English – Writing

In Patrickswell NS, we follow the First Steps Approach to Writing. This approach breaks each writing genre down into a seven step approach which you build upon over seven-eight weeks. The 7 steps are;

1. Step 1 – Familiarisation.
2. Step 2 – Discovering and Analysing.
3. Step 3 – Modelled Writing
4. Step 3 – Shared Writing.
5. Step 5 – Guided Writing
6. Step 6 – Independent Writing
7. Step 7 – Presentation to an Audience

The genres that we explore throughout the year are;

1. Recount Writing –

Recount tells the reader what happened and this may involve the author’s personal interpretation of events. There are different types of recounts which including personal (my trip to the farm), factual (retelling an accident) and imaginative recounts (a day in the life of a
puppy). Recount writing is organised by setting, events in chronological order and a concluding statement. The main features of recount writing are specific participants, action verbs and past tense.

2. Procedural Writing –

Procedures are written to explain how something is done, in a series of sequenced steps. They are organised by goal, material, method and evaluation. Features of procedural writing include: detailed factual description, reader referred to in a general way (draw a line), linking words to do with time, tense is timeless.

3. Report Writing –

Reports are written to describe or classify the way things are or seem to be.
They organise and record information. Reports are organised by; classification, description and summarising comment. The features of report writing are; generalised participants, impersonal objective language,
timeless present tense and subject specific vocabulary.

4. Explanation Writing –

Explanations are written to explain how something works or the process involved in actions, events or behaviour. E.g. How does a rainbow occur?
Explanation texts are organised by: a definition or statement, and a sequenced explanation. The features of explanation writing are: non-human participants, cause and effect relationships, passives and timeless present tense.

5. Narrative Writing –

Narratives entertain and engage the reader in an imaginative experience.
Narrative texts are organised according to setting, event leading to a problem and solution. The main features of narrative writing are: defined characters, descriptive language, past tense.

6. Persuasive Writing –

Persuasive texts are written to argue or persuade. They promote the writers point of view. Persuasive texts are organised with: Proposition to be argued, arguments in logical order, reiteration. The features of persuasive writing are: generalised participants, passives to help text structure, linking words associated with reasoning, nominalisation (actions become things) e.g. To pollute becomes pollution.

2nd and 3rd Class Pen Pal Letters

Report Writing

Ms. Noonan’s and Ms. Brennan’s classes have been learning about report writing. Check out some of the reports they wrote about wild animals. So many fun facts and incredible information included, great job everyone!

The Viking Times Newspaper

Mrs. Lordan’s 4th Class travelled back in time to explore the Battle of Clontarf. They wrote wonderful newspaper reports detailing all the gory details of sweet victory!