Common Core Top Pick for Writing

• Text Types and Purposes
• Production and Distribution of Writing

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Nonfiction Writing provides 16 units of instruction and practice activities. Each unit focuses on a specific nonfiction writing form and includes guided lessons with accompanying student pages that target skills essential to that writing form. The units are grouped into three sections: expository, persuasive, and narrative writing.

16 units cover the following nonfiction writing skills:

Expository Writing

• Writing a Summary - Writing a Topic Sentence, Marking Up an Article, Paraphrasing
• Writing a Descriptive Essay - Using Sensory Details, Using Precise Language, Using Figurative Language, Avoiding Overwriting
• Writing a Cause-and-Effect Essay - Writing a Topic Sentence, Organizing a Cause-and-Effect Essay, Adding Details
• Writing a Compare-and-Contrast Essay - Writing to Compare and Contrast, Writing a Topic Sentence, Organizing Details, Balancing Details
• Writing a Biography - Organizing Details, Writing Main-Idea Sentences, Removing Unnecessary Details
• Writing a News Article - Answering the 5Ws and H, Writing a Good Lead, Avoiding Bias, Using Quotations
• Writing a Response to Literature - Understanding the Prompt, Summarizing the Text, Marking Up the Text
• Writing a Research Report - Writing Topic and Main-Idea Sentences, Asking Research Questions, Taking Notes, Writing an Outline, Using an Outline to Write, Quoting and Paraphrasing, Writing an Introduction and a Conclusion, Listing Sources

Persuasive Writing

• Writing a Persuasive Letter - Forming an Opinion Statement, Including Reasons and Details, Anticipating Arguments, Organizing a Persuasive Letter
• Writing a Persuasive Essay - Writing an Opinion Statement, Including Reasons and Details, Including an Opposing Reason and a Response, Writing a Conclusion
• Writing a Review - Including Important Information, Supporting Your Opinion, Using Your Voice
• Writing an Editorial - Writing an Introduction, Responding to Arguments, Writing a Call to Action
• Writing a Problem-Solution Essay - Stating the Problem, Supporting the Solution, Balancing Information
• Writing a Pro-Con Essay - Establishing Pros and Cons, Writing an Introduction, Adding Details, Balancing Pros and Cons, Writing a Conclusion

Narrative Writing

• Writing a Personal Narrative - Narrowing the Topic, Using Sensory Details, Including Important Details, Writing Transition Sentences
• Writing Creative Nonfiction - Writing a Creative Introduction; Using Figurative Language; Including Strong Verbs, Adjectives, and Adverbs; Creating a Mood