PLC Resource Cover Sheet
Carpentry Writing Assignment
Type of Material:
X
Lesson
Resource
Other (please specify)
Autobody/Collision Repair
Commercial Art
Electrical
Automotive Technology
Cosmetology
Health/Medical
Carpentry
Culinary
Welding
Title & Names of Attached Files:
Please Do Now
Rafter Layout
Seven Element Writing Assignment
Program Area(s):
X
Other (please specify): This lesson was designed for CT, but can be tailored for any class
Task/Competencies and/or Academic Skills Addressed in Lesson/Resource(s):
Carpentry – finding pitch and slope, fractions, rafter layout, explaining a task
Description (for Resources):
A lesson on finding pitch and slope, fractions, rafter layout, and explaining a task.
Objective(s):
Summary of Resource:
Materials, Resources &
Technology Needed:
The learners will:
Convert fractions.
Identify the proper formulas for figuring out pitch and slope on a roof.
Assemble a list of steps that are required to complete a task.
Compose a seven-element writing based on those steps.
Included in the attachments are the seven-element writing
assignment, the fraction conversion sheet, a focus sheet, a Please
Do Now activity and an explanation sheet for rafter layout.
The attached materials:
Tools
Calculators
Writing utensils
Description (for Lessons):
Objective(s):
The learners will:
Convert fractions.
Identify the proper formulas for figuring out pitch and slope on a roof.
Assemble a list of steps that are required to complete a task.
Compose a seven-element writing based on those steps.
Day One:
Please Do Now activity.
Fraction Conversion sheet.
Practice Fraction conversions.
Day Two:
Explanation of formula for slope and pitch.
Practice finding slope and pitch in theory and in the shop.
Summary of Lesson:
Days Three and four:
Work inside the shop practicing rafter layout and slope and pitch.
Day Five:
Introduce seven-element writing assignment.
Complete focus sheet.
Make notes.
Turn in first draft.
Day Six:
Peer edit.
Final draft.
Materials, Resources &
Technology Needed:
Assessment of
Knowledge/Skill Attainment:
Time needed to complete the
lesson:
The attached lesson:
Tools
Calculators
Writing utensils
Completion of hands-on tasks.
Writing assignment.
Approximately one week.
Developed By/Contact Information:
Bob Seminara
Lawrence County CTC
Construction Trades Instructor
March 2014
[email protected]
Tiffany Vanasco
Lawrence County CTC
English 12 Instructor/Literacy Coach
March 2014
[email protected]
Submitted/Updated:
www.careertechpa.org
Notes/Comments:
NOTE: This material was submitted in conjunction with the BCTE PLCs for purposes of
colleague sharing and may not be officially endorsed or approved by PDE.
###
PLEASE DO NOW!
We are getting ready to start a unit on slope, pitch, and rafter layout. Based on your previous
experience in this shop, write a paragraph below predicting what you think you might need to
know and what tools you will need to use for this unit. Your answer should be as detailed as
possible and should be at least five sentences in length.
Please share your response with a neighbor. Compare your paragraphs. You may add notes to
this after consulting with your partner. Be prepared to share out with the rest of the class.
Seven- Element Writing Assignment
Subject: Construction Trades
Class: AM
PM
Date: ______________
Assignment:
Explaining the necessary formulas needed to figure out the slope and pitch of
a roof and for common rafter layout to a student who is less experienced than
you.
Summary and
Rationale:
As a student in construction trades, you must master many tasks to prepare
you for the workplace. Each task is going to require that you physically
complete the task, be cognizant of the circumstances that are associated with
that particular task, and that you have all the necessary materials, tools, and
procedures.
Writer’s
Purpose:
Writer’s Role:
After reviewing the lesson on slope, pitch, and rafter layout, you will write a
report that describes the steps to this procedure to someone less experienced
than you or someone outside your technical area. You must use precise
language, include all the steps in the procedure, and have the steps in the
correct order.
Your purpose is to explain how to accomplish the task of finding slope and
pitch for a roof and how to do a common rafter layout. You want to be clear,
thorough, and helpful.
You are writing this as if you were an employer or foreman of a job who is
explaining the task to other employees. You want the person listening to be
able to complete the task with confidence and be able to teach the steps to
others.
Audience:
You are writing for an audience of employees/students who have no specific
expertise in your technical area.
Form:
This will be written as a set of instructions that are written in sentences and
paragraphs, NOT in numbered steps or a bulleted list.
Focus
Correction
Areas:
Procedures:
1. All the steps of the procedure are explained in order _______ points
2. Explanation of at least one pitfall to avoid _________ points
3. All the necessary tools are explained ___________ points
Total Possible Points ________
Before you begin writing your instructions, you will complete the following
activities:
 In class, we will review the task.
 As a class, we will identify vocabulary and terms that you will need to
use in your explanation. These terms should be spelled correctly.
 Using the Focus Sheet “Describing the Procedure of Identifying Slope
and Pitch and Common Rafter Layout in Construction Trades,” list
items, actions, and circumstances or concerns to which you might refer
in describing this procedure or task. This is a worksheet only to help




you organize your ideas. You are not required to use all the
information you include in this worksheet in your actual explanation
paper.
Read your draft out loud to yourself. Make any changes that you feel
will improve your explanation.
The first draft of your explanation will be due on ___________
Work with a partner and get feedback on your instructions; double
check your FCAs.
Write a second draft with all your improvements. Due date: ________
Describing the Procedure of Identifying Slope and Pitch and Common
Rafter Layout in Construction Trades
1. What do I use/need? Tools, equipment, instruments, supplies, machinery, building
materials, blueprints, work surface/area, job specifications, formulas, etc.
 ________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________
2. What do I do? Measure, assemble, cut, arrange, sand, etc.
 ________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________
3. Circumstances? Concerns? Safety precautions, environmental/legal issues,
weather/temperature, space and time, constraints, budget limitations, etc.
 ________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________
Fraction Conversions
1/8 = .125
¼ = .25
3/8 = .375
½ = .50
5/8 = .625
¾ = .75
7/8 = .875
1” = .08
.125 x 8 = 1
1” = .08
2” = .17
3” = .25
4” = .33
5” = .42
6” = .5
7” = .58
8” = .67
9” = .75
10” = .83
11” = .92
12” = 1.0
1/16=.0625
3/16 = .1875
5/16 = .3125
7/16 = .4375
9/16 = .5625
11/16 = .6875
13/16 = .8125
15/16 = .9375
.0625 x 16 =1
ADD 1/8
¼
3/8
½
5/8
¾
7/8
1
Example
.01
.02
.03
.04
.05
.06
.07
.08
3 3/8 is .25 + .03 = 0.28
Terms
Slope: Refers to the incline of a roof.
Example: A roof that rises 4” in 12” is a 4/12 slope
Pitch: is the incline of the roof as a ratio of the rise to the span (span is
twice the run). It is given in fractions.
Example: total roof rises 4’ and span is 24’. The pitch is 1/6 (4/24 = 1/6).
Rafter Layout
1. 24’ span 8/12 slope with 12” overhang
2. 32’6” span 4/12 with 16” overhang
3. 18’10” span 7/12 slope with 12” overhang
4. 30’ span 5/12 slope with 12” overhang
5. 29’ span 6/12 slope with 8” overhang
6. 26’4” span 12/12 slope with 18” overhang
7. 10’ span 5/12 slope with 12” overhang
8. 16’8” span 6/12 with 6” overhang
9. 8’4” span 6/12 slope with 6” overhang
10. 24’ span 4/12 slope with 12” overhang