Book excerpt: These books are expanded versions of the Composition sections of our STAAR Prep Writing workbooks. In Part One, students review the components of good writing in such areas as organization, beginning a composition, interesting and descriptive language, details, proper sentence and paragraph construction, and ending a composition. They then proceed through a detailed sample exercise. Students are presented with at least ten sample exercises in which they are encouraged to recognize and critique organization, relevance, elaboration, tone, purpose, and focus, as well as correct sentence construction and appropriate use of details and dialogue. They are then given a similar writing prompt in a suitable writing genre to apply these same skills of evaluation and critical thinking to their own writing. In Part Two, student are given a few additional lessons in which they are expected to read a brief composition and rewrite it, based almost exclusively on their expanded understanding of the elements of good writing as they've practiced them and the Writer's Checklist. They are then expected to answer questions related to their rewritten compositions, evaluating their own writing as they would anyone else's. Grades 3 through 8 For students who are working below grade level, Rise & Shine STAAR Composition is available in an ungraded version - Mastering Texas Composition. Great for home schooling, too!