TEACHER MATERIALS
How do we write an effective paragraph using CREW?
“Dissecting a Paragraph”
In this activity, the students will consider the different parts of an effective paragraph. To do so, they will play a learning game in small groups involving the terms and definitions featured in the document provided below. Print the document out, cut the terms and definitions apart, and give a set to each small group.
“Exploring the C in CREW”
In this activity, the students will take a deeper dive into what a claim is, and then practice writing them. They will fill out a handout; for each of the provided topics, they should write what they think is a strong claim.
“Exploring the C in Crew” handout
“Best Practices – Writing Claims”
In this activity, the students will work together to determine what makes a strong claim. They will play a learning game in small groups. You will read the claims in the provided document, one at a time. The students will consider the strength of each one and then hold up different colors to indicate their team’s rating of the claim.
“Best Practices – Generating Reasons”
In this activity, the students will work together to determine what makes a strong supporting reason. They will play a learning game that involves moving around the classroom. You will read the claims and reasons in the provided document, and your students will move to different sides of the room to indicate which reason they think is stronger.
“Generating Reasons” learning game claims and reasons
“Assessment – Generating Reasons”
In this activity, the students will practice generating reasons to support a given claim. They will fill out a handout; they will come up with one strong reason to support each of the given claims.
“Best Practices – Writing a Warrant”
In this activity, the students will create a best practices guide for writing a warrant that connects a claim to reasons and evidence. They will fill out a handout; they will read an unfinished CREW paragraph and attempt to finish it by writing an appropriate warrant.
“Quick Write – Writing a Warrant”
“Assessment – Writing a Warrant”
In this activity, the students will practice writing warrant statements to finish off CREW paragraphs. They will fill out a handout; they will read unfinished CREW paragraphs and write appropriate warrants for them.
“Assessment – Writing a Warrant”
“CREW Paragraphs – Red Pen Review”
In this activity, the students will read a poorly-written CREW paragraph and make edit suggestions.