Think and Write!

Day 1

Name: Date:

Title ofarticle: “Mae Jemison: Space Scientist”

This biography about Mae Jemison tells the story of an African American woman who set out to follow her dream to become a space scientist. This selection details some of her accomplishments. In what ways did Mae Jemison demonstrate perseverance in order to achieve her goals? Use details from the text to support your answer.

  1. What will you be writing about? Underline the Focusing Question in the assignment above.
  1. What information will you need to be able to answer the Focusing Question and to explain your answer? Turn to a partner. Look carefully at the graphic organizer as you discuss the answers to the questions below. Color in the circle next to each question after you have talked about it.
  • What information will you put in the first two columns?
  • Where will you get this information?
  • What information will go in the third column?
  • Where will this information come from?
  • Why are you gathering all this information? What are you trying to figure out?

In what ways did Mae Jemison demonstrate perseverance in order to achieve her goals?

Evidence
Mae Jemison’s Accomplishments / Page / Elaboration / Explanation
How she showed perseverance / Used in your piece?
She became a skilled dancer
------Quote: “By the time she was in high school, Mae was an accomplished dancer, and she frequently performed on stage. / 213 / Took jazz and African dance for many years , starting at the age of 9
------Quote:
------Quote:
------Quote:
  1. When the class is ready, your teacher will reread the story aloud. Your job is to listencarefully for information that will help you to complete the graphic organizer. During the read aloud, every time you hear some evidence from the text that you think belongs on the chart, raise your hand. The class will stop to discuss what you have noticed and decide whether to add that evidence to the chart.

You may have noticed that there is not much room to write in each box! Don't worry, your teacher will show you how to "take notes" in that small space using just key words and phrases.

  1. Once you have taken notes, look back at your assignment, copy the Focusing Question onto your Writing Draft Sheet. Think about the evidence you found. How could you answer the Focusing Question in a single sentence? Turn and tell your partner how you might answer.
  1. The answer to a Focusing Question is called a Focus Statement. With your teacher, develop a class Focus Statement. Then, copy that focus statement on the Writing Draft Sheet right underneath the Focusing Question.
  1. Often, you can use words and ideas from the assignment to write an introduction to your piece . An introduction gives the reader important information about the text and states your focus. Your teacher will help you write a brief introduction.

Think and Write!

Day 2

Name: Date:

Title ofarticle: “Mae Jemison: Space Scientist”

  1. Look at your Writing Draft Sheet from yesterday. With a partner, take turns. Have one person read the Focusing Question and the other person read the Focus Statement. Then switch, so that you each have read both.
  1. Look at your graphic organizer. Listen carefully as your teacher gives an example of how to write the first evidence paragraph of your response. Where are these sentences coming from? On your graphic organizer, check the box next to the evidence your teacher used to write this part.
  1. Now comes the fun part! Talk your piece! Use your graphic organizer. Point to each row of the chart and tell your partner what you will write. Then listen as your partner explains what he/she will write.

On your own...

  1. Look at your Writing Draft Sheet. Re-read what you have written so far. Then,write about each piece of evidence. Check off each piece of evidence on the graphic organizer as you write.
  1. A Concluding Statement restates the focus of the piece. Look at your Focus Statement. How could you restate it? Use the same idea, but different words. Write your Concluding Statement at the end of your piece.
  1. Now, think about this question: “What can we learn from Mae Jemison's hard work and perseverance?” Your teacher will lead a discussion to help you improve and expand your conclusion. When you are ready, add a few sentences to your conclusion that show your thinking about this.

7. With a pencil in your hand, read your piece aloud to a partner. Revise and edit as you read.

Name : Date:

Title of story:

Writing Draft

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Teacher Pages

Sample Graphic Organizer (Students may add additional evidence.)

FOCUSING QUESTION: In what ways did Mae Jemison demonstrate perseverance in order to achieve her goals?

Evidence
Mae Jemison’s accomplishments / Page / Elaboration / explanation
How she showed perseverance / Used in your piece?
She became a skilled dancer
------Quote: “By the time she was in high school, Mae was an accomplished dancer, and she frequently performed on stage. / 213 / Took jazz and African dance for many years , starting at the age of 9
Mae became a doctor / 213-214 / Medical School was very demanding
Became first African American woman astronaut
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Quote: After undergoing background checks, physical exams, medical tests, and interviews, Dr. Mae Jemison was accepted into the astronaut program in June, 1987. / 216 / Many steps to get into the program and year of intensive NASA training

POSSIBLE FOCUS STATEMENT:Mae Jemison persevered in order to accomplish her goals in life.

Additional notes to the teacher about this piece:

  • There is additional evidence in the text, other than what is listed above, to support the focus.
  • It is expected that by the end of fifth grade, students will be able to use quotes in their writing to support their thinking. However, every piece of evidence does not need to be linked to a direct quote.
  • Keep in mind, that an effective piece will sometimes quote and sometimes paraphrase evidence to support a point. Encourage students to vary techniques.

Writing Sample

NOTE: This is for the teacher’s use only, not for students. The purpose is to show the teacher what the final piece might look like when students have completed their work.

“Mae Jemison: Space Scientist” is a biography about an African American woman who made history. She had a wide range of interests and was successful at many things. Mae Jemison persevered to accomplish her goals in life.

As a child, Mae Jemison wanted to become a skilled dancer. She started taking Jazz and African dance lessons at the age of 9. She studied and practiced for many years, so that “by the time she was in high school, Mae was an accomplished dancer, and she frequently performed on stage”(p. 213). In 1981, Mae became a doctor. Medical school was very demanding, but Mae did not give up. The achievement that Mae is best known for is becoming the first African American female astronaut. “After undergoing background checks, physical exams, medical tests, and interviews, Dr. Mae Jemison was accepted into the astronaut program in June, 1987” (p. 216). Following her acceptance into the program, she spent a year in intensive NASA training. Mae persevered through the many steps in the program, becoming the first African American woman astronaut.

Even though others sometimes tried to discourage Mae from following her dreams, she was still determined to go after them. She persevered to get what she wanted. Mae Jemison taught us that we should never “ be limited by others' limited imaginations.”