Writers Mark - a Brief Description

Writers Mark® successfully equips students with tools to significantly improve their writing skills. Its methods not only build written and oral communication skills, but also improve critical thinking. Weekly essays are an integral part of the Writers Mark curriculum. Completed essays culminate in an end-of-the-year portfolio.

Writers Mark® teaches essential outlining, composition, and proof-reading strategies such as: keyword outlining, stylistic techniques, rhetorical devices, grammar, punctuation, and editing.

These critical writing tools are defined and practiced in order to improve students' understanding and subsequent application of these devices.

Writers Mark® Essays

• Narrative  tells a story/conveys an experience (4 types)

• Descriptive creates an image 

• Expository explains, informs, describes a topic in a clear, correct fashion (analytical)

• Compare & Contrast a type of analytical + descriptive essay 

• Persuasive/Argumentative

• Research  a type of informative essay

• Literary Analysis

• Personal Improvement resume, letters

* The SAT and ACT both test knowledge of these rhetorical and literary devices.

It is never too early to become familiar with them.

 

Mastering 4s

(4)s or "ing openers" must be set up in a very specific grammatical way. 

RULE 1  

The first part of the sentence should be a dependent clause or phrase followed by a comma. 

RULE 2  

RIGHT after the comma, the person or thing "doing the ing" is mentioned. 

RULE 3  

This part of the sentence (after the dependent clause or phrase) is an independent clause. 

RULE 4  

That independent clause must be happening at the same time as the "ing dependent clause."

EXAMPLES:

(4)Drumming her fingers on the desk, Kaitlyn stared blankly at the teacher.

(4) Brushing the eraser shavings off the paper, he felt the orange crumbs slip through his fingers.

(4) Opening the wardrobe doors, the kids squealed in surprise at the wonders inside.

(4)  Wading into the river, he searched for the mermaid who had saved him when the ship crashed on the rocks the night before.

Here are some great "ing" words to use in your 4s

KWO rules

1. You MUST handwrite your KWO.

2. Always write the complete title  (& author if applicable).

3. 3 words maximum per sentence.

4. Numbers, symbols, and abbreviations –> do not count as words. (Do not overuse!)

     Symbols Rule: It must take less time to draw the symbol than to write the word.

5. Remember to number the sentences. 

6. Keep track of the paragraphs.

7. Proper names and places and businesses/organizations – you can write out completely.  These do not count against the 3 word rule.

8. You can also write out all the words in a  “Quote.”

EXAMPLE: