In designing an authentic writing program, the teacher must show students at the outset that what they write will be read. The concept of audience is an essential part of Duke and Hall's work on authentic writing programs. One of the most important aspects of authentic writing is connecting students to different styles and forms of text.
Authentic writing lessons can be provided within the writing workshop just like other writing lessons. Most of my individual theory on authentic writing came from the work of Duke and Hall (2006) and Purcell-Gates, Duke, and Martineau (2007).
Authentic Writing Curriculum Launching a Classroom Newspaper
Curriculum Implementation
The newspaper format enabled him to work in an authentic format that he would otherwise not have had the opportunity to develop in school. His enthusiasm for and understanding of sports (especially football) is at a level higher than most students his age. Not only does he enjoy writing about football, but he is able to write in a format where he is very successful.
The ability to write about the game of football gave Drew (a future sportswriter in my biased opinion) an opportunity to practice a format he enjoyed and could learn from. She told me that it meant so much to Drew to be able to share his love of the sport as it is. I have seen tremendous growth throughout the year in the variety of writing styles they are proficient in, as well as the development of other important writing skills.
Goals
Arrangement of Lessons and Newspaper Creation
The lessons in the curriculum are what I have focused on with my group of students; however, there are many other teaching topics that I taught one-on-one with students. The following list shows more fully what I have worked with individuals or small groups of students after they showed interest:.
Other possible topics
During the lessons in this part of the project, the teacher can make use of different groups. Initial, formative lessons will require whole class participation, while some activities will be more effective in small groups or individual groups. Students can be warned that even college students choose to learn more about newspapers through studying journalism.
Many of the following lessons within this curriculum can also begin with a purposeful discussion of whatever mini-lesson is being taught. Multiple copies should be made available at launch as well as throughout the year for students to see. Children's magazines can also be featured because they include great examples of articles and other formats that can be used.
As students review, they will be asked to identify some of the main sections of the newspaper. Students can be asked to find certain words, phrases or parts that they can cut out or circle. In this fun activity, students can cut and glue pieces of newspaper to paper to create art.
This activity can also be adapted into a literacy activity where students can cut out letters (ransom note style) to create words from the word wall.
Lesson Plan: Writing Newspaper “Stories”/Articles Two to Three Days
After a class discussion, students will work individually to write their first newspaper-worthy newspaper article. Students should be reminded that this is their first time writing a newspaper article, and while they should try to make it sound as professional as possible, this is still just practice. Depending on the students' readiness, the teacher may want to lead a whole-class or small-class discussion about possible topics in our class or school.
This first article writing activity will be structured with a reporter's sheet designed to guide students as they research the 5Ws and write their first story. As students begin to answer important questions about their articles, they can work with other students to make sure they include all the important details. The teacher will also meet briefly with each student to ensure they select newsworthy stories and write them using the 5W strategy as a guide.
If possible, the teacher can arrange for a real newspaper reporter to come to class one day and talk to the students about writing newspaper articles. Tech link: http://www.headlinehistory.co.uk/# This children's website includes lots of real, historical news stories for students to research.
Reporter Guide
Keep the article short - don't bore your reader and don't make it too complicated to understand.
The lists they compile will be turned into the teacher where they are made into a comprehensive class list. This list can be added to later, but it will be kept visible so students can remember what the audience wants. For homework that night, the students will be assigned to talk to one person who is likely to read our class paper and ask them the same question.
A UDIENCE
A SK THEM WHAT THEY WOULD ENJOY TO READ AND KNOW MORE ABOUT
WHAT THEY SAID
The teacher will begin by sharing a "book review I wish I had written." The joint review will be of a book the class has already read, but the actual title will be omitted. The teacher will read the review and then ask the students to guess which book it is about. The teacher can ask, "What information did the book review tell you about the book?".
All opinions must be supported with reasons and 3) Who the book is for (audience age). While writing reviews, students should have the book they are reviewing in front of them. As students write, the teacher will move around the room to offer advice or instructions.
If necessary, a small group of students will meet with the teacher to include more descriptive detail in their assessments if they already meet the necessary requirements. The teacher should have copies of any books the students want to review. The teacher will also need copies of numerous reviews for the students to use as examples as they write.
If any of the students have difficulty with any of the concepts in the book reviews, they will either verbally critique the book first with the teacher or meet in a small study group with the teacher.
This means that the questions they ask tend to get a yes, no or one word answer. Have students think of ways they can rework their questions to get longer and more detailed answers. They will write some interview questions (depending on time and level of expertise) for their partner and then share them.
To create a poll, a student must think of a question (preferably related to other newspaper topics or class events) to ask their classmates. The students will then go and ask all the students in the class for their answer. Writing quotations in the context of a newspaper allows students to learn the authentic use of quotations.
After this short tutorial mini-lesson, give students the opportunity to identify the use of quotations by newspaper authors within a real newspaper. Tell students that their stories can be improved by adding quotations within their writing. Now, using the highlighters, students will go through the article and underline the places where the quotations are used.
For upcoming articles, the teacher may challenge students to incorporate at least one quote into their articles.
Lesson Plan: Writing Photo Captions One Lesson
Lesson Plan: Creating Article Titles One Lesson
Lesson Plan: Finding a Topic 1 Day
Lesson plan: Find a topic 1 day. students) can be placed on a poster in the classroom to serve as a constant reminder. But when the class comes back to the classroom, we will share what was written down. Hopefully the class list of topics will be quite extensive, illustrating that there is a wealth of topic ideas just waiting to be discovered.
What do I know a lot about? What would my audience what to read about? Is the topic current and important?
Lesson Plan: Letters in the Newspaper Advice Columns and Letters to the Editor
3 Days
If a student has trouble thinking in this perspective, encourage them to think of a fairy tale character, as most students are very familiar with these stories. We had an advice column box in the room where students could ask their questions. Dear Joe” would read the questions and then choose the ones he wanted to answer.
Letters to the Editor is an additional format that will use what students have learned about letter writing. Sometimes local high school newspapers will send letters to the editor, and students enjoy reading these examples. Basically, they need to know that it is a way of expressing their opinion about a previously written article.
It can be a way of praising an article or angering a recent issue. Students need to know that this is not a way to insult other classmates or their newspaper articles.
Case Study- Tyler Assessment Focus
I'm convinced that given the amount of individual support he received along with "finding his voice" has made Tyler into the writer (and even reader) that he has become. In fact, Tyler was recently assessed in reading, where it was determined that he is now reading on grade level. I can answer questions for people and work on things that people can read.
When asked about her thoughts on the paper, she replied: “It's fantastic, absolutely fantastic. It takes everything in his power not to spill everything from his notebook... It makes him want to write. It makes it personal and takes away the fear of creativity because it's creative… [my favorite parts are] Ask Joe (because I'm biased) and the interviews because it's their chance to talk to someone.
I think it takes a lot of courage to interview adults.” When asked if she would like to suggest or change anything, she replied: “It's great the way it is!”.
