Procedure Guide: PRESCRIPTION TO SCAFFOLD WRITING

Purpose: To provide support for student writing until students can independently determine what should be included in the paragraphs of a written piece.

Preparation

• Select a writing assignment to use as a sample and determine what should be included in each paragraph. Make a transparency indicating the structure.

• Design the student assignment and prepare a graphic of what is required for each paragraph. For instance, you may want the first paragraph to bean introduction that includes a topic sentence and a quotation that leads into the body of the paper.

Before

• Explain the purpose of this activity.
• Explain that the students will learn to plan their own structure in the future.
• Complete the sample assignment with the students by doing a think-aloud.

During

• Have students complete their assignment, following the directions you have provided.

After

• Have students work with a partner to compare their papers and make any necessary revisions.

Assessment

Completeness and accuracy of the revision based on the graphic of the prescribed paragraphs.