12th Grade Writing-Expository Resources

Writing Graphic Organizers Narrative, Informational, & Argumentative (fiction & nonfiction) 3rd-12th Grade. Transform your classroom into a vibrant community of young writers. These Graphic Organizers are not just tools; they're gateways to creativity, critical thinking, and effective communication. Perfect for lesson planning, writing workshops, and individual student projects, this resource is a must-have for every 3rd to 12th-grade teacher, aiming to inspire and nurture the next generation of writers.

Start Today:

Incorporate these Graphic Organizers into your teaching toolkit and witness the remarkable growth in your students' writing abilities. Engage, educate, and inspire with every lesson – your journey to fostering exceptional writing skills begins now.

Included In This Packet:

⭐ Narrative

• Story Mountain Writing Plan
• Creative Writing Plan
• Short Story
• Main Idea
• Problem & Solution
• The Helpful Hamburger
• Description Bubble Map

⭐ Informational:

• Expository
• Research Planning Organizer
• Research Planning Organizer
• Research Chart
• Research

⭐ Argumentive:

• Planning an argument
• Persuasive Map
• Opinion Writing

⭐ Extra:

• Problem & Solution
• Story Sequence
• Main Idea
• Life Cycle
• A Hero Who Inspires Me
• Cause & Effect

⭐ Suggestions for Use:

• Sub plans
• Fun assessment
• Whole class or group activities
• Thematic connections
• Morning work

Don't delay – unlock the potential of your classroom with these Graphic Organizers today**!**

Resources that will keep you organized and ready every morning to teach.

⭐ Reading Graphic Organizers

⭐ Story Elements Plot Diagram

⭐ Reading Comprehension Toolkit

⭐ Guided Reading Toolkit

⭐ A-To Z Level Reading

⭐ Close Reading Toolkit

⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏⤏

Thank you so much for your support and wonderful feedback!

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Thank you so much for all you do for students as educators!

M. Tehfe

Literacy Tales

Where Stories Come Alive✎

Engage Your Students with a Thoughtful September 11 Quotes Analysis Assignment

Students will read through 17 quotes from 911 (including those from Barack Obama, Joe Biden, etc) and choose one quote they connect to and complete an in depth analysis. The PDF copy of the article is embedded in the google doc, and is also included separately.

What's Included:

• Comprehensive Analysis Worksheet
  Guide your students through a deep exploration of significant quotes from September 11. The worksheet prompts them to think critically about the context, literal and figurative meanings, emotional impact, and historical significance of their chosen quote.
• Two-Paragraph Writing Assignment
  Students will write two well-developed paragraphs that analyze their quote and reflect on its importance in understanding the events of September 11. This activity strengthens their analytical and writing skills.
• Detailed Rubric
  Ensure clear expectations with a rubric that covers content understanding, depth of analysis, personal reflection, proofreading, and mechanics.
• Class Discussion Component
  Foster meaningful conversations by encouraging students to share their insights and perspectives with their peers.

I have used this both in my US History and ELA classrooms when discussing 911, and it always results in some great and important discussions.

This resource is for personal use in one classroom only. Please do not distribute

to others or post publically online (within your Google Classroom, etc. is

permitted). If a friend or colleague would enjoy this resource, you may

purchase additional licenses at a discounted price. The information ,activities

and images included are copyrighted. You may not reuse or sell any part of

this resource as your own. 

I would love to hear how you used this resource in your classroom. Please leave your feedback for TeachShare credits towards your next purchase.

To view more of my products, visit my store at Nemo's Nook.

Introducing how to evaluate a prompt, choose the best ideas, and write a 5 paragraph essay has never been easier! This resource provides an in-depth explanation on how to organize and structure a five paragraph essay. From the struggling writer to the advanced writer, this resource offers something for everyone.

The students will be introduced to how to identify and develop the parts of a paragraph - including writing leads and summaries, transition words and phrases, supporting evidence, sentence structure, etc.

This lesson guides students through the entire process of writing a 5 paragraph essay. The slide show and worksheets allow students to practice their writing skills, while also reinforcing guided note-taking techniques. The detailed lesson plans make implementing the lesson easy for teachers.

This no-prep lesson is adaptable for in-class instruction, distance learning, or independent student work. The PowerPoint can be presented as whole class instruction or assigned for students to complete at home.

All materials are available in both Google Drive™ and print formats, ensuring easy access for all students.easy access for all students.

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This lesson about how to evaluate a prompt and write a 5 Paragraph Essay includes:

Lesson Plan with:

• Common Core State Standards Indicated on lesson plan
• Instructional Focus
• Instructional Procedures
• Objectives/Goals
• Direct Instruction
• Guided Practice
• Enrichment
• Differentiation
• I Can Statement
• Essential Question
• ESE Strategies
• ELL Strategies

Worksheets with:

• Explanations and examples of the 4 paragraph essay
• Opportunities for students to practice guided note-taking
• “Now It's Your Turn” section for students to practice skills learned
• Two anchor 5 paragraph essays with examples of six traits™ & supporting evidence

PowerPoint Presentation with:

• Introduction slides with explanations for each individual paragraph
• Guided note-taking sections
• Examples of structure for paragraphs
• Interactive slides for student participation
• Two anchor 5 paragraph essays with examples of six traits™ & supporting evidence

Google Slides™

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The lessons in the High School Introduction to Writing Unit include:

• The Writing Process
• 6 Traits of Writing™
• How to Write a 4 Paragraph Essay
• How to Write a 5 Paragraph Essay
• General Statement and Detail Statements
• Thesis Statements
• Writing for Standardized Tests
• Multiple Choice Writing Tests Unit - 3 Lessons

*****************************************************************************************

Connect with me for the latest Write On! with Jamie news:

• YouTube
• Instagram
• Write On! with Jamie Blog
• FB Community for 6-12 ELA Teachers

. . . and visit my WRITE ON! with Jamie website for a free TEXT EVIDENCE WRITING LESSON! 

Write On!

Jamie

© Google Inc.™ All rights reserved. Google™ and the Google Logo are registered trademarks of Google Inc.™ Write On! with Jamie® is an independent company and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Google Inc.™

Terms of Use

Copyright © Write On! with Jamie. All rights reserved by author. All components of this product are to be used by the original downloader only. Copying for more than one teacher, classroom, department, school, or school system is prohibited unless additional licenses are purchased. This product may not be distributed or displayed digitally for public view. Failure to comply is a copyright infringement and a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Clipart and elements found in this product are copyrighted and cannot be extracted and used outside of this file without permission or license. Intended for classroom and personal use ONLY.

This 45-page EDITABLE unit focuses on poems about cultural identity! The unit on promises to elicit dynamic engagement from all students without compromising on intellectual rigor.

The thirteen poems are divided into two reading packets, with the first packet focusing cultural roots and affirming ancestors, and the second packet focusing on cultural hybridity. Each reading packet is followed by a classwork packet that contains a quiz on literary devices, discussion questions for some of the poems, quick writes, and a creative writing assignment. Finally, a third packet features an analytical writing assignment, sample student paper, and glossary of literary devices.

Here's a detailed account of what you'll find in this 45-page curriculum:

• Homework Packets with Poems: The two homework packets contain a total of 13 love poems by award-winning poets such as Elizabeth Acevedo, Maya Angelou, Sandra Cisneros, Lisa Parker, Nate Marshall, Clint Smith, and others. (15 pages)

• Literary Devices Glossary: A glossary with definitions and examples of the various types of figurative language, imagery, sound devices, and syntactic devices. Many teachers already have a glossary of literary devices, but I'm providing this in case you need one. (2 pages)

• Literary Devices Quizzes: Open each class with a quiz of 10 questions to assess whether students can accurately identify the literary devices found in poems from the packet: metaphor, personification, symbolism, imagery, alliteration, etc. Answer keys included. (4 pages).

• Discussion Questions: This unit features a list of discussion questions for three poems featured in the homework packets. The discussion questions will ensure that each class discussion is focused and productive. Every discussion question is grounded in concrete textual details and challenges students to arrive at lucid interpretive insights! The questions lend themselves to a range of different pedagogical uses: 1) to focus students’ thinking prior to beginning a discussion, 2) to prompt in-class writing, 3) to assign written reflections for homework, etc. Guaranteed to elicit student engagement and foster deep thinking! Answer keys included. (15 pages)

• Quick Writes: The quick writes give students an opportunity to capture and refine the best ideas generated in the discussion. Quick writes can also help reticent students to gather their thoughts so they'll feel ready and eager to contribute. (3 pages)

• Analytical Writing Assignment: Challenge students to take their interpretations one step further by writing an analytical paper on a poem of their choice. The assignment sheet contains detailed instructions for how to generate a formalist analysis of a poem (analyzing how the poem's formal features contribute to its meaning). This kind of formalist analysis is exactly what students are asked to generate on the AP Literature exam! Sample paper included. (3 pages)

This entire 45-page unit will come to you in two separate formats: Word *and* PDF. Because the Word doc is fully editable, you'll be able to customize the materials to suit the skill levels of your students — year after year! If you don't have Microsoft Word, you'll still be able to access all of the materials as a PDF — which is easy to navigate and quick to print!

My store is called “Rigorous Resources” because all of the resources contain rigorous content that will motivate students to engage in thought-provoking and productive discussions. Thank you for choosing “Rigorous Resources”!!

Happy teaching!

Adam Jernigan, Ph.D.

adamjernigan@gmail.com

Links to all of the poetry units in this collection:

Poetry Unit #1: Sensory Imagery in Poetry

Poetry Unit #2: Figurative Language in Poetry

Poetry Unit #3: Love Poems

Poetry Unit #4: Ethical Dilemmas in Poetry

Poetry Unit #5: Family Dynamics in Poetry

Store: https://www.TeachShare.com/Store/Rigorous-Resources

The ultimate STAAR test writing prep for high school, designed to supercharge your writing skills and propel you towards success!

This file includes everything you need to excel in your STAAR test, from fiction passages to non-fiction passages, paired passages, and multiple writing prompts.

This exercise will enhance your student's ability to synthesize information and develop well-rounded arguments. To help you tackle the writing prompts with confidence, differentiated student rubrics are included that outline clear expectations and criteria for success. These rubrics will guide your students in crafting well-structured, coherent, and persuasive essays.

What's Included:

• Fiction Passages
• Non-fiction passages
• Paired passage
• Multiple writing prompts
• Differentiated Student Rubrics
• Writing Checklist
• Student Resources
• PDF & Word Files

15 famous plagiarism cases and students get to "be the judge"! Fact based handouts with real life cases and research component to build critical thinking, plagiarism, and research skills. includes: 15 Famous People: MLK, Jr. Barack Obama Joe Biden Ray Parker Michael Bolton John Fogerty George Harrison T.S. Eliot Melania Trump Vanilla Ice J.K. Rowling Robin Thicke Jane Goodall Johnny Cash Helen Keller Handouts include: 15 black and white famous people images (optional: color these) Backgrounds of person Plagiarism charges Debates over charges Research component Verdicts of cases Guilty or Innocent boxes Guilty or Innocent evidence t-charts 3 Narrative and Rhetorical Discussion/Writing Prompts on each handout = 45 prompts (each with a "You be the judge..." prompt) Note: Does NOT include copies of lyrics, novels, or speeches due to copyright infringement laws. These are used to enhance students' research skills. Fun, engaging, and educational way to learn about plagiarism and explore real life connections to the topic while using research skills. Excellent for introduction to plagiarism, follow-up to unit, assessment of skills, character building, homeschool, AP/Pre-AP, dual credit, adult learners, ELL/ESL upper level learners, flipped classes, literature centers, building research skills, and real life connections to writing. Provides basic history of famous people. Use with: Having Fun with Plagiarism at: https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Having-Fun-with-Plagiarism-155008 Plagiarism Quiz at: https://www.TeachShare.com/Product/Plagiarism-Quiz-167314 Follow Educator Helper Blogspot for weekly free products and tips at: http://bethhammett.blogspot.com/

This 3-page form asks students to specifically rate their performance on the 6 components of effective effort on a given essay: TIME, FOCUS, RESOURCEFULNESS, USE OF STRATEGIES, USE OF FEEDBACK, and COMMITMENT. This product is modeled after teachings from The Skillful Teacher by Jon Saphier, Mary Ann Haley-Speca, and Robert Gower and encourages a growth mindset in students. I provide this form to my students every single time I assign a paper and am always pleasantly surprised at how honest they are in their responses, especially as the incentive for guessing their grade is 2 bonus points! ____________________________________________________________________________ Also, check out this great lesson plan for teaching Effective Effort by Language Arts Excellence: ⭐Effective Effort Lesson Plan ____________________________________________________________________________ ⭐Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence⭐

These Newspaper Article Templates are SO easy to use! These newspaper template graphic organizers can be used in Google Slides or can be printed on paper for students to write on!

These no-prep worksheets can be used for ANY subject area, writing assignment, or information-gathering activity in your classroom.

This newspaper templates product is so versatile that you can use it all year long in multiple subject areas!

NOTE: Students can now use these templates in Google Slides! DOWNLOAD this file and refer to the final seven pages of the file for the digital distance learning option.

Newspaper templates can be used for any of the following: book reports, All About Me, science or social studies reports, expository writing, assessments of learning, or fun facts activities.

Some ideas include:

• book reports
• an All About Me Unit
• science or social studies reports
• expository writing
• assessments of learning
• reflection activities
• fun facts activities

There are 13 templates with the newspaper's name printed on the front (The Chatty Commentator, The Social Studies Star, Book Report Times, The Babbling Bulletin, etc.). These are followed by 13 templates with varying borders, layouts, and phrases on the front (students create their own newspaper name).

Each of the 26 templates is followed by the back side with a matching border.

Each template includes doodle clip art for illustrations, images, or photos. Of course, an obvious option is for students to illustrate their own pictures on the printed pages. Other options might include printing pictures from the internet, drawing diagrams, or creating information tables.

In the Google Slides options, students right-click on the empty square and replace it with an image.

These newspaper templates can be used for the2nd-12th grade, homeschooling, or camp/activities outside school.

NOTE: THIS FILE INCLUDES A DIGITAL DISTANCE LEARNING OPTION!

This product includes a digital option (as well as the no prep printable option). The instructions for utilizing the digital portion appear at the end of the packet.

Please reach out with any questions before purchasing this product!

Are you hunting for a FUN way to get your ESL ELL secondary students using argumentative writing? This Thanksgiving themed unit includes resources to break down teaching writing and provides examples and aids!

5 days of lessons in this mini unit - NO PREP

Your Students Will:

• Develop vocabulary
• Analyze text
• Apply knowledge
• Practice speaking and listening skills while completing the activities
• Work on developing writing skills
• Complete research
• Have the opportunity to practice for tests.

This resource is ENGAGING and will have your secondary ESL students excited about writing. 

What’s Included:

• 5 days of lessons that have ZERO PREP
• Work that can be used for lower and higher level ELLs
• A guided teacher slide deck (50 slides) that covers EACH day's activities AND has all the linked resources
• A student Google Slides independent activity
• A writing rubric (PDF)
• Student writing note catcher with Pre writing, rough draft, and final draft formatting (Google Doc)
• POWERFUL WORDS handout (PDF)
• Linked recordings for the text and vocabulary
• Transition word support
• Preps students for the TELPAS, ACCESS and ELPAC state tests!
• Color coded steps for CLAIM--EVIDENCE---REASONS
• Student note catcher to document findings from videos and two texts
• Two different texts about a colonizer's perspective of Thanksgiving and Indigenous/Native American perspective on Thanksgiving (Google Doc)
• Group discussion and partner work
• Self edit slides with checklist
• Peer edit resources (PDF)
• Teacher conferences/feedback (PDF)
• Argumentative genre visual and checklist (PDF)
• Student vocabulary slides for independent practice/extension (Google Slides)
• Day by day instructions and agendas so you have to do NOTHING! :)

Look what other educators are saying:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Sarah A. wrote, “This was a perfect no prep writing unit for the week before Thanksgiving with my 10th grade ELLs! My students range from Emerging to Expanding and they did really well with it and wrote awesome argumentative essays. I loved the variety of activities and how guided the teacher slides were and the student note catcher. Everything was so clear and prepared that I could have easily left it for a sub as well. The debates we had were awesome about Thanksgiving and its history. Thank you!”

This Thanksgiving Mini Unit will bring some fun and engagement to your classroom! You don’t want to miss out on the EXCITING unit. Make sure to add this resource to your cart.

Check out these resources:

ESL Scary Story Writing Bundle

Multilingual Classroom Monthly Newsletter - Editable

Introduce your students to the complexities of Constitutional Law with this engaging and interactive worksheet! Students will step into the shoes of Supreme Court Justices to analyze a fictional First Amendment case.

This a fun activity when teaching about the First Amendment and/or the Supreme Court. This resource has students analyze a "fake" law that has been challenged all the way to the Supreme Court as violating the First Amendment. Students need to decide, based on the facts given and the language of the First Amendment, whether the law is Constitutional.

They also need to write an "opinion" of the Court and present to the class or submit for a grade. I usually have them do this in groups, but could also be done individually as a short assessment.

Features:

• Step-by-Step Instructions: Easy-to-follow guidelines help students navigate the case analysis process.
• Opinion Writing: A structured template assists students in organizing their thoughts and presenting a clear argument.
• Critical Thinking: Encourages students to consider multiple perspectives and develop sound critical thinking and reasoning skills.
• Classroom Ready: Printable PDF format for easy distribution and use in any classroom setting.

(This activity is not necessarily looking for a correct answer, but is looking to assess how well students understand and can analyze the language of the First Amendment based on a given set of facts).

This can usually be done in one 50 minute class period.

This resource is for personal use in one classroom only. Please do not distribute

to others or post publically online (within your Google Classroom, etc. is

permitted). If a friend or colleague would enjoy this resource, you may

purchase additional licenses at a discounted price. The information ,activities

and images included are copyrighted. You may not reuse or sell any part of

this resource as your own. 

I would love to hear how you used this resource in your classroom. Please leave your feedback for TeachShare credits towards your next purchase.

To view more of products, please check out my store at Nemo's Nook.

Introducing how to evaluate a prompt, choose the best ideas, and write a thesis statement in a writing lead has never been easier! This resource provides an in-depth introduction and explanation of writing a thesis statement and topic sentences for different types of writing. Color-coded anchor paragraphs demonstrate the writing process.

Additionally, writing prompt evaluation with examples of brainstorming ideas and choosing which to include in the essay provide students the opportunity to practice the skills they have learned. From the struggling writer to the advanced writer, this resource offers something for everyone.

This resource explains the entire process of writing a thorough and concise thesis statement. The video, PowerPoint, and worksheets allow students to practice and develop their writing skills. The detailed lesson plans make implementing the lesson easy for teachers.

This no-prep lesson is adaptable for in-class instruction, distance learning, or independent student work. The PowerPoint can be presented as whole class instruction or assigned for students to complete at home.

All materials are available in both Google Drive™ and print formats, ensuring easy access for all students.

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This lesson about how to evaluate a prompt and write a Thesis Statement includes:

Entertaining Instructional Video with:

• Identifying and evaluating various types of writing prompts
• Brainstorming ideas and evidence
• Advanced word choice for thesis statements
• Analyzing ideas and evidence
• Revision techniques
• Individual practice with writing a thesis statement
• Step-by-step instructions for completing the worksheets

Lesson Plan with:

• Common Core State Standards indicated on lesson plan
• Instructional Focus
• Instructional Procedures
• Objectives/Goals
• Direct Instruction
• Guided Practice
• Enrichment
• Differentiation
• I Can Statement
• Essential Question
• ESE Strategies
• ELL Strategies

Worksheets with:

• Explanations and examples of the different methods for evaluating prompts and writing a thesis statement
• Practice determining ideas and advanced word choice
• Examples of implied thesis and standard thesis
• Opportunities for students to practice guided note-taking
• “Now It's Your Turn” section for students to practice skills learned

PowerPoint Presentation with:

• Introduction slides with explanations of prompts and thesis statements
• Practice determining ideas and advanced word choice
• Examples of implied thesis and standard thesis
• Guided note-taking sections
• Examples of prompts and thesis statements used in essays

Google Slides™

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The lessons in the High School Introduction to Writing Unit include:

• The Writing Process
• 6 Traits of Writing™
• How to Write a 4 Paragraph Essay
• How to Write a 5 Paragraph Essay
• General Statement and Detail Statements
• Thesis Statements
• Writing for Standardized Tests
• Multiple Choice Writing Tests Unit - 3 Lessons

*****************************************************************************************

Connect with me for the latest Write On! with Jamie news:

• YouTube
• Instagram
• Write On! with Jamie Blog
• FB Community for 6-12 ELA Teachers

. . . and visit my WRITE ON! with Jamie website for a free TEXT EVIDENCE WRITING LESSON! 

Write On!

Jamie

© Google Inc.™ All rights reserved. Google™ and the Google Logo are registered trademarks of Google Inc.™ Write On! with Jamie® is an independent company and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Google Inc.™

Terms of Use

Copyright © Write On! with Jamie. All rights reserved by author. All components of this product are to be used by the original downloader only. Copying for more than one teacher, classroom, department, school, or school system is prohibited unless additional licenses are purchased. This product may not be distributed or displayed digitally for public view. Failure to comply is a copyright infringement and a violation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). Clipart and elements found in this product are copyrighted and cannot be extracted and used outside of this file without permission or license. Intended for classroom and personal use ONLY.

NEW IN 2020: Rigorous! Engaging! Thought-provoking! This 20-page EDITABLE document will invite your students to analyze the complex characters in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. These daily writing activities promise to elicit dynamic engagement from all students without compromising on intellectual rigor. The worksheets will challenge your students to dig beneath the surface of the text and generate profound interpretive insights!

As you know, studying Fitzgerald’s nuanced construction of the characters is crucial for understanding this character-driven novel. These handouts will help students to develop a much deeper understanding of the characters while building skills in close reading!

What you'll get are 18 worksheets — two for each of the novel's 9 chapters — that invite students to analyze the main characters in The Great Gatsby. Each handout features a carefully selected passage that reveals key details about a character. Invite your students to write short paragraphs in which they analyze what the textual details reveal about the main characters. The worksheets focus on the following characters:

Nick Carraway

Jay Gatsby

Myrtle Wilson

George Wilson

Daisy Buchanan

Tom Buchanan

Jordan Baker

Henry Gatz

Because two worksheets are provided for each chapter, you can either select which worksheet to distribute or else allow students to choose which characters they wish to analyze. Admins and students alike will be thrilled to see you expanding students' voice and choice!

These worksheets will come to you in a 20-page EDITABLE Word document which you can customize to the needs of your students! The previews for my resources provide access to dozens of pages of actual content. Click on the green “PREVIEW” button to see what you’ll get. . . .

Thank you for choosing “Rigorous Resources”!!

Happy teaching!

Adam Jernigan, Ph.D.

adamjernigan@gmail.com

Note: These character analysis worksheets are also included in my Gatsby MEGA-Bundle. The bundle contains everything you'll need to deliver amazing and comprehensive lessons on Fitzgerald's novel: over 40 slides plus over 240 pages of content-rich handouts and activities. If you've already purchased the bundle, you don't need to purchase these worksheets. Thanks!

Click to view the Gatsby MEGA-Bundle

Click to view my TeachShare store

• Do you need help getting your students to understand how text is structured and how authors craft their writing?
• Do you want them to practice aligning ideas and writing their own?

Help your students master paragraph structure with this comprehensive resource designed for middle and high school learners. "Building Strong Paragraphs" focuses on key writing skills such as identifying topic sentences, supporting details, and crafting thesis statements. This ready-to-use packet includes practice worksheets, engaging exercises, and thesis sentence-building activities that will enhance your students' writing abilities.

Ideal for both informational and argumentative writing, this resource walks students through the entire process of constructing well-organized, coherent paragraphs. Whether you're teaching how to develop supporting sentences, transition between ideas, or conclude effectively, this resource covers it all!

What's Included:

• Graphic Organizer for understanding structure
• Identification exercise
• Two Unique Passages per skill: topic sentences, thesis statements, supporting sentences & concluding sentences
• 9 Passages
• 20 Pages
• Available as a PDF and a Word Document

Perfect for:

• Grades 6-10
• English Language Arts (ELA) Teachers
• Writing Workshops
• STAAR Writing Prep
• Argumentative and Informational Essay Practice

Benefits of this Resource:

• Aligned with Common Core Standards and TEKS for writing.
• Great for differentiated learning in classrooms with ELLs and students needing extra practice.
• Supports critical thinking and writing clarity.

Who is this for?

• Middle and High School Teachers: Perfect for educators looking to strengthen their students’ paragraph-writing skills with structured, step-by-step activities.
• ELA Teachers: Aligned with TEKS and Common Core standards, this resource is ideal for anyone teaching informational and argumentative writing.
• Students Preparing for Standardized Tests: Great for test prep, including STAAR writing, helping students improve clarity, coherence, and overall writing structure.
• Special Education & ELL Support: Easily adaptable for differentiated instruction, making it an excellent tool for classrooms with diverse learners, including English Language Learners and students with varying writing levels.
• Homeschool Educators: A valuable resource for guiding students through the fundamentals of paragraph writing at home.

One-page quiz for introduction or assessment to working with citations. Whole group or individual activity that combines technology and how to properly cite research materials.

The first version of our Collaborative Story Time has been so popular that we decided to create a second edition to give our valued teachers more options. You do not need to have the first edition to enjoy this one but definitely check it out!

"Collaborative Story Time" is a communal writing activity in which students practice using Freytag's Pyramid plot structure in their own narrative writing. In this activity, each student begins a story inspired by a unique evocative photograph. They are prompted to write the exposition of the tale by introducing the setting and main characters. After the allotted amount of time, the story is then passed to another student who is prompted to write the inciting incident or conflict and begin to detail the rising action. The paper is passed from student to student twice more until the story is resolved. When the stories are finished, the worksheet is returned to the original student who can then make edits and is responsible for producing a final draft.

With this intrinsically engaging activity, each student has the chance to tap into their creativity while applying knowledge of the 7 steps of Freytag's Pyramid. It is a great activity to introduce or reinforce the plot diagram and is perfect for a Friday, a substitute plan, or simply for when students need a creative break without sacrificing learning and hard work. I trust you will find that your students will ask for this activity again and again!

Product Includes:

• 30 unique "Collaborative Story Time" worksheets with evocative photographs (2-sided)
• 1 blank worksheet so that you may include your own picture or photograph

_______________________________________________________________________________

And because your students will be begging for more of these unique communal writing activities:

⭐ Christmas Collaborative Writing Activity

⭐ Fall Themed Collaborative Writing Activity

⭐ Halloween Collaborative Writing Activity

⭐ Summer Collaborative Writing Activity

⭐ Valentine's Day Collaborative Writing Activity

⭐ Winter Themed Collaborative Writing Activity

_______________________________________________________________________________

Click to Follow Language Arts Excellence

Are you hunting for a FUN way to get your ESL ELL secondary multilingual students using argumentative writing? This argumentative unit includes resources to break down teaching writing and provides examples and aids! This unit is connected to the WIDA KEY USE: ARGUE standards and will help get your expanding and long term ELLs the practice they need to test out of the ELL program!

4 weeks of lessons in this mini unit - NO PREP STUDENT WORKBOOK!

Your Students Will:

• Develop vocabulary
• Analyze text
• Apply knowledge
• Understand the genre of ARGUMENTATIVE WRITING
• Develop skills for the WIDA KEY USE: ARGUE
• Work on developing writing skills
• Use transitions
• Construct final drafts of an argumentative writing piece
• Practice all the parts of argumentative writing
• Use a rubric to guide their writing
• Edit each other's work

This resource is ENGAGING and will have your secondary ESL students excited about writing!

TOPICS:

1) Is Technology Making Us Smarter or Dumber?

2) Are Video Games Helpful or Harmful?

3) Online Learning vs Classroom Learning--Which one is better?

What’s Included:

• Engaging reading passages for SECONDARY ELL ML students
• 62 page printable workbook for students for the whole unit!
• Teacher Slides (Google) to guide and anchor your lessons day by day!
• Writing Rubric
• Teacher Feedback Form
• Digital Writing Template for Students (Google Doc) for rough and final drafts!
• Peer editing resource!
• 3 weeks of lessons that have ZERO PREP
• Writing scaffolds built in
• Linked recordings for the text and vocabulary
• Transition word support
• Structure to prep students for the TELPAS, ACCESS and ELPAC state tests!
• Color coded steps for INTRO--CLAIM--EVIDENCE---REASONS--COUNTERARGUMENT--CONCLUSION/SUMMARY
• Fun engaging topics and graphics for secondary students

Introducing how to create a writing lead and summary has never been easier! This lesson includes an introduction and thorough explanation of how to write a writing lead and summary. Additionally, anchor paragraphs provide students the opportunity to see how the writing process works. From the struggling writer to the advanced writer, this resource offers something for everyone.

Numerous examples are included on the slide show, so students can identify the corrections. These examples are included on the student worksheets, so the students can make the corrections and identifications on their own. Detailed lesson plans make implementing the lesson easy for teachers.

This no-prep lesson is adaptable for in-class instruction, distance learning, or independent student work. The PowerPoint can be presented as whole class instruction or assigned for students to complete at home.

All materials are available in both Google Drive™ and print formats, ensuring easy access for all students.

The types of writing leads and summaries in the lesson are:

• Personal Experience Writing Lead and Conclusion
• Quotation Writing Lead and Conclusion
• Figurative Language Writing Lead and Conclusion
• Interesting Question Writing Lead and Conclusion
• Riddle Writing Lead and Conclusion
• Opinion Writing Lead and Conclusion
• Definition Writing Lead and Conclusion

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This lesson about how to write a Several Methods of Writing Hooks- Writing Leads and Summaries includes:

Lesson Plan with:

• Common Core State Standards Indicated on lesson plan
• Instructional Focus
• Instructional Procedures
• Objectives/Goals
• Direct Instruction
• Guided Practice
• Enrichment
• Differentiation
• I Can Statement
• Essential Question
• ESE Strategies
• ELL Strategies

\Worksheets with:

• Explanations and examples of numerous methods of writing hooks - writing leads
• Explanations and examples of numerous methods of writing summaries - writing conclusions
• Opportunities for students to practice guided note-taking
• “Now It's Your Turn” section for students to practice skills learned

Slide Show Presentation with:

• Introduction slides with explanations of numerous methods of how to write a writing hook - writing lead
• Explanations and examples of several methods of how to write a writing summary - writing conclusion
• Guided note-taking sections
• Examples of each type of writing hook- writing lead used in essays
• Examples of each type of writing ending - writing conclusion used in essays

Google Slides™

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The lessons in the High School Introductions & Conclusions Bundle include:

• Writing Leads and Endings -Several Methods for Essay Introductions & Conclusions
• Writing Leads - Creative Writing Hook Leads and Endings - Intros and Conclusions
• Writing Leads - General Statement & Details - Writing Hook Leads & Endings
• Writing Leads - Quote Writing Hook Leads and Endings - Intros and Conclusions

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This 25-page EDITABLE writing curriculum has everything you'll need to help your students write high-quality analytical papers on any literary text. This unit was originally designed for high school English teachers who want to help students improve their analytical writing. But teachers across other disciplines report that it has helped them to deliver clear and informative lessons on how to write high-quality expository essays.

Here are some highlights from this 25-page unit on analytical/expository writing:

• The Writing Process (Handout #1): This handout offers several tips about how to choose a topic for an analytical paper on literature. Encourage your students to use the writing process as an opportunity to deepen their knowledge about the text. (4 pages)

• The Intro Paragraph: Hook & Thesis (Handout #2): In the first page of this handout, students learn to identify and formulate the interpretive questions which they will hope to answer or solve while writing their papers. The challenge of "problem construction" will present most high school students with the opportunity to develop a new and exciting skill — one that will serve them well in college and beyond. In the second and third pages of this handout, students learn to write thesis statements that balance complexity with clarity. They learn to use grammatical subordination in order to generate a main claim that is sufficiently complex to anchor an entire paper. (4 pages)

• Body Paragraphs: Evidence & Analysis (Handout #3): In this handout, students learn about how "evidence" in the humanities differs from evidence in the sciences. Because evidence in the humanities is rarely factual or indisputable, student writers will always need to frame, unpack, and analyze their evidence. This handout offers several suggestions about how, as it were, to "make the evidence speak." It also offers strategies for how to organize evidence into a series of body paragraphs that build upon one another in a logical and compelling manner. (2 pages)

• Topic Sentences / Transitional Sentences (Handout #4): This handout offers advice about how students can use transitional expressions to clarify the logical connections between the claims in each of their topic sentences. It includes a list of different types of transitional expressions along with several examples. (2 pages)

• Precepts for Effective Prose (Handout #5): This handout features about a dozen precepts or "rules of thumb" that students should follow when writing academic papers. The handout contains brief paragraphs on each of the following topics: Avoid plot summary; Always use the present tense; Minimize intensifiers; Alternatives to writing "It says"!! (2 pages)

• Sample Introductory Paragraphs: Look at six introductory paragraphs from articles published by literary scholars in academic journals over the last decade. Invite students to reflect on what they find to be particularly effective — or ineffective —about each introductory paragraph. How does each writer hook the reader's interest? How do they construct an interpretive problem? How do they generate a complex thesis statement? (6 pages)

• Paper Outline Template: Invite students to use this template when generating the outlines for their analytical papers. (3 pages)

• Rubric: Use this rubric to evaluate the analytical papers that your students write in response to any literary text. (1 page)

The entire writing unit will come to you in two different formats: Word doc *and* PDF. Because the Word doc is editable, you'll be able to customize the materials to suit your teaching style and/or your students' skill levels — year after year! If you don't have Microsoft Word, you'll still be able to access the entire unit as a PDF file, which is easy to navigate and quick to print!

Because I believe that teachers on TeachShare should be able to see what they're getting before they make a purchase, the preview for this resource provides access more than a dozen actual pages from the resource. Click on the green “preview” button to see exactly what you’ll get....

Thank you for choosing “Rigorous Resources”!!

Happy teaching!

Adam Jernigan, Ph.D.

adamjernigan@gmail.com

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Feel free to check out these other resources on writing:

How to Write a College Application Essay

How to Write an Poem Analysis Essay (AP Lit FRQ 1)

How to Frame Quotations or Embed Evidence

Figurative Language Stations

Show your students exactly how it should be done with this handy guide. Clear instructions, examples, and a page for their own notes!

This free resource goes perfect with the All Things English for Middle and High School Students book!

And check out these other resources!

• Defending Disney Villains
• Revising & Editing Workbook
• Revising & Editing for Group Lessons
• Bell Ringers for the Semester
• Everything Writing

Defines the term "paragraph" plus how to build paragraphs along with different types of paragraphs and relationship words for each. Included are: General, Analysis, Chronology, Least to most important, Most to least important, Logical, Subordinating, Coordinating. Easy to follow with examples of styles given.