UNIT 2
The Lens of History: Research Reports

BEND I ♦ Writing Flash-Drafts about Westward Expansion

Session 1 – Organizing for the Journey Ahead
Homework: Continuing to Research at Home

Session 2 – Writing Flash-Drafts
Student Sample: Example student report
Information Writing Checklist, Grades 5 and 6
Homework: "If…, then…"

Session 3 – Note-Taking and Idea-Making for Revision
Student Sample: Ashley's Cut-and-Paste Revision
Homework: Continue Research, Note-Taking, and Idea-Making at Home
Online Resources for Westward Expansion Research (including a list of videos on subtopics)

Session 4 – Writers of History Pay Attention to Geography
Westward Expansion: Map
Homework: Revising with Various Lenses

Session 5 – Writing to Think
Westward Expansion: Map
Researchers Write and Revise By…
Prompts for Thinking and Writing
Homework: Revising after Discussion

Session 6 – Writers of History Draw on an Awareness of Timelines
Westward Expansion: Master Timeline
Chart: Information Writers…
Homework: Following up on Hunches

Session 8 – Redrafting Our Research Reports
Homework: Write, Write, Write!

Session 9 – Celebrating and Reaching Toward New Goals
Information Writing Checklist, Grades 5 and 6
Online Resources for Westward Expansion Research
FIG. 9–1 Chris's final version

BEND II ♦ Writing Focused Research Reports that Teach and Engage Readers

Session 10 – Revising the Narrative Portion of a Memoir
Possible Texts to Read Aloud
Link to Video: Transcontinental Railroad
Homework: Align Your Research with Your Mission Statement

Session 11 – Primary Source Documents
William Swain Letter: Online Resources
William Swain Letter: Transcript
Online Sources for Gathering Primary Document Resources
Homework: Studying Primary Sources by Focusing on Images and Categorizing

Session 13 – Finding a Structure to Let Writing Grow Into
Homework: Drafting, Planning, and Drafting Again

Session 14 – Finding Multiple Points of View
Photograph: Pony Express Rider (FIG. 14–1)
Photograph: Transcontinental Railroad/Golden Spike (FIG. 14–2)
Homework: Ongoing Research

Session 16 – Using Text Features to Write Well
Information Writing Checklist, Grades 5 and 6
Homework: Revise Based on All You Know

Session 17 – Crafting Introductions and Conclusions
Information Writing Checklist, Grades 5 and 6
Homework: Using the Information Writing Checklist as a Revision Lens

Session 19 – Adding Information Inside Sentences
Homework: Polish Drafts for Tomorrow's Celebration

Session 20 – Celebration
FIG. 20–1 Kayleigh's final piece
FIG. 20–2 Eric's final piece