Guided Practice for Recount Writing

  

        Recount writing can be found in articles, autobiographies, biographies, blogs, diaries, journals, letters, poems and even scripts.  Recount writing has several features.  These include the following: 

*  Setting the stage – Who? What? When? Where? Why?

*  A chronological order of events

*  An ending that contains a personal comment

*  A written piece in the past tense

*  Use of transition words that connect the events together

*  The use of first person (using the word “I”) when it’s autobiographical or third person when it isn’t  

      Prior to learning how to recount an event, a student has had some experience retelling an event.  A retell is an event from a story heard orally while a recount is written output of events in chronological order.  I often include a retelling organizer to support students' thinking.  Here's an example of a visual I have used:

Retelling is a verbal way of communicating about an event or story.  With retelling, students can use the rocket retelling model to retell a story.

Setting the Stage:  Each corner of the triangle represents the following: characters, setting and plot. 

Events:  Events are in order.  Students may use the transition word chart to assist them in moving from one event to another without saying the words “and then…”

Solution:  The ending is explained.  Here a personal comment is added.  Students are encouraged to think about how they felt about the events.   

Heart of the Message:  Did this retelling leave the listener with a message or something to think about?

Ideas for Retelling a Story

o   Read popular children’s books. Have students retell the story (fairytales are excellent for this purpose).

o   Fill a box with several artifacts.  Have students sit in a circle and then remove one artifact at a time to create an oral story. 

o   Fill a box with several magazine pictures. Have students sit in a circle and then remove one picture at a time to create an oral story. 

o   Use story prompts. 

I have created a "recount writing" display board with several prompts.  Using dollar store hard covered notebooks, title pages and graphic organizers, students select their recount book.  The recount book then becomes a great place to share a story.  Here's an example of the display board I use: 

Write About Books Bundle

Below is a free download for a Recount Book:

Favourite Sports Recount Writing Free Download

     The Recount Writing unit will focus on writing about personal information and factual information.  Students will engage in retelling warm-ups to prepare for recount writing.  A list of ideas, graphic organizers and rubrics is also included.  Just click on the link below:

Recount Writing