in a transactive piece in your folder to include supporting details
Reflection…
How did examining writer’s craft in these excerpts help you in your writing?
How does adding supporting details help your reader?
Why is it important in to support your ideas with details?
References
Adapted from the work of:
Lynne R. Dorfman @ Rose Cappelli in Mentor Texts
Lucy Calkins’ Units of Study for Primary Writing
By Jennifer Bernhard
Clark County Schools
