How to Write a Will: The 7 Things It Should Include
Everybody should make plans for what happens to their possessions when they die, and that plan starts with a will. Typically, a will specifies who should receive specific cash legacies and treasured objects as well as the "residue," or what's left over after the debts and taxes are paid. Before you write a will, you need to decide who gets what. There are also some legal requirements to consider, to make sure your will stands up in a court of law.
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Decide Who Gets Specific Items
Start by listing your significant assets such as your property, stocks and bank accounts. Next, decide who gets what. Your will can make specific gifts of property such as cash, personal belongings and real estate; for example, you might leave a diamond ring to cousin Jessica and $10,000 to your nephew. Most people make bequests to friends and family but you can gift items to whoever you like — individuals, charities and organizations.
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Name the Person Who Gets the Rest
Once you've made your specific bequests, it's time to think about who gets whatever property is left over. The "residue," as it's known, is likely the most valuable part of the estate and most people leave to their spouse, children or other close family members. You don't have to leave the residue to just one person. You can leave it to multiple people equally, or have it divided up into specific shares. Be careful if you are considering leaving your spouse or children out of your will. Most states give your spouse the right to claim one-third or one-half of your estate, no matter what the will provides.
Name Alternative Beneficiaries
Hopefully, all your beneficiaries will survive you to inherit their gifts, but it's worth thinking about what happens if they do not. You might want to name backup beneficiaries or have the owner of the residue receive the gift instead. Similarly, if your family is growing, you'll need to make it clear that "children" includes any child born to or adopted after the date of the will. That way, you don't have to change your will every time a new child is born.
Name an Executor
Every will must name an executor, who will be responsible for finding and managing your assets according to your instructions. Make sure the executor is willing to serve since it's a responsible and time-consuming job. As well as divvying up property to the named beneficiaries, the executor is responsible for paying your debts, settling tax bills, canceling contracts and leases, keeping the books and managing your bank account. Most times, the primary beneficiary will act as the executor. But if you can't think of anyone suitable, an attorney or lawyer will perform the service for a fee.
Choose a Guardian for Minor Children
If your children are minors, you'll need to designate an adult to take care of them in the unlikely event that both parents die before your children reach adulthood. If you forget to do this, the courts decide which family member gets to raise your children. If no one steps forward, your kids could wind up in foster care. Speak to your preferred caregiver first to make sure she's agreeable with the arrangements.
Choose Someone to Manage Your Children's Property
If you're leaving property to minor children, you'll need someone to manage it while the children are too young to manage it themselves. Otherwise, the court will appoint someone to serve as the children's "property guardian." This comes with a lot of red tape attached. The easiest way to do this is naming someone as custodian under the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act. For example, you might write, "I leave $50,000 to James Johnson as custodian for Oscar Wilson under the Texas Uniform Transfers to Minors Act." If you die when the child is under age according to your state's law, the custodian will step in to manage the property.
Sign Your Will in Front of Witnesses
After writing your will, you'll need to sign it in front of two adult witnesses who should add their signatures as well. The witnesses are there to attest to the fact you're mentally competent to make the will and were not coerced into signing anything you didn't want to. If you're using a "self-proving affidavit" with your will, your signature and the witness signatures must be notarized as well. Using a self-proving affidavit means the witnesses don't have to appear in a probate court to testify to the validity of your will, which makes things simpler after your death.
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Teaching writing conventions in your homeschool
by Kim Kautzer | Dec 21, 2020 | Grammar & Spelling , Teaching Homeschool Writing
When your tweens or teens begin to protest: “ But I like it this way! ” or “It looks okay to me,” it’s time to make the concept of writing conventions part of your homeschool teaching time.
What Are Writing Conventions?
We can define conventions as a set of generally accepted standards for written English . We use conventions to make our writing more readable. In other words, we do things in a certain way so the reader can figure out what we’re trying to say.
Conventions include spelling, punctuation, capitalization, grammar, and sentence structure . As students progress through middle and high school , they should:
- Apply spelling rules correctly.
- Use correct punctuation to smoothly guide the reader through the paper.
- Use verb tenses correctly.
- Write sentences that express complete thoughts.
- Demonstrate paragraph organization and use smooth transitions.
In addition, each kind of writing has its own conventions. For instance:
- Narrative writing must have characters, setting, and plot .
- Descriptive writing must appeal to the senses through use of vivid, colorful, precise vocabulary .
- Expository writing must inform, clarify, explain, define, or instruct.
- Persuasive writing must present an argument based on facts and logic, and attempt to sway the reader’s opinion.
Teaching Writing Conventions in Your Homeschool
As a rule, you probably won’t teach a lesson on “conventions,” per se . There are just too many conventions, so it’s wiser to deal with them individually. Besides, individual concepts stick better when students can apply them in a practical way.
It’s All About Real-life Application
For example, it’s just natural to introduce character, setting, plot, and conflict when you’re teaching your kids to plan and write a story . You wouldn’t teach these as isolated elements and not have your children actually write a narrative; the instruction and application makes sense because they’re including these elements in their story.
Similarly, instead of teaching grammar in isolation, make sure you’re providing an immediate way for students to apply their grammar lessons to a writing assignment. If your grammar program is introducing appositives , for instance, require your child to include an appositive in the history report he’s working on.
Reinforcing Writing Conventions
Diligently reinforce concepts by making sure your children are following conventions in their writing.
As they get older, there should be no more excuse for things like comma splices , incomplete sentences, and homophone confusion.
These are the problems to nip in the bud now , because they’re the very issues that will identify your students as poor writers later on—both in college and on the job . So, give recurring problems focused attention, and watch bad habits become good ones!
Here on the blog, you’ll find lots of help with teaching writing conventions, including grammar and punctuation . ✏️ A favorite grammar handbook is The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation , which can help you teach and reinforce basic but important grammar and spelling conventions. ✏️ For additional grammar instruction , a curriculum like Analytical Grammar will round out language arts for your tweens and teens.
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You drop a rock from a bridge to the river below. When the rock has fallen 4 m 4 \mathrm{~m} 4 m , you drop a second rock. As the rocks continue their free fall, find their separation between the rocks at You drop a rock from a bridge to the river below. When the rock has fallen 4 m 4 \mathrm{~m} 4 m , you drop a second rock. As the rocks continue their free fall, find their separation between the rocks at t = 2.0 s t=2.0 \mathrm{~s} t = 2.0 s .
Balance the equation for the following combustion reaction. Circle the fuel for the reaction.
C 21 H 24 N 2 O 4 ( s ) + O 2 ( g ) ⟶ C O 2 ( g ) + H 2 O ( l ) + N O 2 ( g ) \mathrm{C}_{21} \mathrm{H}_{24} \mathrm{~N}_2 \mathrm{O}_4(s)+\mathrm{O}_2(g) \longrightarrow \mathrm{CO}_2(g)+\mathrm{H}_2 \mathrm{O}(l)+\mathrm{NO}_2(g) C 21 H 24 N 2 O 4 ( s ) + O 2 ( g ) ⟶ CO 2 ( g ) + H 2 O ( l ) + NO 2 ( g )
The annual rainfall in a rural town is shown to be lognormally distributed with a mean of 114 cm and a standard deviation of 22 cm. Estimate the rainfall having a return period of 100 years. How would your estimate differ if the rainfall were normally distributed?
Show that the sequence {a □ \square □ } is a solution of the recurrence relation a n = a n − 1 + 2 a n − 2 + 2 n − 9 a_n = a_{n−1} + 2a_{n−2} + 2n − 9 a n = a n − 1 + 2 a n − 2 + 2 n − 9 if a) a n = − n + 2 a_n = −n + 2 a n = − n + 2 . b) a n = 5 ( − 1 ) n − n + 2 a_n = 5(−1)^n − n + 2 a n = 5 ( − 1 ) n − n + 2 . c) a n = 3 ( − 1 ) n + 2 n − n + 2 a_n = 3(−1)^n + 2^n − n + 2 a n = 3 ( − 1 ) n + 2 n − n + 2 . d) a n = 7 ⋅ 2 n − n + 2. a_n = 7 \cdot 2^n − n + 2. a n = 7 ⋅ 2 n − n + 2.
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TEACHING writing conventions
Assessing writing conventions, featured videos.
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TWO WRITING TEACHERS
A meeting place for a world of reflective writers.
Ways to Teach Conventions: Our Favorite Things
During yoga class, my instructor Michelle guided the group into a pose. She had several cues as we moved into half moon and she’d give a cue, repeat a cue, give a different cue, repeat a cue, give another, repeat… and I realized that I needed those repeated cues! As I tried to implement something different, my foot would unflex until I consciously heard her remind me to flex. Maybe someday my foot will just know to stay flexed without the conscious effort (and then maybe I’ll go for MORE flex), but until then, I need the reminders for my best practice.
Just as I need them in yoga practice, students benefit from revisiting, reviewing, and reminding when it comes to conventions. Writing involves the integration of so many skills and cognitive processing that it’s understandable. Here are some ideas that I hope you can use in your instruction right as the year starts– and then any time thereafter.
- Take the time to remind students of what they’ve learned in previous years.
This is a great way to introduce the concept of inquiry for students and to practice an inquiry lesson with the question: What do you know about conventions when it comes to capitalization and punctuation? The chart below is one I’ve used with individual students, and you could also use it as a whole class chart, inviting students to contribute to the various categories.
- Create a progression of charts.
It’s powerful to remind students of when they may have first been introduced to various skills. You can customize chart progressions by talking to your colleagues, and you can also look through your curriculum if you work in a system that has a scope and sequence for language skills.
The charts below are ones that I created by sitting in front of the Common Core Language Standards and trying to name out the skills by grade level in order to make the overall chart of expectations less overwhelming for both teachers and students. When I think of conventions as a relay race where someone completes their lap and passes the baton, it’s much less daunting. Maybe first-graders won’t master capital letters for names and dates, but if it’s not brand new information for them, then second graders don’t have quite so much to learn.
- Isolate skills as necessary.
Whenever I talk about this idea, I use a sports analogy, but you can use whatever analogy that works for you. When I coached soccer, I had the players practice dribbling with tops of garbage cans; they had to dribble the ball around the tops, keeping the ball close enough to be able to turn. Three steps was their goal in between taps, but the more authentic goal was to be able to dribble successfully during a game, swerving around other players the way they’d maneuvered the garbage can tops. Many of the players were much better dribblers in the controlled situation than on game day. That being said, the better they got at the tops, the better they generally were in the game.
If a writing piece is the equivalent to a soccer game, then the goal is to have convention skills show up in that authentic writing. Convention stations have become my equivalent for athletically-oriented drills. I can design “stations” that specifically address and give extra practice for whatever skill I want to see showing up more in authentic writing.
The station below is one I’ve used for students working on capitalization, and the digital version of it is here.
Some other stations I’ve set up successfully are digitally linked below:
Apostrophe Center
End Punctuation Center
Tense Center
Comma Center
Remember: the most effective centers are ones that you make in response to the students in your classroom, so consider these centers as prototypes for ones that you design based on the learning you are seeing in the day to day work.
TIP: Whenever you are setting up centers, try to avoid having students correct work that is done with mistakes. It’s better for them to see the work done right and then notice and name the skill and rationale. This way their developing brains focus on how the right way looks instead of the fact that it’s confusing.
Other Quick Practices for Building Convention Awareness:
- Get silly with the power of talk and speak in sentences during times of the day when it works. You can play the audio for an example of me doing it. Kids think it’s pretty funny, but it’s also powerful for them to hear conventions and it helps some kids to visualize it.
- Spend a couple of days doing what I call “obsessing” during writing workshop, and interrupt students every few minutes to ask if the sentence they just wrote has all of the capitals and conventions they know. Start your reminder with the same few words so those few words become students’ cue to check their previous sentence.
- Make sure conventions are showing up in ALL the writing students are doing. “Is there a reason you left the period off of your sentence?” is one of my favorite questions when students are working on something outside of writing workshop.
Michelle’s voice is in my thoughts as I practice poses on my own without her in the room reminding me of all that my body should be remembering. And the truth is that my body has internalized many of the cues. This unconscious element of practice is a powerful way for me to think about my hopes for students when it comes to the use of conventions; names just get capitalized, and periods just happen at the ends of sentences. This shift from conscious competence to unconscious competence is a great goal when it comes to students and conventions.
Giveaway Information:
Many thanks to Heinemann Publishers who is donating a copy of ONE of the Classroom Essentials .
For a chance to win this copy of one of these books, please leave a comment about this or any blog post in this blog series by Saturday, August 7th at 6:00 p.m. EDT. Amy Ellerman will use a random number generator to pick the winner’s commenter number. Their name will be announced in the ICYMI blog post for this series on Sunday, August 8th.
Please leave a valid e-mail address when you post your comment so Amy can contact you to obtain your mailing address if you win. From there, our contact at Heinemann will ship the book to you. (NOTE: Your e-mail address will not be published online if you leave it in the e-mail field only.) You must have a U.S.A. mailing address—Sorry, no FPOs—to win a print copy of the book of your choosing. If you have an international mailing address, then you will receive an electronic copy.
If you are the winner of the book, Amy will email you with the subject line of TWO WRITING TEACHERS—FAVORITE THINGS. Please respond to her e-mail with your mailing address within five days of receipt. A new winner will be chosen if a response isn’t received within five days of the giveaway announcement.
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Published by Melanie Meehan
I am the Writing and Social Studies Coordinator in Simsbury, CT, and I love what I do. I get to write and inspire others to write! Additionally, I am the mom to four fabulous daughters and the wife of a great husband. View all posts by Melanie Meehan
23 thoughts on “ Ways to Teach Conventions: Our Favorite Things ”
I loved how the students can speak their conventions; speaking conventions aloud is fun and engaging in visualizing punctuation. Thank you for sharing; I will be using this technique in my future classroom!!
What a great idea to review what students have learned in previous years.
I can’t wait to incorporate these ideas at school this year. I think the idea of talking and naming the punctuation as you speak will be engaging and could also be used in some way with voice to text transcription on devices.
I love your connection to yoga, learning a new skill, and needing repeated reminders. I have found many times I try things in yoga that remind me of what students are going through as they are learning a new process. As we keep learning, we are better able to relate to the feelings our students go through as they learn. Thank you for the reminder to notice and name what they see that is correct vs. showing it incorrectly and editing it. Great post!
Another hit in this series. So practical and tips that can really make a big difference. Thanks Melanie!
We’ve done “talk like a pirate day”, so why not “talk like a computer day”? I think my students will get a kick out of talking with punctuation, so I look forward to trying it out with them, as well as incorporating more quick centers for conventions. Thanks for the ideas and helpful tips.
Repetition is so smart! I think too often we just expect them to remember all things… I love these ideas!
The center practice sheets are short and effective ways to practice the skill. I appreciate your notes about having students see it the correct way in their practice. I like that the sheets have the student explain why the convention was used, and then gives them the opportunity to practice it by creating their own.
I like the idea of reminding students of what they’ve learned in previous years. I also liked emphasizing what has been done correctly, rather than finding errors in writing samples.
The sports analogies are super helpful! I will be planning for ways to practice and build conventions awareness to help build those skills!
These are great strategies for teaching conventions! I love the idea of talking conventions and I could see this being powerful during shared writing experiences too, connecting the visual with the auditory cues. I love that you start with reminding students of what they already know about conventions, develop learning progression charts for each skill, and mention the importance of using correct mentor sentences and asking students to notice and name the skill and rationale. Thank you!
*Also the link for the tense center takes me to the end punctuation center.
I love the soccer and yoga comparisons. Thank you for the ideas you shared in the post and the reminders to use humor- with 8th graders, that is always appreciated. 🙂
Love the idea of stations. I teach pre service teachers and this is an idea I will be passing on!
This has so many wonderful practical suggestions for an area that I struggle to help teachers with. I especially appreciate the model of how we can expect our elementary students to move closer to mastery over time. Thank you so much for this!
What a great reminder to use correct conventions asking students to notice and name! Great tips, thank you!
Love the conventions charts. I need to do something like this also with my high schoolers.
Using an inquiry approach to help students understand conventions is so powerful. Thanks for the freebies!
Love the convention stations! The reminder chart is a great way to start the year.
I teach 2nd graders, and as stated in the post, I am often reminding, reviewing, and revisiting conventions with them. They can tell me what they need/what’s missing, but the fact that that it’s missing shows me it’s not automatic for them as they write. These isolation station ideas will definitely be in use in Room 209 this year. Thank you!
I love the idea of convention stations!
Thanks for all these resources. I have used your third grade reminders in the past- now I must create the fifth grade version:)
I love how you created your progression charts! They are effective yet simple.
Great easy ways to bring real and effective strategies to the teaching of conventions. Thank you.
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9 Most Common Writing Conventions Writers Must Follow
Writers must follow specific rules to make their writing make sense, and those rules are called writing conventions.
Writing conventions are rules that writers follow that give their writing meaning and clarity. Students often study these rules in school, but they also become part of test prep programs. All writers, even established ones, can benefit from brushing up on these writing conventions.
When studying writing conventions, writers should learn both the main writing conventions and ones for specific genres, such as narrative writing or letter writing. Once you grasp these rules fully, you will be able to make written works that people can understand clearly. There are nine writing conventions worth looking into as you learn to be a better writer.
1. Spelling
3. punctuation, 4. capitalization, 5. formal writing conventions, 6. letter writing conventions, 7. narrative writing conventions, 8. persuasive writing conventions, 9. instructional writing conventions, a final word on writing conventions, faqs about writing conventions.
Spelling errors make English writing challenging to understand. As part of the writing process, you must be able to spell correctly. Spelling is also one of the most important self-editing skills.
Correct spelling gets tricky when it comes to homophones, which are words that sound the same but have different spellings and meanings. For example, you need to know the difference between which and witch when Halloween time rolls around, or you might confuse your readers.
Read our guide to common spelling rules .
Grammar refers to the sentence structure, subject-verb agreement, tenses, and other aspects of building sentences and paragraphs that make sense. The standard English grammar rules are something most people learn in middle school and high school, but they remain essential conventions of writing that help your written works convey meaning properly.
Some common grammar rules that you will want to follow as you build your writing skill include:
- Always writing complete sentences
- Having proper subject/verb and pronoun/antecedent agreement
- Avoiding passive voice, when possible
- Not writing run-on sentences
- Understanding parts of speech and using them correctly
- When to use “a” versus “an” to describe a noun
Tip: Buy the best grammar checker you can afford.
Knowing where to put periods, commas, question marks, semicolons, quotation marks, and exclamation points are all critical to correct grammar usage. You’ll also want to know where parentheses, dashes and ellipses go, and how to use them properly. This is one of the fundamental writing conventions because it is vital to the meaning of sentences.
For example, you could say:
- Let’s eat Grandma.
However, if you did, someone might call the authorities. If you say instead:
- Let’s eat, Grandma.
Then you will be a thoughtful grandchild inviting your grandmother to dinner.
Read our guide to grammar and punctuation .
Capitalization rules are the fourth of the four main writing conventions. In any piece of writing, you need to know when to capitalize. Common capitalization rules include:
- Capitalize the first word in every new sentence
- Capitalize acronyms
- Capitalize proper names and proper nouns
- Capitalize words in a title, except for short prepositions and articles
- Capitalize days, months and holidays
- Capitalize the first word in a quote after the quotation mark
- Capitalize most time periods and major world events
Writing formal text for academic settings has its own set of rules. While teachers and writing style guides set these, some that are common across different schools and guides include:
- Avoid contractions
- Avoid nicknames
- Avoid slang
- Follow the style guide for the particular class or setting
When writing a letter, follow the rules for letter writing. These include:
- Place the address in the top right corner of the page.
- Use the date
- Open with a greeting, such as “Dear Sir,”
- Sign the letter
A narrative is a short story or book that includes characters and dialogue. When writing this, you will follow a pattern that consists of the introduction, climax, resolution and ending. Use proper grammar to showcase speech, but don’t be afraid to include dialect to make it more realistic.
A persuasive text tries to convince the reader to agree with the author or to take action. It needs to have a clear point of view, and will often use emotive language or rhetorical questions to cause the reader to think. Typically, persuasive writing combines logic with emotion so to convince a reader of a point of view. It is common in personal essays, journalism and self-help.
Learn more about persuasive writing .
Instructional writing gives step-by-step instructions that tell the reader how to do something. Some of the conventions that apply to this genre include:
- Use chronological order
- Add imperative verb commands, like “make” or “stir”
- Write in numbered lists to help the reader follow the steps
Writing conventions make English writing understandable. By following these rules, you can make the right word choice and choose the correct sentence structure to make your writing understandable and clear.
While writing conventions may seem obvious, it’s always good to brush up on them before sitting down to write. They are also vital to most school exams and college placement tests, which makes writing conventions an important part of most test prep resources.
Whether you are a seasoned writer or a student, learning these writing conventions, and learning them well, will only serve to help you write more accurately.
What do writing conventions mean?
Writing conventions are the rules that writers must follow. They create clarity and give writing the correct meaning.
What are the conventions of writing?
The four major writing conventions include grammar, spelling, punctuation and capitalization. Writers also follow genre-specific writing conventions.
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What Are Conventions in Writing: Everything You Need to Know
- Updated on Dec 19, 2022
Omar Founder of OJ Digital Solutions
Table of Contents
English is the world’s universal language and is the most spoken language worldwide.
It’s the dominant language in most academic and professional settings, so having a good grasp of it is essential.
The first step is to know the conventions of writing.
What are conventions in writing?
In this post, I’ll discuss the basic and specific genre-writing conventions and how they are crucial for writing clear sentence structure .
Let’s get started!
What Are Conventions in Writing?
What does “convention” mean in writing?
I define writing conventions as the set of technical rules and standards you must follow to write clearly and concisely.
Teaching writing conventions is a common practice in elementary and high schools. Students should learn these rules early on so they can become good writers.
Conventions set the tone, style, and organization of writing. They help you create a unified structure in your writing and help the reader understand what they are reading.
Writing conventions include grammar rules, punctuation marks, punctuation placement, capitalization rules, spelling conventions, and other writing mechanics that make writing clear.
Basic Writing Conventions
You could probably get away with not following the proper writing conventions in middle school. But the further you get in your field, the better your main writing conventions should be.
Here are the general writing conventions to observe for clear and concise writing.
When it comes to spelling, accuracy is crucial.
Spelling errors can confuse readers and obscure a piece’s intended message. Incorrect spelling can also be seen as unprofessional, so you must ensure that all spelling is correct throughout your work.
Here are some important rules to help you use English words in their correct spelling:
- Every syllable of a word includes a vowel.
- The letter s never follows the letter x in a word. To achieve the /s/ sound, we use the letter c instead.
Examples: exercise, excite, excise
- U always follows Q.
Examples: queen, quail, earthquake
- In any word that includes i and e side-by-side, i comes first, except after c , unless it sounds like /a/ .
Examples: piece, field, receive, neighbor
- Adding prefixes does not change the spelling of the word.
Examples: deactivate, reenact
- When adding suffixes that start with e (such as -ed , -er , or -est ) to words that end in y , the y usually changes to i .
To avoid spelling mistakes, use spellcheckers such as Grammarly or Language Tool to check for spelling errors or proofread your work before submitting it.
Punctuation
Punctuation is an essential element of the English language. It adds clarity, precision, and meaning to our written words.
Knowing how and when to use question marks, quotation marks, periods, commas, semicolons, and exclamation points ensures proper grammar usage.
It also helps you write coherent sentences and communicate thoughts and ideas more effectively and efficiently.
Here are a few basic punctuation rules to help you pen complete sentences with proper grammar:
Punctuation Marks
Punctuation marks in a sentence must be parallel. If you used a comma to interrupt the main clause, you need to provide the same type of punctuation mark at the end.
- Incorrect : The dancers, wearing their bedazzled costumes – smiled as they looked up at the stadium full of spectators.
- Correct : The dancers, wearing their bedazzled costumes, smiled as they looked up at the stadium full of spectators.
Quotation Marks
Quotation marks (“) indicate direct quotations of a word or phrase and titles of books, articles, and chapters.
- “I am exhausted,” she said. “I want to go on a vacation!”
- Charles Duhigg’s “The Power of Habit” is a self-help book that aims to help readers build healthy habits.
An apostrophe (‘) represents a letter omitted from a word in a contraction. An apostrophe can also show ownership.
- I don’t (do not) want to go.
- You’re (you are) my best friend.
- Jake’s poor grades are because of his parents’ divorce.
A comma (,) connects two or more ideas in a sentence and separates items in a series.
- My favorite colors are yellow, orange, and pink.
- I’m an extrovert, but I do love my alone time.
Question Mark
A question mark (?) asks a direct question.
- Are you going to the party?
- Is that my shirt?
A period (.) indicates a full stop in a sentence.
- I hate you.
A colon (:) appears at the end of a clause. It also helps make lists, series, and restatements easier to read.
- I have three cats: a Persian cat and two Siamese cats.
A semicolon (;) divides two independent clauses.
- I love my new job; It’s my passion.
Grammar conventions are specific rules that make sentences intelligible and concise.
This refers to sentence structure, verb tenses, subject-verb agreement, and other important factors that impact sentence and paragraph formation.
Here are some helpful grammar tips you need to know:
- A complete sentence must have a noun and a verb.
- Kat ( subject ) drives ( verb/ action ) a Tesla car ( object/ receiver of the action ).
- Kat drives a Tesla car, but her brother drives a Ferrari.
- I have worked as a writer for two years.
- I have written books of different genres.
- Use subject-verb agreement correctly. The rule of thumb is that a singular subject takes a singular verb while a plural subject takes a plural verb.
- Incorrect : To become a resident doctor, many years must be spent studying.
- Correct : To become a resident doctor, you must spend many years studying.
- Avoid run-on sentences and fragments. Make sure multiple clauses are correctly connected by punctuation.
Capitalization
Capital letters have three important uses:
- Indicate when a sentence begins
- Show important words in a title
- Designate proper names and official titles
Knowing when and how to use capital letters can improve the clarity and readability of your writing.
Here are essential capitalization rules to keep in mind when writing:
- I found Kris sleeping on the floor.
- I will always love N ew Y ork.
- Have you met my cat, W inston?
- I have two passions in life: writing and cooking.
- I hate M ondays!
- I hate winter!
- Vincent asked, “ W hy can’t I get you off my mind?”
- Stacy said she was “too cool” to be at that party.
- I loved reading the novel, “ T he F ive P eople Y ou M eet in H eaven.”
- I grew up in the U nited S tates, but I can speak F rench, M andarin, and S panish.
- My grandfather fought during W orld W ar I.
- Bowl cuts were popular during the M iddle A ges.
Paragraphing is a writing application where you separate a text into paragraphs.
The purpose of paragraphing is to link partial ideas of individual sentences into a unified thought, indicate movements in thinking, and give readers time to pause.
It’s also an important technique for writing effective and organized content.
It helps readers quickly comprehend the main ideas of a text by breaking it down into smaller, more digestible chunks.
It also creates visual appeal, making large blocks of text easier to read.
A well-paragraphed essay requires careful planning and knowledge of a paragraph’s three-part structure: topic sentence, development and support, and conclusion.
- Topic sentences or paragraph leaders introduce the main idea of a paragraph. They prepare the readers by making a clear point of discussion about the topic.
- Development and support sentences function as the body of the paragraph.
Development sentences provide specific details about the topic sentence.
Support sentences provide evidence and other information that can support the main idea.
- The conclusion sums up the idea in a way that would help readers transition to the next paragraph.
When writing with paragraphing in mind, each new idea should start at the beginning of a new paragraph.
Doing so helps to identify and separate each idea, avoiding confusion and ensuring a logical connection between ideas.
Paragraphs should be short—no more than three sentences in length. Long paragraphs can feel overwhelming for readers, making it difficult to understand or retain the information presented.
Writing Conventions for Each Writing Genre
Aside from the basic writing conventions, you also need to know which writing conventions are appropriate for specific types of content to ensure clarity in your writing.
Narrative Writing Conventions
Narrative writing is a powerful method of storytelling that can evoke emotion and create impact.
A narrative text is a short story or book that involves characters and dialogue.
It uses emotive language or descriptive words that convey feelings and persuade the readers to experience the same emotions a character feels.
You must apply narrative writing conventions for your stories to be engaging and well-structured.
One way to do that is by using a story mountain structure. This includes:
- A beginning where you introduce story elements such as the characters, places, and tone
- A conflict or a foreshadowing of things to come
- A climax or the point of high tension in the story
- A resolution or events of a story that transpired after the climax
- An ending where you explain the moral or meaning of the story
Letter Writing Conventions
Letter writing conventions are the rules that guide letter composition. A well-crafted letter must include the following:
- A heading where you provide your information for the reader to identify and contact you in return
- A date to indicate when you wrote the letter
- Addressee information where you indicate the details about the person you’re sending the letter to: their name, address, and other contact details
- A salutation or a word of welcome such as “Dear” and the name of the person you’re writing to
- The body or the main text of the letter
- A closing phrase before you write your name and signature, such as “Sincerely” or “Best Regards”
Formal Writing Conventions
When writing academic or formal documents, it is important to be aware of formal writing conventions. Here are some more essential formal writing conventions you need to remember:
- Use proper grammar and terminology, and avoid using slang, figures of speech, and abbreviated words.
- Take an objective approach. Use a third-person point of view instead of a first-person (I, we, us) and second-person (you) point of view.
- Use complete words instead of contractions or acronyms.
Instructional Writing Conventions
Instructional writing is a specific genre that aims to provide educational guidance to an audience. It can take on the form of recipes, instruction manuals, and how-to articles.
When writing instructional materials, think about who you are trying to reach and consider any potential challenges or risks your instructional topic poses.
Doing so will help you anticipate potential issues early in the writing process.
Persuasive Writing Conventions
Persuasive writing is a powerful and compelling way to communicate your message effectively.
It needs a clear point of view and often uses emotive language or rhetorical questions to make the reader think.
Understanding the audience is critical in persuasive writing, as it helps you tailor your arguments to the specific needs of the readers.
Aim to understand their values and beliefs so that you can better address their concerns and make a more persuasive argument.
Evaluation and Revision
Each kind of writing has its own conventions. To be an effective writer and craft high-quality content, you need to evaluate your work and ask yourself these questions:
- What specific genres do I want to write?
- Are my sentences complete?
- Did I spell the words correctly?
- Is there any run-on sentence(s)?
- Did I use the pronouns correctly?
- Did I use the correct subject-verb agreement in my sentences?
- Is the verb tense consistent throughout my writing?
- Did I place my capitalization and paragraphs correctly?
Once you’ve identified any errors, revise your text until you’ve met all the writing conventions.
The Bottom Line
Learning the rules of writing conventions can be daunting, but having a solid understanding of these tools is essential to producing impressive written works.
Good use of writing conventions allows writers to craft clear and concise pieces that communicate their point quickly and effectively.
If you’re ready to fill a blank page with words, check out this article on how to start writing .
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Teach Conventions in Context
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Apply “context”
The words, phrases, and sentences that surround a particular grammar skill are considered its “context.” Whether the focus is on capitalization of proper nouns, punctuating possessives, or indenting new paragraphs, each skill needs to be presented and practiced within authentic sentences.
Rather than just matching definitions and examples or diagramming the parts of a sentence, students need to see the skill’s impact on the message .
I’m so thirsty! I’m SO thirsty!!! I’m…sooooooooooooo…thirsty…
These sentences have the same three words, but the decisions made on spelling, capitalization, and punctuation change the implied message for each of them. Remember, writers utilize the rules (i.e., grammar) and tools (i.e., mechanics) of conventions so that the reader gleans the intended message.
Utilize “authentic writing”
Since conventions support the writer’s message, students have to experience them within their own personal writing. This is what the college and career-ready standards mean when they stipulate that students should “use language to convey meaning.”
This means convention instruction cannot be saved for the editing stage of the writing process . Rather, convention conversations have to be part of the initial drafting stage , as they are essential in communicating the intended message. Students must learn the power that grammar and mechanics have in composition.
Adjust assignments
Simple worksheet directions often require students to Circle the 5 adverbs within the sentences below or Edit the sentences for noun-pronoun agreement . It’s important to acknowledge that such tasks have an undeniable advantage–they are easy to assign and quick to assess. In a world of ever-growing demands on the classroom teacher, this kind of efficiency can be priceless.
With one small adjustment, teachers can capture these same perks but with more authentic writing. Rather than using anonymous worksheet sentences, have students return to one of their own previous writings (e.g., journal entry, quick write, first draft, partial piece, etc.).
If the task is to demonstrate five adverbs used accurately, then students first reread their previous draft for overall context. What was the topic and message about? Along the way, they evaluate if they used any adverbs…accidentally. They mark them and count them toward the five required in today’s assignment. (If the adverb was spelled wrong or placed incorrectly within the sentence, then the student fixes it as he marks it.)
Imagining that the student-writer found/fixed three adverbs in the draft, he still has to meet the assignment requirement of five examples. Consequently, he must integrate two additional adverbs honoring the message and intended meaning of the piece. Now the student practices where to put an adverb, which adverb fits the message, and how to write it into the sentence. (Read more about strategies to make room for these revisions and edits.)
By returning to previous writings, you offer students the same immediate application of a worksheet, along with the best-practice approach of teaching grammar in context.
Here is a typical 3-day mini-lesson series on possessives:
Day Two: Review the convention skill from yesterday. Within the language book/workbook, do a couple examples from the text/worksheet as a whole class. However, don’t necessarily do the entire worksheet. Get the skill integrated into their own writing. During independent writing time, have students go back to an old piece of writing to find where they used the skill correctly and/or correct where they used it incorrectly and/or insert an example of the skill done right (Try it). Rather than starting a new piece of writing that requires the writer to have a topic, narrow the topic, pre-write the details, start writing, to finally get to some sentences that allow for possessives. . . students just dive right into a previously written writing. They can try the skill immediately on an old, abandoned piece of writing. If they can find and/or fix three possessives in one old piece, then have them do it again in another old piece. They’ll get lots of experience with the skill.
NOTE: This Day Two lesson application is about students dabbling and experimenting with the skill in real writing, not trite worksheet pages. Anyone can add an apostrophe to a word on a worksheet page of sentences; all those sentences are set up to need an apostrophe. However, when they write individually, no one writes with that many possessives. Now students have to differentiate between a plural /s/ and a possessive /s/ in their own writing. That’s grammar in context! This is what brings about transfer into their real-world writing.
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3 Strategies For Teaching Writing Conventions In Middle School
Teaching writing conventions in middle school can be a challenge, but there are some strategies that can help. First, it is important to model proper conventions for your students. This means using proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling in your own writing, and pointing out these features when you are editing their work. Next, provide explicit instruction in the conventions of writing. This can be done through mini-lessons, whole-class instruction, or small-group work. Finally, give your students opportunities to practice using the conventions in their own writing. This can be done through writing assignments , journaling, or other activities. By using these strategies, you can help your students master the conventions of writing.
Students can practice their grammar, spelling, and punctuation by using this Writing Conventions Checklist. This template is printer-friendly and simple to use, making it an ideal tool for a variety of applications. In grades 6-8, the Formative Skills-Based Assessment can be used to determine which grammar skills require improvement. A full-year bundle will support Common Core. The book includes bell-ringing exercises on Sentence Editing, Figurative Language, Sentence Structure (simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences), Expository Writing Prompts, Context Clues, and Conventions. Using engaging slides and colorful photos, your students will be able to learn from here on out. Each set of bell ringers comes with a slide book that examines the key concepts of text-based essay writing .
An Easter activity can be done as a project. In addition to practicing ELA and reading skills, upper elementary and middle school students will have the opportunity to participate in Set celebrations. Comprehension of nonfiction or informational texts. I’ve never felt easier in ELA with 123 of my digital and print reading activities. Here are some Cinco de Mayo-themed crafts to make. Students in upper elementary and middle school will be able to celebrate while practicing ELA and reading skills in set. There are two types of nonfiction or informational text comprehension.
This is a course for older students in grades 4 to 8. This book includes a variety of reading and ELA activities that will allow upper elementary and middle school students to practice reading and English at an even higher level. Comprehension of nonfiction and informational texts Attending Writing Conventions, as well as other activities, will help you learn about speaking and listening. Please assist me in making life easier as we transition to the Common Core standards.
What Are The 4 Conventions Of Writing?
Grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization are the four major writing conventions in writing. Writers also adhere to conventions for genre writing.
We’ll go over what writing conventions are, why they’re important, and how to use them efficiently here. You will be able to use the language conventions list for your class. Making a few minor mistakes is one way to keep your essay on track, such as using the incorrect word. Some genres, in addition to their own rules and principles, have them. You should be able to tell whether you’re reading a novel or just a text with a plot if you can read the text with a plot. The goal of persuasive texts is to persuade the reader to believe the author’s point of view. In a letter, you’ll find an address in the top right corner, as well as a date and a greeting.
The rules you use to write a formal text are important to remember. The use of contractions, such as cannot, instead of the more informal ‘can’ is included. No nicknames or slang terms will be used in a formal text. It does not have to be difficult to teach children about writing conventions.
To ensure that the reader understands what the author is trying to convey, academic writing employs standard English conventions. Following these procedures allows the author to produce a more coherent and clear text. It is recommended that students follow some of the most common academic writing conventions such as using headings and subheadings, proper spelling of acronyms when first used, avoiding colloquial and slang language, avoiding emotive language, and using first person and third person pronouns. When authors follow these conventions, they are able to create a more organized and accessible text. As a result, the reader is more easily able to follow the author’s points of view.
What Are Word Conventions In Writing?
The following is an overview of writing conventions. Writing conventions are the rules that govern how words should be written, such as capital letters, punctuation, and handwriting. Students who have learned how to apply these mechanics can pay more attention to the higher-order aspects of writing, such as idea generation and word choice.
The Many Benefits Of Formal Writing
It is possible for formal writing to be extremely clear and direct. It has a more serious tone and is usually grammar- and punctuation-correct. Furthermore, the author may include a specific vocabulary for the subject to make the text easier to understand. They may use terms like government or president rather than simply person, for example. The reader is thus given more of a clear understanding of the argument. conventions, on the other hand, make it easier for the reader to predict how the sentence will be structured. Based on the number of commas used in the sentence, they may be able to guess whether or not a sentence is paragraph. By doing so, they are able to skip sections that may appear difficult. Finally, the use of specific writing conventions can assist the reader in understanding the message of the text. The author is attempting to compel the reader to pay attention to the story’s specifics by using specific terms. As a result, the reader becomes better at understanding the text and ultimately enjoys it more.
What Are Some Writing Conventions?
Some common writing conventions include things like proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Other conventions may include things like format (e.g. MLA, APA), word choice, and sentence structure.
Writers must follow specific rules in order to complete their work, which is referred to as a writing convention . You can become a better writer by taking advantage of nine writing conventions. punctuation and spelling are some of the most commonly used grammar rules. Capitalization rules are among the four major rules that are used by writers. The structure of a narrative is similar to that of a novel: the introduction, the climax, the resolution, and the conclusion. A persuasive text is intended to persuade a reader to agree with the author’s point of view or act on it. It is commonly used in essays, journalism, and self-help.
You should always spend some time studying writing conventions before starting your work. The four major writing conventions are grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization. The majority of school tests and college placement exams require students to write their own essays. It will only assist you in improving your writing skills if you learn these writing conventions.
The use of common spellings such as Mr. and Mrs. instead of Miss is a part of form conventions. Common sentence structures, such asverbs at the beginning of a sentence and nouns at the end, are also used in these texts. Characters and plot devices are common elements of story conventions . These rules can be found in books, movies, and other forms of media. A genre convention specifies how words and phrases should be used to describe a story. Romance, mystery, adventure, and science fiction are all popular topics in books that use these conventions.
The Importance Of Following Writing Conventions
When following a convention, the reader is more likely to believe that the author intended the message to be conveyed and that the written material is accurate. Following conventions can also help a writer be more consistent in their writing and make their work easier to read.
Writing Lessons For Middle School
Assuming you would like tips for teaching writing to middle school students: 1. Start with the basics of grammar, spelling, and punctuation. These are the building blocks of writing and need to be mastered before moving on to more complex writing skills . 2. Teach students how to organize their thoughts before writing. A good way to do this is to have them brainstorm ideas, make an outline, or use a graphic organizer. This will help them to write more coherent and well-organized essays. 3. Help students to develop their own writing style. Encourage them to be creative and to experiment with different ways of expressing themselves. 4. Teach students how to revise and edit their work. This is an important step in the writing process and will help them to produce better-quality essays. 5. Encourage students to read as much as possible. Reading helps to improve writing skills, so the more students read, the better their writing will become.
We’ll get into the following blog posts: journal writing, informational and argument writing, writing workshops, and student choice writing. What are the best lesson ideas? Here, you can also find a variety of products that I have rated as top Teachers Pay Teachers writing products. As part of our creative writing series, EAL teachers share their best ideas for incorporating creative writing into the classroom. Writer’s Workshop does not offer any of the type of prep interactive writing prompts that can help students get their heads around writing. Students will be motivated to write more if you provide them with a yearlong creative writing bundle. RANT writing is an excellent way to get your students interested in public speaking and persuasive writing.
Middle School Writing Prompts
One way to get students excited about writing is to give them fun and interesting writing prompts to explore. Middle schoolers can benefit from prompts that are both creative and thought-provoking. Here are some ideas to get you started: -What would you do if you could time travel? -What would it be like to live in space? -What is your favorite book and why? -How would the world be different if animals could talk? -If you could have any superpower, what would it be? -What would you do if you won the lottery? -What is the best way to deal with bullies? -How can we make the world a better place? -What does it mean to be a good friend? These are just a few ideas to get you started. Use your imagination and have fun with it!
Why do you use the fun writing prompts? You must learn how to write in middle school so that you can hone your skills and learn from them. Being able to keep track of your own progress in a journal can be an excellent tool for your child, and I do not believe it should be overlooked. In addition to these supplies and journals, I also have some favorite writing prompts. A variety of creative and interesting middle school journal prompts can be used to help students think creatively, solve problems, and reflect on their past and future. Some questions may even include questions about various life skills that children should be taught. The following are some middle school writing prompts.
When it comes to middle school creative writing prompts , there’s no limit to the variety of possibilities. Anything you can think of will do. Remember to keep it light-hearted and enjoyable for children. They appear to be more motivated to become creative as a result of having crazy themes and other ideas or words.
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