Writing Workshop Session 13 (Research-Based Information Writing)

Quoting With a Purpose in Mind

Connection:

Why do you think writers use quotations? "Huh?"

Today I want to teach you that when writers get ready to write final drafts, they not only have a plan in their heads and some rehearsal under their belts, but they also have their quotations at their sides.  They use each quotation for a purpose as they write their final piece.  

Teaching:

You have a list of quotations-at least a few that you think are important to use in your writing.  

You will write your ideas and then pull in the quotations as you go, when they can help your writing, where they serve their purpose.

Here is a list of some quotations:

I think about where the quotations will come, in my plan.  What will they do for my writing?

If I started out with 'Organizations that Help' -I would need a quote that serves the purpose of showing an organization that helps this cause.  I think the following quote goes well with that because it shows how one organization is helping.

'Since 1993, Camfed has educated girls and supported young women to help tackle poverty in rural communities. More than 2,420,000 children in the poorest areas of Ghana, Malawi, Tanzaia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe have benefited from our innovative education programs.' (camfed.org)

Now I can begin writing the chapter, looking back at the plan and quote I've chosen to incorporate first.  Here is what was written...

Active Engagement:
Time to get started doing what I just showed you.  Look through your notes and decide which quotations to use for each part.

Link:
When writing draw on everything you know as you draft-not just what you know about using quotations.  Look at the chart...
Writing Information Text Well  in the room.

Add the following:

• Incorporate quotations to:
• Bring a person to life
• Build an idea
• Highlight information
• Give authority to your writing

Mid-Workshop Teaching:

Some of you may be having trouble linking your quotes to the rest of your writing. 

Remember: Writers don't just guide their readers up to the quotation.  They also guide the reader out  of the quotation-by explaining it.  In other words writers don't just include a quotation  and then move right away to the next thought.  Writing does not work well that way.  Instead, writers nearly always add analysis or explanation after the quotations; in most cases they say why the quotation is in there. Writers even add adjectives about the quotation as they lead into explaining...

     Try These:

• According to the article__________________
• This shocking fact reveals________________
• In the text ___________by __________the author states,"
• This quote hightlights____________________

Share:
Using students work talk about different ways to introduce and give background information on a source.  
Homework:
Polish Writing As A Way To Go Public
Tonight you will polish your writing for the celebrations.  We will celebrate by having a special book exhibit where you can share your competed books with everyone in the class.  you will want to bring your best writing as you go public.  This is your chance to get your message out to the world and communicate all the thinking and crafting your have been rehearsing for the last several weeks. You will harness all of the revisions and editing strategies you have been practicing tonight as you prepare your books.  The celebration swill be your opportunity to let it shine.  But if you want to make your book gleam during the celebration, you have to do some serious polishing tonight.  Use all you know -from this unit and from earlier writer workshops-and do the best work you can!!