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Mr. A's Writing Tools
writingtools.org
Writing Assignment
Ocean Animals
Standard: Identify the main topic of a multi-paragraph text as well as the focus of specific paragraphs within the text.
What to Do
Assignment OverviewLet's read about ocean animals! Then you'll find the main idea Ocean Animals
1
The ocean is home to many amazing animals. Each one has something special that helps it live in the water.
2
Fish have fins and tails that help them swim fast. Their gills let them breathe under water. There are big fish and tiny fish in the ocean.
3
Dolphins are very smart animals. They swim together in groups. Dolphins jump out of the water and talk to each other with clicks and whistles.
4
Sea turtles have hard shells on their backs. The shell keeps them safe. Sea turtles can swim for a very long time without stopping.
5
Whales are the biggest animals in the world. Some whales sing songs that other whales can hear far away. Even baby whales are bigger than a car! Vocabulary Bank
Writing Steps
1
What Is This About?
After reading the passage, tell us:
1. Topic: What is this passage about? (just a few words!) 2. Things you noticed: What are 1-2 things the author tells you? You can use these sentence starters: - "This passage is about..." - "The author tells us about..." There is no wrong answer! Just try your best. Let us read the passage together! Read it nice and slow.
This passage is about: ocean animals The topic is what the whole passage is about. You can usually say the topic in just a few words! As you read, think about what the author is telling you.
Scoring Guidance — Step 1
Look for:
Main Idea Detail / Evidence 1 Detail / Evidence 2 Detail / Evidence 3
2
Find the Main Topic
Tell us the main topic of the passage.
You can fill in this sentence: - "This passage is mostly about ____________." - "The author wants to tell us about ____________." - "The main topic is ____________." Try to say what the WHOLE passage is about, not just one small part! Now let us find the main topic of the passage!
The main topic is what the WHOLE passage is mostly about. It is the big thing the author wants to tell you about. Think about it like this: If someone asked "What is this passage about?" what would you say? What is the most important thing about ocean animals?
Scoring Guidance — Step 2
Look for:
What is the WHOLE passage about?
If you told a friend, what would you say this is about?
The main topic covers the whole passage, not just one part
Sentence Starters
In the text, the author shows that ___.
The author writes, "___," which shows ___.
This is important because ___.
Overall, the text shows that ___.
3
Find Key Details
Find 1-2 key details from the passage. Key details are important things the author tells you.
You can fill in these sentences: - "One thing the author tells us is ____________." - "Another thing is ____________." Each detail should come from the passage! Great job finding the main topic! Now let us find some key details.
Key details are the important things the author tells you about the topic. They help you learn more! Look at the passage again. What important things does the author tell you?
Scoring Guidance — Step 3
Look for:
Key details are important things from the passage
What does the author TELL you about the topic?
Look for facts in the passage
Sentence Starters
In the text, the author shows that ___.
The author writes, "___," which shows ___.
This is important because ___.
Overall, the text shows that ___.
4
How Do Details Help?
Pick one of your details and tell us how it helps us learn about the topic:
You can fill in this sentence: - "This detail helps because ____________." - "This teaches us that ____________." - "I learned ____________ from this detail." Try using the word "because" to explain! You found great details! Now let us think about HOW they help us learn about the topic.
Each detail teaches us something about the topic. It is like a puzzle piece that helps us see the whole picture! Think about it: Why did the author put this detail in the passage?
Scoring Guidance — Step 4
Look for:
Think about WHY the author told us this
How does this detail help us understand the topic?
Use the word 'because' to explain
Sentence Starters
In the text, the author shows that ___.
The author writes, "___," which shows ___.
This is important because ___.
Overall, the text shows that ___.
5
Tell What You Learned
Write 1-3 sentences telling what you learned from this passage.
Try to: 1. Tell the main topic (what the passage is about) 2. Tell at least one detail from the passage 3. Use your own words You can start with: - "I learned that..." - "This passage taught me that..." - "The passage is about ____________. I learned that ____________." You are almost done! Do your best! Amazing work! Now let us put everything together.
Pretend you are telling a friend what this passage was about. What would you say? Use the topic and details to help you tell what you learned!
Scoring Guidance — Step 5
Look for:
Start with what the passage is about
Add a detail that helps explain it
Use your own words
Pretend you are telling a friend
Sentence Starters
In the text, the author shows that ___.
The author writes, "___," which shows ___.
This is important because ___.
Overall, the text shows that ___.
Self-Check Rubric
Before You Turn InI completed the planning step
I completed Step 2: Find the Main Topic
I completed Step 3: Find Key Details
I completed Step 4: How Do Details Help?
I completed Step 5: Tell What You Learned
I re-read my writing and fixed any spelling or grammar mistakes
I am proud of this work
ReflectionWhat was the hardest part of this assignment? What would you do differently next time? Want the AI-coached version of this assignment?
Get step-by-step AI feedback on student writing — free for teachers at writingtools.org. Same assignment, with grade-level rubric scoring, revision coaching, and printable reports.
writingtools.org/printables/mainideas2_ocean_v1
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