Lesson plan
Polish to Publish
Learning Objectives
Students will be able to use editing symbols and explain revision tools used in word processing.
Introduction
(5 minutes)- Discuss: Why do writers revise?
- Point out the purposes of revision: to ensure that writing is clear, concise, error-free, and well crafted.
- Ask students: What tools do writers have to revise and polish their writing?
- In the discussion, touch on both handwritten revision tools (editing symbols and peer readers) and word processing tools.
Explicit Instruction/Teacher modeling
(20 minutes)- Focus on word processing tools first. Generate a list of tools that are used in software programs with which your students are familiar.
- Distribute the worksheet Word Processing Basics.
- Instruct students to work in partners or small groups to match the word processing tool with the explanation.
- Review the correct answers and demonstrate use of each revision tool by projecting an electronic document, if possible. Explain how and why each tool is useful.
Guided Practice
(10 minutes)- Distribute the worksheet Polishing Practice 1.
- Review the word processing symbols on the sheet.
- Add any symbols that your class has used that are not on the sheet.
- Go over the story as a class and model how to use the editing symbols to mark the errors.
Independent working time
(20 minutes)- Distribute the worksheet Polishing Practice 2.
- Review the instructions.
- Instruct students to complete the editing activity on their own.
- Go over editing errors and allow students to share story endings.
Differentiation
-
Support: Complete the first editing portion of Polishing Practice 2 as class or in a small group.
- Enrichment: Have students explore other editing symbols and word processing tools and share them with the class.
Assessment
(5 minutes)- Write a sentence on the board that has several different kinds of errors.
- Instruct students to copy the sentence and use editing symbols to make corrections.
Review and closing
(5 minutes)- Discuss: What is it like to read writing that has a lot of errors?
- Discuss: If you received an important letter and it had a lot of errors, how would that affect the message in the letter?
Related learning resources
Polish to Publish
Lesson plan
Polish to Publish
...Ask students: What tools do writers have to revise and polish their writing?...
4th grade
Reading & Writing
Lesson plan
Polishing Practice 2
Worksheet
Polishing Practice 2
Show students editing symbols that are used to polish writing before publishing. Then, have them practice editing a short story.
4th grade
Reading & Writing
Worksheet
Polishing Practice 1
Worksheet
Polishing Practice 1
Show students editing symbols that are used to polish writing before publishing. Then, have them practice editing a short story.
4th grade
Reading & Writing
Worksheet
Polishing Your Written Work
Lesson plan
Polishing Your Written Work
...Ask students to turn to their neighbors and discuss what they think this means.
Call on students to share their thoughts....
4th grade
Reading & Writing
Lesson plan
