Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Narrative
writing
process
Mentor Text
PB*
CB**
ET***
Grade
s
PB
Elem
PB
Elem
Comments
How to find a topic,
organize your
writing,
Connect with
audience , and
choose words
Enchanting
collection of writing
possibilities
Ideas Trait: central message and details that support the message
Finding a
topic
Grandpa Green
Lane Smith (2011)
Roaring Brook
Jangles: A Big Fish Story
David Shannon (2012)
Blue Sky
PB
Elem
Life as a series of
memories
PB
Elem
Developing
the topic
ET
ElemMiddle
Nonfiction narrative
about the history of
the Black Bear
Diner
Using
details;
Fluency
CB
Grades
3-6
Focusing
the topic
Organizational Trait: Internal structure of the piece. Narrative writing uses a chronological
sequence of events; pacing is key.
Creating
the lead
Tuck Everlasting
Natalie Babbitt (1975)
Rarrar, Straus, and Giroux
CB
Grades
3-6
Spellbinding lead,
sensory images.
Using
sequence
and
transition
words
Developing
the body
Ending with
a sense of
resolution
PB
Elem
PB
Elem
ET
ElemMiddle
Demonstrates
pivotal role of
sequence and
transition words;
Use of prepositions
Nonfiction narrative,
organized into short
chapters
Alternative endings
Voice Trait: The tone and tenor of the piece. Includes emotion; connects the reader;
expressive and compelling.
Establishin
g a tone
ET
ElemMiddle
CB
Grades
3-8
Memoir writing
Creepy Carrots
Aaron Reynolds (2012)
Peter Bronw, Ill.
Simon & Schuster Books
PB
Elem
Writer connects to
reader by sharing
what reader wants
to know
PB
Elem
Word Choice Trait: The vocabulary the writer uses to convey meaning and enlightenment
Using
Strong
Verbs
CB
Elem
Stunning in word
choice and
presentation
Word
choice
PB
Elem
Word
choice
PB
Elem
Effective
use of
language
ET
ElemMiddle
Funny, made-up
terms in brief writing
piece
Sentence Fluency Trait: The way words and phrases flow through the piece.
Varying
sentence
patterns
Wonder
R. J. Palacio (2012)
Alfred A. Knopf
CB
ElemMiddle
Breaking
the rules
for fluency
PB
Elem
Structure and
fluency; reversible
verse
Conventions Trait: The mechanical correctness of the piece, such as spelling, grammar,
punctuation, paragraphing, capitalization. Dialogue and dialect are special cases of narrative
writing.
Spelling
PB
Elem
Control in spelling;
connection between
English and
Spanish
Using
Punctuation
and
Indenting
Paragraphs
Exclamation Mark
Amy Krouse Rosenthal (2013)
Tom Lichtenheld, Ill.
Scholastic
PB
Elem
Importance of
finding your inner
exclamation mark;
self-discovery
Capitalizatio
n
ET
ElemMiddle
Capitalization of
names,
abbreviations,
dialogue
Grammar
and Usage
PB
ElemMiddle
Using White
Space;
planning
Think
(sign)
The Writing Thief, p. 187
ET
ElemMiddle
Incorporatin
g Text
Features
PB
Elem
Presentation; titles,
headings, page
numbers, bullets
*Picture Book
**Chapter Book
***Everyday Text