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Handout
University of Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin Madison: Writing Center: Reading a Book to Review It

For Students 9th - 10th
Advice on steps to take and things to think about while reading a book to be reviewed. These directions will be particularly useful when reviewing non-fiction, but can be modified to work for fiction, too.
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Handout
University of Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin Madison: Writing Center: How to Write Critical Reviews

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This site provides the viewer with a step-by-step guide to writing critical reviews for non-fiction works. Its steps include analyzing the assignment as well as writing a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. Links to other writing...
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Unit Plan
Wisc-Online

Wisc Online: Writing Effective Paraphrases

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
In this learning module, students practice paraphrasing brief, non-fiction passages.
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Lesson Plan
Better Lesson

Better Lesson: A Storm of Ideas

For Teachers 3rd - 4th Standards
The first step in writing an informational text on the topic of students' choice is helping the student choose a topic of interest. Students will brainstorm ideas that will be possible final topics.
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Handout
Colorado State University

Colorado State University: Writing @ Csu Writing Guides

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This is a fairly sophisticated series of writing guides. It assumes that users already have a solid grasp of spelling, grammar and mechanics, so it focuses more on organization and types of presentation than on more basic skills....
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Lesson Plan
TES Global

Tes: Non Fiction Unit 4 Formal/impersonal Writing: Tourists

For Teachers 5th - 8th
[Free Registration/Login Required] Students will analyze tourism brochures to determine features related to nonfiction writing in this unit. Tourism websites may be used in lieu of the brochures. Cotswold and the North Leigh Roman Villa...
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Lesson Plan
ReadWriteThink

Read Write Think: Question and Answer Books From Genre Study to Report Writing

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
Contains plans for eight lessons that explore Question and Answer Books and ask young scholars to do research in order to write their own. In addition to objectives and standards, these instructional plans contain links to sites used in...
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Lesson Plan
ReadWriteThink

Read Write Think: Text Features: Non Fiction [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
Compare the printed page to an electronic web page and use this activity to discuss the similarities and differences. A cross-curricular tie-in with ecosystems. Could easily be adapted to another subject area.
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Handout
University of Toronto (Canada)

University of Toronto: Critical Reading Towards Critical Writing

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
Aimed particularly towards writing about non-fiction, this site describes ways to think about what you read so you can write more clearly. Focuses on analyzing the "ways of thinking" that an author uses so you can evaluate the validity...
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Activity
University of Glasgow

University of Glasgow: Critical Reviews

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
This site is designed to be used by psychology students at the university level, but it provides helpful instruction for anyone writing critical reviews of non-fiction. Instruction includes everything from how to be critical to...
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Lesson Plan
Writing Fix

Writing Fix: All About Posters

For Teachers K - 1st Standards
As young writers become more skilled through the Writers Workshop lessons, they can begin working to become more skilled with non-fiction writing. A series of mini-lessons, graphic organizers, and samples of student work are all provided.
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Interactive
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Reach: Snails and Snacks!

For Students Pre-K - K
Explore the sweet, slimy world of snails (and worms!) as you discover the difference between fact and fiction with videos, stories and games.
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Activity
Scholastic

Scholastic: Nonfiction Writing Lessons

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
This series of nonfiction writing lessons was developed by Stuart Miller. Four activities include: Describing the Real World, The Interview, Writing a Profile, and Writing a Review.
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Unit Plan
The English Teacher

The English Teacher: Writing Analogies

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
Analogies are useful when communicating ideas that a reader wouldn't otherwise understand. This tutorial explains how to use analogy in writing.
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Activity
Sonoma State University

Berkeley Education: List of Works by Jack London

For Students 9th - 10th
Superb site from Berkeley Education for finding any work by Jack London. Included are plays, short stories, fiction, non-fiction, and essays.
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Article
Virginia Tech

Alan Review: Course Correction

For Students 6th - 8th
Janet Bode wrote this article discussing why she writes, for whom she's writing, and the importance of non-fiction literature for young adults.
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Lesson Plan
Better Lesson

Better Lesson: What Did Jimmy's Boa Eat? 1 of 2

For Teachers K
In this lesson, students will write an informational paper by comparing fictional text and a non fiction text about boa constrictors.
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Unit Plan
Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore

Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore

For Students 9th - 10th
The Edgar Allan Poe Society of Baltimore has created one of the more thorough websites on Poe. It presents many essays on his life and various aspects of his works, as well as the texts of most of Poe's writings, including his poetry,...
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Activity
Other

Advice for Young Writers: 10 Tips for Students in Writing Biographies

For Students 3rd - 8th Standards
Children's author, Kathleen Krull, writer of many biographies, shares some tips for making biographies come alive. Perhaps her most interesting tips are to be nosy, and look for juicy details.
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Lesson Plan
ReadWriteThink

Read Write Think: Abc Bookmaking Builds Vocabulary in the Content Areas

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Six 50-minute lessons build vocabulary through the content areas by making an ABC book. It can become a classroom resource. Links include a non-fiction book list, checklist, word list, rubric, and a storyboard chart. There is also a link...
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Graphic
ReadWriteThink

Read Write Think: Nonfiction Pyramid

For Students 2nd - 8th Standards
A printable pyramid for use with nonfiction texts while students identify the main ideas and supporting details within a text. Students also determine author's purpose and key vocabulary words. Directions on how to use this type of...
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Lesson Plan
Utah Education Network

Uen: One True Story, Told Two Ways

For Teachers K - 1st Standards
Analyze the different perspectives presented by two authors telling the same story.
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Unit Plan
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University

De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Gettysburg Address [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th Standards
"The Gettysburg Address" by Abraham Lincoln is one page, non-fiction speech given at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on November 18, 1963. It is followed by an assignment asking students to...
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Unit Plan
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University

De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Frederick Douglass [Pdf]

For Teachers 9th - 10th
"Frederick Douglass on Women's Suffrage," a one page, non-fiction, reading passage, is an excerpt from a persuasive speech delivered by Frederick Douglass to the International Council of Women in Washington, D.C., April 1888 in support...

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