Communication happens in so many ways in today’s world. At one time, educators stressed the importance of written communication and making sure a student conveyed their ideas clearly and concisely in writing.
However, with texting, email, video calls, and more informal communications taking over the landscape, it can sometimes feel like the importance of writing and writing styles can fall by the wayside.
It is important that writing is part of the middle school classroom, since students who develop good communication in writing can hopefully translate that into other forms of communication.
Why teach writing?
Writing skills are an important tool that will benefit middle school students. By learning how to work with writing styles and rearrange words and phrases effectively, students can learn to organize their thoughts and how to convey them to others.
Writing can stimulate creativity and give students a chance to use their imaginations and their critical thinking skills. When students rely primarily on more informal types of communication, for example, text messaging, their writing can be less organized than it would be in more formal communications.
While it’s common to use shorthand in emails and texts or just jump on a video call, using these methods exclusively means students do not have the time to practice crafting proper written communication.
Eventually, this can impact communication, since there are times when more formal and precise approaches are needed. One example would be during a job interview or when communicating with a potential employer.
By teaching our students writing styles and skills, and giving them the tools they need to express themselves well, teachers are helping lay a foundation that will help provide them with a successful future.
Writing is also a great tool for expanding vocabulary and enhancing reading skills. As students seek to organize their thoughts and compose their writing, teachers can encourage them to seek out and use new words, as well as read other examples of different kinds of writing to help boost their reading comprehension.
Teachers Benefit When Students Write Well
As teachers, we all want to see our students succeed, and it can be difficult when we see a student struggling. It can be even more challenging if we cannot effectively communicate with that student, so we can provide them with the help they need.
By teaching writing styles and skills in middle school, teachers can give their students the tools they need to not only communicate effectively with the outside world but also within the classroom. If students are better able to articulate their needs and organize their thoughts, it can help foster an environment of better communication between students and teachers, as well as among peers.
When students are able to express their needs clearly and calmly, it can help create a more effective classroom environment that is easier to manage. That enhances the learning environment and makes it easier for students and teachers to get what they need from the material and classroom interactions.
The Five Main Types of Writing Styles
There are five main types of writing styles: persuasive, narrative, expository, and descriptive.
Persuasive Writing
The persuasive writing style aims to convince the reader to change their mind or adopt a particular opinion. It can be a fun and engaging way to get students to express themselves on topics that interest them, while helping them hone their writing and vocabulary skills. Teachers can allow students to choose their own topic, or allow them to select from a list of pre-made topics.
Persuasive writing is also a great tool to use to have students express a particular opinion on a subject that’s being taught, such as a novel or short story.
Your students are sure to love this Persuasive Product Pitch Assignment, this Rant Writing Unit, Snow Days Opinion Writing Lesson or this Michael vs. LeBron Persuasive Writing Assignment.
Narrative Writing
The narrative writing style is all about storytelling. Through narration, a series of events can unfold and take the reader through a story or adventure. This type of writing is a fantastic way to engage the imagination of middle school students and can help them become more comfortable with exploring various themes and topics as they look to build exciting elements into their writing.
Through learning narrative writing, students can work on organizing their thoughts and use their critical thinking skills to figure out how to construct a story that will be enjoyed and understood by the audience. This Narrative Writing Unit is a great place for students to start. They may also enjoy this Pet Memes Narrative Writing Assignment.
Learn more about narrative writing here: Why Middle School Narrative Writing is Essential for Students.
Expository Writing
The expository writing style is writing that explains something. Some examples include newspaper articles, textbooks and instructional guides. This is a fantastic way to get your students researching, summarizing and organizing material.
Teachers can use this to help students learn new topics or as a tool to have students summarize and reinforce what they have learned. Expository writing is a great way for teachers to assess how students have organized and grasped material and concepts.
One way students can practice expository writing is by combining writing with math, having students explain the problem-solving process for different math topics. You could also assign a different product to each student and have them write a how-to article for their product.
Descriptive Writing
The purpose of the descriptive writing style is to paint a vivid picture of something for the audience. This style is valuable for students to practice their observational skills, as well as use their imagination.
By aiming to describe something in a detailed way, students can learn to edit what is and is not important to that picture, and to use a varied vocabulary encompassing the five senses to make the words on the page come to life.
One way students could use descriptive writing is by combining writing and art. Have students provide descriptions of artwork to work on this writing style. You could even have students write mock travel reviews, product descriptions, or set the scene for a fictional game or a book.
Creative Writing
Creative writing is a fantastic way for students to channel their imagination through character-driven writing. It’s also a type of writing that students can blend with both descriptive and narrative writing, giving them an opportunity to work on all three at once.
If you’re looking for a way to get students to dive into creative writing, this Creative Writing Prompts Bundle is perfect to use for the entire school year. With seasonal and holiday-themed writing prompts designed in a RAFT (Role, Audience, Format, Topic) format, students get to explore character-driven writing in fun and meaningful ways.
You can also encourage students to practice creative writing as a class through writing prompts, where students are given a first line and then they work collaboratively to complete a story line by line. These Collaborative Creative Writing Prompts not only make writing fun, but are also a great way to get students moving around the classroom.
Or, you might want to give students some more generic prompts as they start their creative writing journey. This Creative Writing Prompts and Activities resource not only includes 20 different writing prompts for students but also comes with anchor charts to help them remember the various steps of writing a story.
For ideas on using creative writing in the classroom, check out these blog posts:
- When To Use Creative Writing Activities
- Creative Writing Lesson Plans
- Creative RAFT Writing Strategies for Middle School
Tips for Teaching Writing In Middle School
Teaching different writing styles in middle school does not have to be difficult. Here are a few tips for teaching writing in middle school:
- Use mentor texts to show strong examples
- Give students a choice in their topics
- Incorporate short, daily writing prompts
- Get students working together on collaborative writing. Try one of these resources with your students: Interactive Writing Prompts or Collaborative Creative Writing Prompts.
- Focus on one skill at a time (such as strong openings, transitions, etc.)
- Celebrate growth, not perfection
The more opportunities students have to work on their writing, the better–and more confident–they will get.
Comprehensive Middle School Narrative Writing Unit
Are you ready to help your students become confident storytellers? This Middle School Narrative Writing Unit is a fantastic resource to help get your students on a strong path with their writing. Empower them to become skilled storytellers with this comprehensive 12-lesson unit that is structured to guide your students through each step of crafting a short story they will share with their peers.
This resource is designed to guide students through the exciting process of crafting engaging narratives, fostering creativity, critical thinking, and literary skills. This unit contains narrative writing graphic organizers.
Resource Includes:
- 12 Engaging Lessons
- Detailed Unit & Lesson Plans
- Scaffolded Notes
- Google Slides™ Slideshow
- Levels & Points Rubrics
- Exemplars & Answer Keys
- Graphic Organizers
- Curriculum Alignment Guides (Grade 6, 7, 8 Common Core & Ontario Curriculum)
- PDF & Google Slides™ Formats
Lesson Overview:
- Lesson 1 – What is Narrative Writing?
- Lesson 2 – Narrative Brainstorming
- Lesson 3 – Character Sketch
- Lesson 4 – Writing a Narrative Exposition (Hook)
- Lesson 5 – Plot Sequencing: Rising Action & Climax
- Lesson 6 – Narrative Endings: Falling Action & Resolution
- Lesson 7 – Revising and Editing Stations
- Lesson 8 – Publishing Days
- Lesson 9 – Celebration Day
- Bonus #1 – Adding Dialogue
- Bonus #2 – Adding Details and Imagery
- Bonus #3 – Adding Figurative Language
Key Features:
- Step-by-Step Guidance: With 12 engaging lessons, this unit provides a structured framework that leads students through each stage of narrative composition, from brainstorming to publishing.
- Scaffolded Learning: The scaffolded notes and graphic organizers support students at every stage of the writing process, ensuring that they feel confident and equipped to express their ideas effectively.
- Curriculum Alignment: Aligned with Grade 6, 7, and 8 Common Core and Ontario Curriculum standards, this unit seamlessly integrates into your existing curriculum, saving you valuable planning time.
- Engaging Lessons: Each lesson is designed to captivate students’ interest and actively involve them in the writing process, promoting meaningful learning experiences that extend beyond the classroom.
- Interactive Resources: The included Google Slides™ slideshow enhances engagement and facilitates collaborative learning, allowing students to interact with lesson content in a dynamic digital environment.
- Assessment Tools: Levels & points rubrics, exemplars, and answer keys provide clear criteria for assessment and feedback, helping students understand expectations and strive for excellence.
- Bonus Activities: Extend learning with bonus lessons on adding dialogue, details, imagery, and figurative language, enriching students’ narrative repertoire and encouraging experimentation with literary techniques.
- Teacher Support: Detailed unit and lesson plans offer comprehensive guidance for teachers, ensuring smooth implementation and maximizing instructional effectiveness.
What teachers have said about this unit:
“Don’t tell anyone, but I’m an E/LA teacher who hates creative writing! LOL. This resource was a god-send for me. Everything was laid out in a clear and compelling way. Super easy to use. Thank you!” – Jill P.
“Amazing resource! Really helped my students understand narrative writing and how to create creative stories. Lesson plans were very easy to follow!” – Dallin S.
You can find the Middle School Narrative Writing Unit on Shopify CAD and Teachers Pay Teachers USD.
Additional Resources:
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