Title – Successful Paragraphs

By – Evelyn Bevill

Primary Subject – Language Arts

Grade Level – 5-7

Objectives and Standards:

1. The students will write a five-sentence paragraph about three wishes in which every sentence begins with a different word.

2. The students will complete revisions on the paragraph by checking for capitalization, punctuation, and completion of sentences, using the provided checklist.

3. The students will use oral communication skills to present their paragraphs to the class.

Procedures

1. Introduce the lesson by explaining one thing that makes good writing so good–variety. Explain that they will be writing a paragraph in which every sentence will start with a different word.

2. Students list 3 material things they wish for, 3 happenings that would make them happy, and 3 places they would like to visit. Students circle 1 favorite item from each list. This forms the body of the paragraph.

3. Have students brainstorm different ways to write an introductory sentence for the things that would make them happy. They should do the same for a concluding sentence.

4. When students start putting together their rough drafts, remind them that each body sentence should start with a different word. Encourage students to shake up the usual way that they write sentences (for example, start a sentence with the word “because” or an infinitive).

5. When students finish their rough drafts, have them use the Revision Checklist handout to check over their papers. When they finish, they should write a polished final draft.

Extension:

Have students find examples of varied writing in their favorite books.

Assessment:

Students should be graded on the completion of the objectives. Did they start every sentence with a different word? Are revisions complete and visible? Is the final draft neat and correct?

Materials:

Loose-leaf paper for brainstorming, rough and final drafts

Pencil

Revision Checklist (shown below)

Place a check mark in the blanks as you check your paragraph.

___ Capitals
at the beginning of a sentence

proper nouns

adjectives derived from proper nouns

the pronoun I

___ Periods

at the end of a sentence

___ Question marks

at the end of a sentence when it needs an answer

___ Exclamation marks

at the end of a sentence to show strong feeling

___ Conjunctions

words that join two words or two groups of words

___ Commas

show a pause in a sentence

words in a list

words used for further explanation

before conjunctions when joining complete thoughts

after however

___ In contractions

to show ownership

___ Quotation Marks

around the beginning and end of a quote

___ Spelling

all words spelled correctly

___ Complete sentences

contain a noun and a verb

E-Mail

Evelyn Bevill

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