Unit 5: Prove your point

Overall Expectations:

BWV.01 demonstrate the ability to use the writing process by generating and organizing ideas and producing first drafts, revised drafts, and final polished pieces to complete a variety of writing tasks;
BWV.02 use knowledge of writing forms, and of the connections between form, audience, and purpose, to write summaries, information paragraphs, opinion pieces (i.e., series of paragraphs expressing an opinion), news reports, and personal reflections, incorporating graphic elements where necessary and appropriate.

Specific Expectations:

BW1.01 identify the topic, the audience, the purpose for writing, and the requirements of the particular writing form;
BW1.02 use pre-writing strategies to generate ideas for writing (e.g., brainstorming, constructing mind maps and semantic webs);
BW1.05 use appropriate strategies to organize ideas and information for writing (e.g., sort ideas into categories for an information paragraph; use a checklist to plan an incident report; create headings to guide the writing of a résumé; create an outline with an introduction/topic sentence, body, and conclusion);
BW1.06 create a first draft that includes the main and supporting ideas in the required form (e.g., that uses distinct paragraphs where the form requires);
BW1.07 revise drafts to ensure that ideas are presented in a logical order, to discard irrelevant ideas and information, to add details where information is insufficient, and to ensure a tone and level of language appropriate to the audience and purpose, using appropriate strategies (e.g., use checklists; discuss the draft with a peer or the teacher);
BW1.08 quote and/or cite information from sources accurately, and acknowledge all sources of ideas and information used in written work;
BW1.09 use appropriate strategies to edit written work (e.g., read aloud to detect errors; correct errors using personal checklists of “look-fors”, a shared word/grammar wall, a personal grammar guide, and/or computer spelling and grammar programs) to achieve accuracy in the use of the conventions of standard Canadian English, including the requirements of grammar, usage, spelling, and punctuation listed below:

Grammar and Usages

• write complete and correct sentences,
• use consistent and appropriate verb tense and voice,
• make verbs agree with subjects,
• make pronouns agree with their antecedents in number and gender;

Spelling

• use knowledge of spelling patterns and rules, and a variety of appropriate resources, to spell correctly (e.g., personal dictionaries, class word walls, sound-based and visual spelling strategies);

Punctuation

• use punctuation correctly, including period, question mark, exclamation mark, comma, dash, apostrophe, colon, quotation marks, parentheses, and ellipses;

BW2.06 construct a series of paragraphs, clearly stating an opinion in the opening paragraph and supporting it in subsequent paragraphs with clear, sufficient, and convincing reasons (e.g., to persuade fellow students to recycle pop cans; to convince an employer to adopt a flex work schedule);* *During the term, students will independently produce for evaluation a minimum of one summary, one information paragraph, two series of paragraphs expressing an opinion, and two news reports;
BW2.07 use knowledge of how to write summaries, information paragraphs, and opinion pieces to produce informational writing for a variety of personal and school-related purposes (e.g., résumés, covering letters, reports).