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Mr. A's Writing Tools
writingtools.org
Writing Assignment
Why We Recycle
Standard: Determine the main idea of a text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main idea.
What to Do
Assignment OverviewLet's learn about recycling! You'll read about how recycling Why We Recycle
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Every day, people throw away a lot of trash. Much of that trash ends up in big piles called landfills. But there is something we can do to make less trash. It is called recycling.
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Recycling means turning old things into new things. When you put a plastic bottle in the recycling bin, it can be made into something new, like a park bench or a jacket. Old newspapers can be turned into new paper. Glass jars can be melted down and made into new glass bottles.
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Recycling helps our planet in many ways. First, it saves natural resources. Trees are used to make paper. When we recycle paper, fewer trees need to be cut down. Second, recycling saves energy. It takes less energy to make something from recycled materials than to make it from scratch. Third, recycling keeps trash out of landfills, which means less pollution.
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Kids can help by recycling at home and at school. Look for recycling bins and sort your trash. You can also reuse things instead of throwing them away. An old jar can become a pencil holder. A cardboard box can become a toy fort!
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Every time you recycle, you are helping to take care of the Earth. Vocabulary Bank
Writing Steps
1
What Is This Passage About?
After reading the passage, answer these questions:
1. Topic: What is this passage mostly about? (1-3 words) 2. Important facts: List 2-3 important facts from the passage. You can use bullet points: - Fact 1: ... - Fact 2: ... - Fact 3: ... Read the passage carefully. Think about what it is mostly about.
The passage is about: recycling The topic is what the whole passage is about. You can usually say the topic in just a few words. As you read, start noticing the important facts the author tells you.
Scoring Guidance — Step 1
Look for:
Main Idea Detail / Evidence 1 Detail / Evidence 2 Detail / Evidence 3
2
Find the Main Idea
Write the main idea of the passage.
1. Main idea: Write one sentence that tells the most important thing the author wants you to learn. 2. How do you know? Tell us why you think this is the main idea. Try starting with: - "The main idea is that..." - "The author wants us to learn that..." - "This passage is mostly about how..." Now let us find the main idea of the passage!
The main idea is the most important thing the author wants you to learn. It is NOT just the topic - it tells you something ABOUT the topic. Example: - Topic: Apples - Main idea: Apples are healthy fruits that come in many colors and flavors. What is the most important thing the author wants you to learn about recycling? What is the most important thing the author wants you to learn about recycling?
Scoring Guidance — Step 2
Look for:
The main idea is a complete sentence that makes a point
Ask yourself: What is the ONE most important thing the author wants me to learn?
The main idea is bigger than just one fact
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 the Key Details
Find 2-3 key details from the passage that support the main idea:
- Detail 1: ... - Detail 2: ... - Detail 3: (if you can find one more!) Each detail should be a fact from the passage that helps explain the main idea. Great job finding the main idea! Now let us find the key details that support it.
Key details are the important facts that help explain the main idea. They are like helpers that make the main idea stronger. Look at the passage again. What facts did the author include that help explain the main idea?
Scoring Guidance — Step 3
Look for:
Key details are important facts from the passage
Look for facts that HELP EXPLAIN the main idea
Each detail should come from 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 key details and explain how it supports the main idea:
1. The detail: Write one of your key details. 2. How it helps: Explain how this detail helps us understand the main idea. Try starting with: - "This detail helps because..." - "This fact shows us that..." - "This detail is important because..." You found great details! Now let us think about HOW they help us understand the main idea.
Each detail is like a helper. It gives us more information about the main idea. Ask yourself: Why did the author include these facts? How do they help explain the main idea?
Scoring Guidance — Step 4
Look for:
Think about WHY the author included this fact
How does this detail help explain the main idea?
Use the word 'because' to explain the connection
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 2-4 sentences telling what you learned from this passage.
Your sentences should: 1. Tell the main idea (the most important thing you learned) 2. Include at least one key detail from the passage 3. Use your own words Try starting with: - "I learned that..." - "This passage taught me that..." - "The most important thing about recycling is..." Amazing work! Now let us put everything together.
Pretend you are telling a friend what this passage was about. You want to tell them the most important things you learned! Use the main idea and key details to help you.
Scoring Guidance — Step 5
Look for:
Start with the main idea
Add a detail or two that help 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 Idea
I completed Step 3: Find the 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/mainideas3_recycling_v1
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