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Conventions
Skill Building Lessons that Teach Basic Writing Conventions
Writing A-Z offers a collection of Skill Lessons that introduce students to writing conventions. Writing
Conventions Lessons cover the basics appropriate to each level of writer, including elements such as
capitalization, grammar, paragraphing, and spelling. Conventions clarify a piece of writing and make it
more enjoyable to read because proper conventions help readers more easily determine what a writer is
trying to say.
Conventions make reading a piece of writing easier because they represent a general set of standards or
forms for written English that are recognizable to the reader.
Mechanics such as punctuation, paragraphs, or capitalization let readers know where to pause,
what kind of inflection a sentence should have, or where sentences or groups of ideas begin and
end.
Appropriate spelling helps readers know what words are being used.
Usage rules that address such conventions as grammar or sentence formation, allow writers to
craft sentences and compositions that express their ideas clearly.
How to Use Conventions Skill Lessons
Use the same common lesson plan for each of the different writing conventions. Focus on only one
convention at a time. Differentiate for students in your class by matching the resources provided for
practice at each of the four developmental writing levels to your students' writing levels.
Students can also use the Editing Guides when
editing for conventions on other pieces of writing.
Showing of resources
Capitalization
editing practice for elements of capitalization, such as proper nouns and sentence beginnings
