We recently discussed the difficulties young students have with expository writing. Here are some tools to help your kids when tackling this style of writing.
They are PDF files so that you can easily print them.
Framework
First, your child needs to put his/her thoughts straight. Here’s a template to help them plan out their report writing.
Sentence starters
Once they’ve planned out their outline, it’s time to turn their attention to the writing part. The first sentence is critical to any writing as it hooks the reader. If your child is struggling with getting that first sentence started, here’s a sheet of sentence starters.
Transition words and phrases
To help the paragraphs in the expository writing to flow, writers make use of transition words and phrases. Here’s a page on transition words for your child to use.
Checklist
Finally, we have put together a checklist for your child. We suggest you read it before embarking on the writing and then after to check that you fulfilled the criteria for the persuasive writing piece.
Now you just need to pick a topic. There are so many, but we suggest that you pick something your child is interested in. If you can’t think of anything, perhaps the following topics will spark your thinking:
• Explain why it is important to eat healthy food.
• Write a report on your favorite book.
• Why do leaves turn red and yellow in the Fall?
• Explain why it’s important to learn to read.
• Suggest three changes that you think will make this country better.
