Although you could do a search and download a template to reproduce
for your students, I recommend you make your own or at least personalize
one for your classes.
Making your own is probably faster than sorting through
all the junk that passes for graphic organizers. More importantly,
though, if you do it yourself, you will have a strategic planning
tool you and your students can use in a variety of situations. Somebody
else's PDF is not going to give you that kind of flexibility.
You don't need anything fancy. In fact, the more the outline template
looks like something students could scratch on a napkin, the better.
You want planning to look like a natural, everyday activity.
Flashy, high-tech products are not the way to go.
An outline
is nothing more than a grid. A formal
outline adds unnecessarily confusing symbols and rules about
the number of subpoints. Seventh graders Samantha and Sean don't
need all that stuff.
Table function is simple, quick
If you want to make your template on a computer, the simplest
way I know is to use the TABLE function in a word processor.
Make the template
from tables just the way you build your own rubrics, beginning
with a pattern for each of the different row configurations.
Build the section students need to record the first piece of
evidence for their first body paragraph (Click
to see sample visual elements for the outline template). Then
make multiple copies for each of the other pieces of evidence
using copy and paste.
Digital distribution to students
Making a full essay template on computer is a good option
if you can provide copies to students as a computer
file they can use.
Providing all students have reasonable computer access, a table-based
template lets you include directions in the template. You
can provide the file as a downloadable Google doc. Students can
replace the directions in your grid with their plans.
If your students don't have adequate computer access to make digital
file sharing possible, a good alternative is to print just
one paragraph of your graphic organizer. Let students follow
the pattern using their own notebook paper for additional paragraphs.
Writing Points subscribers' benefit
Writing Points subscribers can use various free materials
for teaching writing that other site visitors cannot access.
One of the freebies is a complete outline template in PDF format.
It comes with links to a Google doc version that a teacher can
download, personalize or modify, and provide to students as a
fillable form.
If you aren't already a Writing Points subscriber, you can
sign up for a free subscription using the form below.
