Transcript Powerwriting!

Powerwriting
A system that assigns a numerical
value to words, phrases, sentences,
and paragraphs
Powerwriting helps us:
•organize thoughts
•support main ideas
•construct strong paragraphs
•improve writing style
1st Power
Main ideas, topic sentences,
and topic paragraphs
2nd Power
Major details that explain
main ideas
3rd Power
Minor details that clarify
major details
Stage 1: Word Power
1st power or
“umbrella” word - Most general word
2nd power - Words that explain 1st
power
Example:
1 sports
2 football
2 basketball
2 baseball
Another
Example:
1 foods
2
2
2
And Another
Example:
1
2 rap
2
2
Last
Example:
1
2
2
2
Stage 2: Phrase Power
1st power - Phrase that is most general
2nd power - Phrases that explain
1st power
Difference from Stage 1 Phrasegraph where phrases are
used instead of single words
Example:
1 Sports I watch
2 Steelers football
2 College basketball
2 High school baseball
Another
Example:
1 books I’ve read
2
2
2
And Another
Example:
1
2
2 2
2
Olive Garden
Last
Example:
1
2
2
2
Stage 3: Sentence Power
1st power - Sentence that is most general
1st power sentence must contain the word
three
2nd power - Sentences that explain 1st power
Difference from Stage 2 Sentences are used instead of phrases and
powergraph isn’t used
In Stage 3, you leave the powergraph format
behind and put sentences into a paragraph
Example:
Notice
indentation
The word
three
There are three sports I
like to watch. I enjoy watching
the Steelers play football. I like
to watch college basketball. I
spend time watching high
school baseball.
Complete
sentences
following 1 2 2 2
Another
Example:
Let’s write a 1 2 2 2 paragraph about three
teachers at AJHS
Last
Example:
You pick a topic for our last 1 2 2 2 paragraph
Stage 4: Powergraphs 1 2 2 2
In Stage 4 we begin to use
transition words
•Transitions are like road signs
•They help us give order and
direction
•Use them to introduce 2nd power
sentences
Second Power Transition Words
1. one
7. finally
2. another
8. third
3. also
9. last
4. first
10. above all
5. second
11. in addition to
6. besides
12. to begin with
When you use the following
transitions at the beginning of a
sentence, follow them with a comma:
also
last
first
third
second
above all
finally
to begin with
Example:
There are three sports I like
to watch. First, I enjoy watching
the Steelers play football. Also, I
like to watch college basketball.
Last, I spend time watching high
school baseball.
Another
Example:
Let’s add transitions to the paragraph
we already wrote about three teachers at AJHS
Last
Example:
Let’s add transitions to the paragraph we
already wrote about the topic of your choice
Stage 5: Powergraphs 1232323
3rd
Sentences that add detail
power to 2nd powers
Use 3rd power sentences to answer questions like:
Who?
What?
Where?
Why?
When?
3rd power sentences give more
Example:
Add 3rd power sentences to our example
There are three sports I
like to watch. First, I enjoy
watching the Steelers play
football. Also, I like to watch
college basketball. Last, I
spend time watching high
school baseball.
Another
Example:
Write a 1232323 paragraph about
three types of dogs
Stage 5: Powergraphs 1232323
Also in Stage 5, the word there
is
to be eliminated at the beginning of
sentences
Example:
Rewrite the first sentence of our
example to eliminate there
There are three sports I like to watch.
More
Examples:
Rewrite the following sentences to eliminate there
from the beginnings
1. There are three shows I watch every week.
2. There is a tree outside my house.
3. There are no more strawberries.
4. There are twelve months in a year.
5. There is my friend Amanda.
Stage 6: Powergraphs 1232323
Eliminate any form of the BE verb
from the writing
Be Verbs
1.am
4.was
7.being
2.is
5.were
8.been
3.are
6.be
You cannot write verb phrases
that include a be verb:
Has been nice
Am talking
Was listening
Is watching
You also cannot use contractions
that contain be verbs
Isn’t = is not
She’s = she is
We’re = we are
The best way to eliminate be verbs is
to think of an action verb.
She is annoying.
Ask yourself “What is she doing?”
She annoys me.
Example:
Find and eliminate any be verbs in our paragraph
I like to watch three sports. First, I enjoy
watching the Steelers play football. I think Ben
is the best quarterback. Also, I like to watch
college basketball. The Pitt Panthers are going
to win the championship. Last, I spend time
watching high school baseball. I cheer most for
the Altoona Mt. Lions.
More
Examples:
Rewrite the following sentences to eliminate be verbs
1. My dog is furry.
2. My mom has been cooking all day.
3. My 3rd grade teacher was my favorite.
4. Were you at Galactic Ice last night?
5. Pink is my favorite color.
Stage 7: Powergraph 1232323
With Sentence Patterning
There are six different patterns that we
can use to add style to our writing
Pattern 1
Use a strong active verb
Example:
Fire belched from the dragon’s mouth.
Add Pattern 1 to our example
I like to watch three sports. First, I
enjoy watching the Steelers play football. I
think Ben is the best quarterback. Also, I
like to watch college basketball. The Pitt
Panthers are going to win the
championship. Last, I spend time watching
high school baseball. I cheer most for the
Altoona Mt. Lions.
Pattern 2
Ask a question
Example:
What foods do I like best?
**Do not use
“you” in a
question
Add Pattern 2 to our example
I like to watch three sports. First, I
enjoy watching the Steelers play football. I
think Ben is the best quarterback. Also, I
like to watch college basketball. The Pitt
Panthers are going to win the
championship. Last, I spend time watching
high school baseball. I cheer most for the
Altoona Mt. Lions.
Pattern 3
Use an exclamatory sentence
Example:
I can’t believe I jumped!
Add Pattern 3 to our example
I like to watch three sports. First, I
enjoy watching the Steelers play football. I
think Ben is the best quarterback. Also, I
like to watch college basketball. The Pitt
Panthers are going to win the
championship. Last, I spend time watching
high school baseball. I cheer most for the
Altoona Mt. Lions.
Pattern 4
Open with an adverb
Example:
Wisely, Helen made her choice.
Add Pattern 4 to our example
I like to watch three sports. First, I
enjoy watching the Steelers play football. I
think Ben is the best quarterback. Also, I
like to watch college basketball. The Pitt
Panthers are going to win the
championship. Last, I spend time watching
high school baseball. I cheer most for the
Altoona Mt. Lions.
Pattern 5
Open with a prepositional phrase
Example:
After a moment, I started running again
List of prepositions
(anywhere a cat can go)
• Direction: along, down, from, into,
through, to, toward, up
• Position: above, across, against, among,
around, at, before, behind, beneath,
beside, between, by, in, off, on, under,
upon, within
Prepositions continued
• Time: after, at, before, by, during, in, until,
within
• Means: by, with, without
• Abstract: against, except, for, of
Add Pattern 5 to our example
I like to watch three sports. First, I
enjoy watching the Steelers play football. I
think Ben is the best quarterback. Also, I
like to watch college basketball. The Pitt
Panthers are going to win the
championship. Last, I spend time watching
high school baseball. I cheer most for the
Altoona Mt. Lions.
Pattern 6
Use a compound sentence
Example:
I baked a cake, and she made cookies.
Compound Sentences
Two sentences put together with a comma
and a conjunction
Conjunctions you can use are:
and
or
but
Join the two sentences together to make one
compound sentence
1. The dog is white. The cat is black.
2. My mom is a doctor. My dad is a lawyer.
3. I want to go to the movies. I do not have a ride
there.
4. My brother likes movies. I bought him a new
DVD.
Add Pattern 6 to our example
I like to watch three sports. First, I
enjoy watching the Steelers play football. I
think Ben is the best quarterback. Also, I
like to watch college basketball. The Pitt
Panthers are going to win the
championship. Last, I spend time watching
high school baseball. I cheer most for the
Altoona Mt. Lions.