2. What is Power Writing?
Structured approach to writing.
Sequential teaching process that
builds in steps upon the mastery of
each concept.
Students are taught how to
organize their thoughts before
their writing begins.
Source: Corporation for Educational Technology. (2008). Power writing. Retrieved from
http://www.thewritingsite.org/resources/approaches/power/default.asp
3. How Does It Work?
• Power 1: Main Idea
• Power 2: Major Detail to Explain or
Support Main Idea
• Power 3: Minor Detail to Explain a
Major Detail
• Power 4: Concluding Sentence
Source: Heal, N. (2001, July 25). Power writing in math class. Retrieved from
http://cte.jhu.edu/techacademy/web/2000/heal/pdf%20files/power_writing.pdf
5. Power 2
• Major detail
• Supporting Idea
• Often a writer will begin a
Power 2 - Supporting Idea
sentence with a Transition
Word.
Sources: Campbell, K. (2000, August 6). Power writing!. Retrieved from
http://cte.jhu.edu/techacademy/web/2000/campbellk/PowerWritDef.html
Cave. (n.d.). Power writing for paragraphs. Retrieved from http://bonny-kate-es.knox.k12tn.net/cavewebpage/prgrph.html
6. Power 3
• Elaborating Detail Sentences
• After each supporting detail
sentence, add elaborating detail
sentences.
• A reason or example which supports
or explains a POWER 2 idea
Sources: Cave. (n.d.). Power writing for paragraphs. Retrieved from http://bonny-kate-
es.knox.k12tn.net/cavewebpage/prgrph.html
Northern Nevada Writing Project. (2005). Teaching students to compose a power essay. Retrieved from
http://www.writingfix.com/PDFs/Process/Power_Essay.pdf
7. Power 4
• Concluding Sentence
• Relates to the POWER 1
sentence.
Sources: Heal, N. (2001, July 25). Power writing in math class. Retrieved from
http://cte.jhu.edu/techacademy/web/2000/heal/pdf%20files/power_writing.pdf
Northern Nevada Writing Project. (2005). Teaching students to compose a power essay. Retrieved from
http://www.writingfix.com/PDFs/Process/Power_Essay.pdf
8. Power 0
• Extra information.
• Background details.
Source: Poulton, S. (n.d.). Power writing plus. Retrieved from http://www.teachthetraits.com/pwp.htm
9. Power 2
Transitions
• first
• second
• third
• and
• more
• even more
• moreover
• more than that
• equally (important,
• necessary, etc.)
• besides
• furthermore
• also
Source: Campbell, K. (2000, August 6). Power writing!. Retrieved from
http://cte.jhu.edu/techacademy/web/2000/campbellk/PowerWritDef.html
• likewise
• next
• then
• to begin with
• again
• in addition to
• lastly
• finally
• some
• others
• still others
• above all
• another
10. Power 3
Transitions
• that is to say
• namely
• as
• just as
• specifically
• to be sure
• in such cases
• This can be made
clear...
• Because of this...
Source: Campbell, K. (2000, August 6). Power writing!. Retrieved from
http://cte.jhu.edu/techacademy/web/2000/campbellk/PowerWritDef.html
• for example
• like
• in the same manner
• to be specific
• for instance
• in other words
• This can be
explained...
• This can be clarified...
• It is necessary to
pause here to...