Assessment Resource Banks

This task is about writing instructions.

Read the article Grow Your Own Crystals by Julie Ellis (Connected, No. 1, 2000) then complete the tasks below.

Use the information in the article to write a set of instructions for growing crystals.

Use the criteria for writing instructions to give you an idea of what your set of instructions should include, and what style of writing to use.

Once you have finished writing your instructions, reflect on your writing using the student assessment sheet.
After you have completed your assessment, we will talk about your writing.

Criteria for writing instructions:

Purpose - The title shows which crystals will be grown.
Equipment - All the equipment needed to grow these crystals is listed.
Ingredients - All the ingredients needed to grow these crystals are listed.
Steps - All the things that have to be done are recorded and each step is written on a new line.
Logical sequence - The steps are in the same order of how the crystals are to be made.
Verbs - Each step begins with the action word that tells the reader what to do.
Present tense - All instructions are written in the present tense.
Illustrations - Instructions can have pictures. The pictures add understanding to the instructions.

Student assessment sheet for writing instructions
Name: Assessment key: N = not often S = sometimes A = always
a)	The title states the purpose, what is to be made.	No		Yes
b)	The text tells the reader what equipment is needed.	N	S		A
c)	The text tells the reader what ingredients are needed.	N	S		A
d)	All the steps are written down, and each step is written on a new line.	N	S		A
e)	There is a logical sequence, all the steps are in order.	N	S		A
f)	Verbs are used at the beginning of each instruction.	N	S		A
g)	The present tense is used.	N	S		A
h)	If illustrations are used: they are clear, and add to the understanding of the instructions.	N	S		A

	Student's thoughts on this pieces of writing	Teacher's thoughts on this piece of writing
Positive points
Minus points
Interesting points

Next time I write instructions, I will:

You are here