Child Language Writing Theorists

Preparation stage: When is it? Up to six years 

Characteristics: Basic motor skills and some spelling skills (motor skills are easy)

Consolidation stage: When is it? Seven to eight years 

Characteristics: Writing similar to spoken language, unfinished sentences, colloquial language, conjunction 'and' used

Differentiation stage: When is it? Nine to ten years 

Characteristics: Writing in recognised as different to speech, more understanding about different audiences and purposes 

Intergration Stage: When is it? Mid-teens

Characteristics: 'Personal voice' in writing is achieved, linguistic choices being used consistently 

Stages:

1 - Scribbling - marks on a page which are not related to words or symbols 

2 - Mock Handwriting - practise drawing shapes, usually not possible to identity them as letters

3 - Mock Letters - produce letters but no spacing or understanding of syllables

4 - Conventional Letters - start matching sounds with symbols, write down letters that resemble sounds heard or spoken, being to use initial consonant to represent words

5 - Inverted Spelling - most words can be spelt phonetically although some simple words can be correctly spelt at this point 

6 - Appropiate Spelling - sentences become complex, become more aware of standard spelling patterns, writing is becoming more legible 

7 - Correct Spelling - most words can be spelt corrected 

Stages:

Observation/comment:

Writer makes an observation (a main judgement) and then follows it up with a 'comment' that evaluates the observaion - similar to essay type?

Recount: 

Chronological events e.g. recount of a holiday

Report: 

Factual and objective description of an event not as chronological 

Narrative:

Story genre where events occur and are resolved at the end 

Setting: - The introduction of main characters, time and place - Meet Parson Tringham and Mr Durbeyfield 

Initiating events: - An action that sets up the initating event - Prince dies so Tess meets Alec who uses her 

Internal Response: - The protagonist's reaction to the initating events - Tess ends up pregnant, feels used 

Attempt: - An action from the protagonist to solve the problem - Tess gets married to Angel 

Consequences: - The result of protagonist's actions - She tells Angel about her and Alec she loses her 

Reaction: - A response by the protagonist to the consequence - Alec wins Tess, she kills him, honeymoons with Angel and is then executed