Standards

Ohio Standards covered in this project:

 Writing Processes 1. Generate writing ideas through discussions with others and from printed material. 2. Develop a clear main idea for writing. 3. Develop a purpose and audience for writing. 4. Use organizational strategies (e.g., brainstorming, lists, webs and Venn diagrams) to plan writing. 5. Organize writing by providing a simple introduction, body and a clear sense of closure. 6. Use a wide range of simple, compound and complex sentences. 7. Create paragraphs with topic sentences and supporting sentences that are marked by indentation and are linked by transitional words and phrases. 8. Use language for writing that is different from oral language, mimicking writing style of books when appropriate. 9. Use available technology to compose text. 10. Reread and assess writing for clarity, using a variety of methods (e.g., writer’s circle or author’s chair). 11. Add descriptive words and details and delete extraneous information. 12. Rearrange words, sentences and paragraphs to clarify meaning. 13. Use resources and reference materials, including dictionaries, to select more effective vocabulary. 14. Proofread writing and edit to improve conventions (e.g., grammar, spelling, punctuation and capitalization) and identify and correct fragments and run-ons. 15. Apply tools (e.g., rubric, checklist and feedback) to judge the quality of writing. 16. Rewrite and illustrate writing samples for display and for sharing with others.

 Writing Conventions

1. Write legibly in cursive, spacing letters, words and sentences appropriately. 2. Spell multi-syllabic words correctly. 3. Spell all familiar high-frequency words, words with short vowels and common endings correctly. 4. Spell contractions, compounds and homonyms (e.g., hair and hare) correctly. 5. Use correct spelling of words with common suffixes such as –ion, -ment and -ly. 6. Follow common spelling generalizations (e.g., consonant doubling, dropping e and changing y to i). 7. Use resources to check spelling (e.g., a dictionary, spell check). 8. Use end punctuation marks correctly. 9. Use quotation marks around dialogue, commas in a series and apostrophes in contractions and possessives. 10. Use correct capitalization. 11. Use nouns, verbs and adjectives correctly. 12. Use subjects and verbs that are in agreement. 13. Use irregular plural nouns. 14. Use nouns and pronouns that are in agreement. 15. Use past, present and future verb tenses. 16. Use possessive nouns and pronouns. 17. Use conjunctions.

 Research

1. Choose a topic for research from a list of questions, assigned topic or personal area of interest. 2. Utilize appropriate searching techniques to gather information from a variety of locations (e.g., classroom, school library, public library or community resources). 3. Acquire information from multiple sources (e.g., books, magazines, videotapes, CD-ROMs, Web sites) and collect data (e.g., interviews, experiments, observations or surveys) about the topic. 4. Identify important information found in the sources and summarize the important findings. 5. Sort relevant information into categories about the topic. 6. Understand the importance of citing sources. 7. Use a variety of communication techniques, including oral, visual, written or multimedia reports, to present information gathered.

 Communication: Oral and Visual

1. Ask questions for clarification and explanation, and respond to others’ ideas. 2. Identify the main idea, supporting details and purpose of oral presentations and visual media. 3. Identify the difference between facts and opinions in presentations and visual media. 4. Demonstrate an understanding of the rules of the English language. 5. Select language appropriate to purpose and audience. 6. Use clear diction and tone, and adjust volume and tempo to stress important ideas. 7. Adjust speaking content according to the needs of the audience. 8. Deliver informational presentations that: a. present events or ideas in logical sequence and maintain a clear focus; b. demonstrate an understanding of the topic; c. include relevant facts and details from multiple sources to develop topic; d. organize information, including a clear introduction, body and conclusion; e. use appropriate visual materials (e.g., diagrams, charts, illustrations) and available technology; and f. identify sources.