GRADE 6 Grammar and Writing Handbook - Neocities

GRADE 6

Grammar and Writing Handbook

ISBN: 0?328?07542?6 Copyright ? 2004, Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Printed in the United States of America. This publication is protected by Copyright, and permission should be obtained from the publisher prior to any prohibited reproduction, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or likewise. For information regarding permission(s), write to: Permissions Department, Scott Foresman, 1900 East Lake Avenue, Glenview, Illinois 60025. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 V000 09 08 07 06 05 04

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Writer's Guide

5

WRITER'S GUIDE

Ideas and Content

Writers must decide on a main idea and a purpose before they begin. The main idea is the most important point, or message. The purpose is both the reason for writing and the way the author develops the main idea.

Even a postcard has a main idea and a purpose.

Dear Lee, The cookout at camp

was great! We sang songs while the hot dogs cooked over the flames and the owls hooted. Wish you were here.

Best, Craig

FOCUS

Supporting details develop and give color to the main idea. Weed out any details that do not add to your most important point.

Main Idea Craig is enjoying camp.

Purpose To inform Lee

Details This postcard gives Lee a glimpse of camp life and lets him know Craig is thinking of him. Details make the writing lively. Compare these two sentences:

? Days at camp are busy and fun. (dull, with few details) ? We spend our days hiking in the green hills, paddling aluminum kayaks,

and rehearsing for the camp musical. (adds color and information)

Strategies for Choosing a Topic and Purpose

? Choose a topic that you can handle. For example, "The History of Pennsylvania" is much too large a topic for a brief essay.

? Let your purpose fit the topic. For instance, a comparison/contrast of two movies offers information, while a funny story provides entertainment.

6 Writing Ideas and Content

WRITER'S GUIDE

A Match the number of each writing assignment with the letter of

the purpose that best suits it.

A To inform

B To entertain

C To persuade

1. Arguments for creating a new national holiday 2. A set of instructions for playing a computer game 3. A story about an amusing character

B Look at this list of details for a description of a rescue dog. Write

the number of any detail that does not support the main idea.

Main idea: Rescue dogs are selected for their special qualities.

4. There are cute puppies at the animal shelter. 5. The best rescue dogs are intelligent and curious. 6. Rescue dogs must be fairly easy to train. 7. Trainers choose dogs with a friendly nature. 8. These dogs cannot be fighters or bullies. 9. My dog Rufus plays well with cats. 10. German shepherds and Labrador retrievers are large dogs.

C Write a main-idea sentence about one of these topics.

Then write at least five sentences that support the main idea with appropriate details.

? Why families are important ? The most exciting sport ? Qualities of a true friend ? The best vacation trip ever

Writing Ideas and Content 7

WRITER'S GUIDE

Organization

Every piece of writing needs some type of organization. The organization is like the frame of a house. This structure holds everything together and gives a shape to ideas and details.

Here are some ways to organize your writing.

? a personal narrative with a beginning, middle, and end ? a step-by-step set of instructions ? a comparison/contrast of two people, places, or things ? a description of something from left to right ? an explanation of cause and effect ? a persuasive piece with the best reason last

Before you start writing, consider how you might best shape your ideas. For instance, if you are explaining how to build a gingerbread house, a set of instructions would work. If you are sharing a personal experience, a narrative is the form to use.

Deciding on the form of your writing is just the first step. Consider how all of your ideas connect to the topic. What structure would best present your ideas?

Strategies for Organizing Ideas

? Order steps from first to last. ? Introduce characters, set the scene, and show action. ? Save the most important idea until last and build

up to it. ? Use sequence words and phrases such as first, later,

in the end, and now. ? Use signal words such as both and neither to

show comparisons.

GRAPHIC ORGANIZER

A graphic organizer such as a chart, an outline, or a web can help you organize your ideas.

8 Writing Organization

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