Third and Fourth Grade

1. Writing a Paragraph Third and Fourth Grade

2. PrewritingBrainstorm/Choose a topic Complete the exercise given. What kind of animal would you choose for a pet? Write 5 pets below. Choose your favorite one.

3. Write a Topic Sentence Your question was, If you could choose any animal you wanted, what would you choose? Write your topic sentence below. _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ A topic sentence usually is at the beginning of your sentence. It answers the question.

4. The BodyAnswer your questions with a word or phrase • What is the name of your animal? _____________ • Use three words to describe your animal • ______________________ • ______________________ • ______________________ • Write a sentence using all three words. • ____________________________________________________

5. Give four reasons you want this animal. Use words or phrases. Reason 1: Write two sentences using your words or phrase. __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ Reason 2: Write two sentences using your words or phrase. __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________

6. Reason 3: Write two sentences using your words or phrase. __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ Reason 4: Write two sentences using your words or phrase. __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________

7. ConclusionA conclusion summarizes what you wrote into one sentence. It comes at the end of your paragraph. Often it restates yourtopic sentence in a different way. Write your final, ending, or concluding sentence below. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________

8. Rough Draft Cut and paste all of your sentences together below.

9. Organizing/Revising Do you like your work? Do you want to change the order of your sentences? Think about using words that are called transitional. These words are finally, besides, also, another, in addition to, furthermore, next, of course, however, Go back to slide 8, Next find four sentences, Then add a transitional word before the first word in the sentence.

10. Editing • Reread your Paragraph • Check for spelling mistakes. • Put a capital at the beginning of each sentence. 4. Put a period, exclamation mark, or question mark at the end of each sentence. 5. Indent the first word of your paragraph.

11. PublishingCut and paste your final paragraph below includingall sentences.

12. Editing checklistMy paragraph has a Topic Sentence. ____My paragraph has a body. My paragraph has a concluding sentence.____ Sentences have: Capitals at the beginning.____Periods at the end of my sentences.____

13. Above 4 An excellent writing sample: establishes and focuses on the purpose of the writing task shows a clear awareness of the intended audienceorganizes content and ideas in a logical way, and is fluent and cohesive includes appropriate details to clarify ideas Mistakes in grammar, mechanics and usage do not detract from clarity and meaning At 3 A good writing sample: focuses on the purpose of the writing task shows some awareness of the intended audience organizes content and ideas in a logical way, although transitions may not be fluent includes some details to clarify ideas Mistakes in grammar, mechanics, and usage do not detract from clarity and meaning. At 2 A fair writing sample: has some awareness of the purpose and intended audience attempts to organize content and idea, but is not particularly fluent or omits transitions includes some details. Mistakes in grammar, mechanics, and usage do not detract from clarity and meaning. Below 1 A poor writing sample: is confused in purpose or does not respond to the task does not present content in an organized or logical way includes few or no details Mistakes in grammar, mechanics, and usage do not detract from clarity and meaning. Unscorable 0 An unscorable writing sample is blank, unreadable, incomplete, etc. Paragraph Rubrics