Adding details; organization Some young writers have difficulty
clearly conveying their message on paper. They know what they
want to write about but struggle to capture their thoughts on
paper in a way that is clear to the reader. This mini-lesson
helps students see the need to clarify their information and
include enough details for the reader. Model this technique by
writing a “story” on the overhead or chart paper: My brother has
a dog. Ask students what they think of your story. Most will say
that you need to write more. Ask students what they want to know
about your dog. They will ask questions such as, “What is its
name? Where did you get it? What does it look like?” Write a
second draft of your story, including answers to their
questions. Help students to see that a writer needs to include
enough details for the reader. |My brother has a dog. Her name
is Sammi. She has golden brown fur with black on her tail and
her paws. She was a stray dog.| Extend this technique by having
students read a draft of o