Grade 1 – Expository Writing

Dysart Unified School District

1st GRADE

Interactive Expository Writing

Language Arts Benchmark 2

Social Studies DBQ – Form B

We are a product of the past, and what we value we pass on to the future.

Student Name
School
Teacher Name / SCORED USING SIX-TRAITS
Ideas/Content ______
Organization ______
Voice ______
Word Choice ______
Sentence Fluency ______
Conventions ______
Overall Score ______
Question: Explain the importance of one of these symbols.
  • Read as a class and participate in classroom discussions about three symbols that represent the United States of America.
  • Please close read the documents provided and feel free to find other pictures and resources you have found to add to the discussion in the classroom.

The US Flag

Read the following:

Taken from:

Congress first approved the flag on June 14, 1777. This date is now observed as Flag Day throughout America. It was first stated that there be a star and stripe for each state, making thirteen of both. Over the years, the number of stars has been changed to include one star for each of the 50 states, while the stripes remained the same to represent the 13 original colonies.

Later, the colors of the flag were given special meaning. The red is for valor and zeal - white is for hope, purity, and cleanliness of life - and blue, the color of heaven, loyalty, sincerity, justice, and truth.

The name "OLD GLORY" was given to our National Flag on August 10, 1831. The flag means the spirit of liberty and human freedom.

What makes the United States flag important?
  • Think about what is on the flag and the colors of the flag as you think of an answer.
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The Statue of Liberty

Read the following about the Statue of Liberty

Taken from:

By Peter Winkler

On July 4, 1884 France presented the United States with an incredible birthday gift: the Statue of Liberty! Without its pedestal it’s as tall as a 15-story building. She represents the United States. But the world-famous Statue of Liberty standing in New York Harbor was built in France. The statue was presented to the U.S., taken apart, shipped across the Atlantic Ocean in crates, and rebuilt in the U.S. It was France’s gift to the American people.

It all started at dinner one night near Paris in 1865. A group of Frenchmen were discussing their dictator-like emperor and the democratic government of the U.S. They decided to build a monument to American freedom—and perhaps even strengthen French demands for democracy in their own country. At that dinner was the sculptor Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi (bar-TOLE-dee). He imagined a statue of a woman holding a torch burning with the light of freedom.

Turning Bartholdi’s idea into reality took 21 years. French supporters raised money to build the statue, and Americans paid for the pedestal it would stand on. Finally, in 1886, the statue was dedicated.

  1. What makes the Statue of Liberty important?
Think about:
  • What does she represent?
  • Why was she given to us?
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The Bald Eagle

Read the following about the bald eagle

From:

The bald eagle was chosen June 20, 1782 as the emblem of the United States of American, because of its long life, great strength and looks, and also because it was then believed to exist only on this continent.

The eagle represents freedom. Living as he does on the tops of lofty mountains, he has unlimited freedom, he sweeps into the valleys below, or upward into the boundless spaces beyond.

It is said the eagle was used as a national emblem because, at one of the first battles of the Revolution (which occurred early in the morning) the noise of the struggle awoke the sleeping eagles on the heights and they flew from their nests and circled about over the heads of the fighting men, all the while giving vent to their raucous cries. "They are shrieking for Freedom," said the patriots.

Why was the bald eagle chosen as the United States National bird?
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FIRST DRAFT: Now use the paper provided by your teacher to write the first draft of your paragraph.

Expository Paragraph Peer Revision and Evaluation

Name of Writer: ______
Name of Listener: ______
Directions:
Listen to your friend read his or herparagraph. Check Yes or No to answer the questions.

Did My Friend… / Yes / No
-Explain the ideas clearly?
-Write about one main idea?
-Write two or more facts about the topic?
-Explain the facts?
-Write a closing?
  1. Tell your friend about anything he/she should change, add or delete (take out) to write a better paragraph. List added details or changes here:

Expository Editing Checklist

Did My Friend…. / Yes / No
-Use complete sentences?
-Begin sentences differently?
-Use capitals, commas and correct end punctuation?
-Spell check?

I liked my friend’sparagraph because ______

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6-TRAITSOF WRITING – RUBRIC

All Score Point 5

IDEAS
_____ Presents a fresh/original idea
_____ Topic is narrowed and focused
_____ Develops one clear, main idea
_____ Uses interesting, important details for support.
_____ Writer understands topic well / ORGANIZATION
_____ An original title is present (if requested)
_____ Transitions connect main ideas
_____ The opening attracts
_____ An effective ending is tried
_____ Easy to follow
_____ Important ideas stand out
VOICE
_____ Uses text to elicit a variety of emotions
_____ Takes some risks to say more than what is expected
_____ Point of view is evident
_____ Writes with a clear sense of audience
_____ Cares deeply about the topic / WORD CHOICE
_____ Everyday words used well
_____ Precise, accurate, fresh, original words
_____ Creates vivid images in a natural way
_____ Avoids repetition, clichés or vague language
_____ Attempts at figurative language
SENTENCE FLUENCY
_____ Consistently uses sentence variety
_____ Sentence structure is correct and creative
_____ Variety of sentence beginnings
_____ Natural rhythm, cadence and flow
_____ Sentences have texture which clarify the important idea / CONVENTIONS
_____ High frequency words are spelled correctly and very close on other words
_____ Capitals used for obvious proper nouns as well as sentence beginnings
_____ Basic punctuation is used correctly and/or creatively
_____ Indents consistently to show paragraphs
_____ Shows control over standard grammar
FINAL PARAGRAPH
You have read, discussed and viewed pictures about three symbols that represent the United States of America.
Explain the importance of one of these symbols.
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Dysart Unified School District – June 2014Page 1