Lesson Plan
"Can Do!" Reading, Writing, and Understanding the Art of Technical Writing by ECSDM
Subject
English Language Arts (NYS P-12 Common Core)
Author
Connie Duczeminski, Middletown High School
Enlarged City School District of Middletown
Description
The Art of Technical Writing is a complex writing style that effects our lives every day. The accurate interpretation of technical writing is a beneficial life long skill that can enhance decision making and task completion. Students interpret technical writing in virtually every course they take. Accurate comprehension of directions, processes, charts, and graphs, to name a few, leads to student success. The following lesson is a fun way to introduce the concept of Technical Writing. The lesson outlines the different styles of technical writing such as Research Reports, Specification Reports, Evaluation and Recommendation Reports, and Instructional Reports. Students will be able to recognize the different writing styles and purposes in order to enhance their comprehension.
The style of Instructional writing will be introduced in the form of Origami. Students will work through a step-by-step process to learn how to make an Origami Box. Once completed, students will evaluate the instructions as well as their comprehension of the task.
Objectives
Students will be able to:
* Recognize the different styles of Technical Writing
* Identify the types of Technical Writing used in daily life
* Follow complex directions and learn to fold an Origami Box
* Write an Instructional Report
Resources/Materials
The following is a list of materials and sources used in this lesson. Teacher presented material is formatted for use with "SMART Board" Technology.
1) SMART Board
2) Networked computer and LCD Projector
3) Attached worksheet titled "When do YOU come across Technical Writing?"
4) Two different colored pieces of 8" square paper.
5) Scissors
6) Writing paper and pens or pencils
7) Attached worksheet titled "Evaluation Report and Writing Assignment"When do YOU come across Technical WritingEvaluation Report and Writing AssignmentTechnical Writing Notebook
Procedure
Before you begin, some notes about this lesson.
A. Go through the procedure of making the Origami Box in order to familiarize yourself with the instructions. It is a difficult task that may be frustrating on the first try.
B. The interactive arrows on the bottom of each slide allow you to advance the slide to the next frame or to return to the previous slide. During the lesson, some students may need extra time to review a previous step.
1. Slide #1 - SMART Board Notebook
Introduce the purpose of Technical Writing.
2. Slide #2 - SMART Board Notebook
Explanation and example pictures of Research Reports and Specifications Reports. Ask students to identify when these reports are used?
3. Slide #3 - SMART Board Notebook
Explanation of Evaluation, Recommendation and Instructional Reports. Ask students to identify when these reports are used?
4. Slide #4 - SMART Board Notebook
Copy of student Handout "When do you come across Technical Writing. Have students work together to brainstorm and outline the types of technical writing they are exposed to on a regular basis. Once the students have completed their charts, have them share some of their responses with the class and record their responses on the SMART Board slide.
5. Slide #5 - SMART Board Notebook
Introduce the background of origami as basis for this lesson about understanding Instructional Technical Writing.
6. Slide #6 - SMART Board Notebook
Describe the basic technique of folding and creasing paper when making origami.
7. Slide #7 - SMART Board Notebook
Step 1: Start with two 8" square pieces of paper. Any paper will do. Paper of different colors is best. If you do not have colored paper, you can color one side of the paper you have.
Step 2: Lay one piece of paper on a hard flat surface so that it forms a diamond in front of you.
8.Slide #8 - SMART Board Notebook
Step 3: Fold the paper in half to form a triangle. Crease the fold.
Step 4: Unfold the paper and then fold into a triangle in the opposite direction.
9. Slide #9 - SMART Board Notebook
Step 5: Unfold the paper back to the diamond shape. Now you have two diagonal folds on the paper.
Step 6: Fold the top corner of the paper so that the point meets the center cross fold of the paper. Do the same for the other three points.
10. Slide #10 - SMART Board Notebook
Step 7: You now have a smaller square with all of the points folded to the center. Re-crease the sides of the square with your thumbnail.
Step 8: Fold the top side of the square to the center half mark. Sharpen the crease.
11. Slide #11 - SMART Board Notebook
Step 9: Unfold the side of the square you folded toward the center. You will notice the center point also pops back and points to the outside of the square. This is correct. Leave it that way.
Step 10: Do the same type of fold for the other three sides. By the time you are done, the center points should all be pointing to the outside of the square.
12. Slide #12 - SMART Board Notebook
Step 11A: You will notice there are sixteen small folded squares within the square. It is important that the next two steps be done correctly. On the side closest to you, cut the first inside left fold one fold in and STOP. Refer to the graphic on the SMART Board slide.
Step 11B: Cut the last fold closest to the right of the same side of the square to the first inside fold and STOP.
Step 11C: Unfold the point of that side. The small corner flaps on the outside of each corner on the right and left side of the square should be loose.
13. Slide #13 - SMART Board Notebook
Step 12: Turn the square 180degrees to the opposite side. Follow the directions for Step 11A-C.
*Note: You now have the center square in the middle of the paper with two long flaps on each end.
14. Slide #14 - SMART Board Notebook
Step 13: Loosen the small flaps next to the extended flaps and fold the sides without the long flaps up.
15. Slide #15 - SMART Board Notebook
Step 14: Fold the small flaps toward the center inside. Be sure to overlap the flaps completely so that the inside bottom of the box is a complete square.
Step 15: Fold the long extended flaps all the way up and over the smaller flaps and tuck carefully inside. If you have done this correctly, the four points will meet on the inside bottom of the square box.
16. Slide #16 - SMART Board Notebook
***SUCCESS***
This is the bottom half of your origami box. Follow steps #1 through 15 to complete the top of the box. When you have finished tuck one-half carefully into the other.
17. Slide #17 - SMART Board Notebook
Evaluation Report Have students complete the attached Evaluation Report. This report also contains instructions for the writing assignment outlined in slide 18.
18. Slide #18 - SMART Board Notebook
WRAP UP
The next writing assignment is outlined on this slide and the bottom of the Evaluation Report hand out. The purpose of the assignment is for application and assessment of skills the student has learned during this lesson.
Assessment
Reading comprehension as related to step-by-step process will be assessed through the successful completion of the origami box. Writing assessment and organizational skills will be assessed through attached worksheets and final written informational report.
Duration
Approximately two 40-minute lessons. The first lesson is the introduction of Technical Writing and its application to everyday life. The first lesson also includes the making of the first half of the origami box. The second lesson making the second half of the origami box and involves an evaluation report along with a writing project to be completed and later shared in class with partners.
SMART Board Technology
The above lesson was designed to be administered with the help of SMART Board Technology, made available to the author through the E2T2 grant in The Enlarged City School District of Middletown.
