Writing Strategy for elaboration

Do you have kids writing one sentence for their elaboration? Get kids to write more with this writing strategy for elaboration.

Let me tell you, fourth graders are notorious for summing up their thoughts in just one sentence! The biggest misconception my kids have is thinking the reader knows everything they know.

So, this is my secret writing strategy to get them to elaborate more.

This writing strategy for elaboration is called Defend your Evidence. It’s great to use it for information and opinion writing pieces.

Here is the gist of the strategy:

1. Identify a sentence that needs more information.

2. Think about the information in the sentence.

3. Pick to write a story or an example.

4. Write the sentences.

I wish the strategy can be taught as fast as you are reading this but, here is a breakdown of what I do in between each step:

Before getting to the heart of the strategy, I state why I am teaching this strategy which sounds like this, “good writers use examples and stories to explain their thoughts.”

Then, I show the four steps of the writing strategy. This paves the way to demonstrate the strategy in action using a writing sample.

Next, I model by identifying a sentence that needs more information and highlighting it.

Right after, I prompt my fourth graders to think about the information the reader would need to know. This leads us to discuss information on the topic.

Our discussion during small group time is the heart of this strategy because they collect ideas, they will later use in their writing. 

Afterwards, I prompt them to pick an elaboration technique that would make the most sense to follow the original sentence. At this point, the focus is to get them to add more sentences. I limit their choice to story or an example.

Right after, I write the new sentences on a sticky and read the response with the new sentences added.

But the lesson doesn’t stop here!

For independent practice, the kids try the strategy on their writing piece. Before sending them off, I give them sticky notes to write two prompting questions to keep in their notebook for the next time they feel stuck.

In about 15 minutes, I got my kids to add more sentences to develop their elaboration like writing rockstars.

This is a simple strategy for kids to add to their writing toolbox. As part of this series, I am including the lesson plan and notes I used with my kids. Grab the lesson plan and notes below.

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