writing the perfect_paragraph2

MAP TAP 2002 - 2003 1Writing the Perfect Paragraph

Teacher PageTeacher PageTitle: Writing the Perfect ParagraphContent Area: Communication Arts - writingMAP Standard: Writing about a topicCurriculum Objectives:The students will write clear sentences about a topic. The students will turn brainstorming ideas into complete sentences that contain details.Activity:The students will review the parts of a paragraph and then write their own paragraph about a cat to share in class. The students should be familiar with the idea of

brainstorming. This activity will ask them to turn their ideas into good

sentences.Materials needed: rough draft paper, pencil, final draft

paper

Writing the Writing the Perfect Perfect

ParagraphParagraphJust follow the directions to Just follow the directions to write the perfect paragraph write the perfect paragraph

every time!every time!


Begin with TOPICBegin with TOPIC

Let’s write Let’s write about a about a dog!dog!


Now let’s start with a Now let’s start with a topic topic sentencesentence about a dog. about a dog.

I love my dog!I love my dog!This would be a good general This would be a good general

topic sentencetopic sentence to start our to start our paragraph.paragraph.

Now let’s think about some Now let’s think about some details details about the dog that we could tell!about the dog that we could tell!


Details! I listed a few Details! I listed a few ideas:ideas:

cuddles with cuddles with meme

has soft furhas soft furhas bright eyeshas bright eyesprotects meprotects meruns and playsruns and plays


Now turn the details into Now turn the details into good sentences!good sentences!

Can you help me?Can you help me?1.1. cuddles with mecuddles with me

2.2. protects meprotects me

3.3. has soft furhas soft fur

4.4. has bright eyeshas bright eyes

5.5. runs and playsruns and plays

Tell the class how you could turn each of these into a good sentence!

Remember that good sentences do NOT start with the same words each time!


Good work!Good work!Now we need an ending Now we need an ending

sentencesentencethat sums up what we are that sums up what we are

saying!saying!My dog will My dog will always be my always be my best friend!best friend!

This will make a This will make a good endinggood ending sentencesentence in our in our paragraph paragraph about a dog!about a dog!


Now let’s put our paragraph Now let’s put our paragraph together!together!

We start with our We start with our beginning sentencebeginning sentence

I love my dog!I love my dog! Then we turn each Then we turn each detaildetail into a sentence! into a sentence! Try to start your sentences with different Try to start your sentences with different

words!words!1.1. My dog cuddles with me.My dog cuddles with me.2.2. He also protects me.He also protects me.3.3. I love his soft fur.I love his soft fur.4.4. He has the brightest eyes in the world.He has the brightest eyes in the world.5.5. We run and play together.We run and play together. Now add the Now add the ending ending or or concluding concluding

sentencesentence!! My dog will always be my best My dog will always be my best

friend!friend!


Now let’s read our Now let’s read our paragraph!paragraph!

I love my dogI love my dog! ! My dog cuddles My dog cuddles with me. He also with me. He also protects me. I love protects me. I love his soft fur. He has his soft fur. He has the brightest eyes in the brightest eyes in the world! We run the world! We run and play together. and play together. My dog will My dog will always be my best always be my best friend!friend!


That was a great That was a great paragraph!paragraph! Now let’s try Now let’s try

one you will one you will write!write!

Let’s pick a Let’s pick a topic topic again!again!

Let’s think of a Let’s think of a cat this time!cat this time!

Let’s pretend you Let’s pretend you have a cat even if have a cat even if you don’t!you don’t!


Think of a statement about Think of a statement about your cat as a your cat as a beginning beginning

statementstatement!!You could use one of these! I love my cat! I have a cat that I am not too crazy

about! My cat is crazy! My cat is very lovable! My cat is not very friendly! Do you have a good beginning you

could share?


Pick the one you like and Pick the one you like and write it on your paper.write it on your paper.

Put this sentence as your first Put this sentence as your first sentence on your rough draft sentence on your rough draft paper!paper!


Now let’s try to think of 5 Now let’s try to think of 5 details about our cat!details about our cat!

What does your cat look What does your cat look like? like?

Write a few words on your paper on the next line that would tell what your real cat looks like or make one up!

Here is an example of what I wrote:

Black, whiteCan you share the description you thought of

with the class?


Good description!Good description!

Now turn your description into a Now turn your description into a complete sentence! Start with a complete sentence! Start with a capital and end with a period or capital and end with a period or exclamation point.exclamation point.

Here is what mine looks like:Here is what mine looks like: He is black and white .He is black and white . Write your description sentence on Write your description sentence on

your rough draft paper now. Write your rough draft paper now. Write it under your description words.it under your description words.


Describe what your cat Describe what your cat likes to play!likes to play!

Write down a few words to describe what your cat likes to play.

Here is what I wrote:

feather on a fishing pole

Can you share your ideas with the class?


Now turn those words into Now turn those words into a sentence about what your a sentence about what your

cat likes to play with!cat likes to play with!

Try to start the sentence in a Try to start the sentence in a differentdifferent way as your last way as your last sentence.sentence.

Here is what I am going to say:Here is what I am going to say:

His favorite toy is a feather that I tied on a fishing pole.


Where does your cat Where does your cat sleep?sleep?

Write a few words down that will tell where the cat likes to sleep.

Here is what I thought

of:

window sill up high

What did you write?What did you write?


Turn those ideas into a Turn those ideas into a complete sentence.complete sentence.

Remember to start your sentences with different words if you can!

Here is what I am going to say:

My cat loves to sleep on the window sill up high.

Now you write your sentence under your words.


What does your cat like What does your cat like to eat?to eat?

Write down a few Write down a few words to tell words to tell about thisabout this

I wrote:I wrote:

Canned food,Canned food, people foodpeople food

What did you What did you write?write?


Turn your ideas into a Turn your ideas into a sentence!sentence!

Try to start this sentence different Try to start this sentence different than the last one!than the last one!

Here is what I am going to say:Here is what I am going to say:

My cat loves canned food My cat loves canned food and people food.and people food.

Now let’s see your sentence.Now let’s see your sentence.


What is your cat afraid What is your cat afraid of?of?

Write a few words that would tell Write a few words that would tell about thisabout this

I thought of :I thought of :

The garage door going upThe garage door going up

What did you think of?What did you think of?


Make a complete sentence Make a complete sentence out of your ideas!out of your ideas!

Look at your last sentence and try Look at your last sentence and try not to start this sentence with the not to start this sentence with the same words!same words!

This is what I am going to say:This is what I am going to say: My cat runs and hides every My cat runs and hides every

time he hears the garage door time he hears the garage door going up! going up!

Write your sentence now!Write your sentence now!


Number your detail Number your detail sentences on your papersentences on your paper

Put a number 1 by what detail Put a number 1 by what detail sentence you want to tell about sentence you want to tell about firstfirst

Put a number 2 by the 2Put a number 2 by the 2ndnd one one Put a number 3 by the 3Put a number 3 by the 3rdrd one one Number all Number all 55 of your details! of your details!


Now we need an ending Now we need an ending sentence that sums up our sentence that sums up our paragraph about our cat!paragraph about our cat!

Can you think of an Can you think of an endingending to to share with the class?share with the class?

Here is the one I thought of:Here is the one I thought of:

My cat is my best buddy!My cat is my best buddy!

Write your ending on your Write your ending on your paper!paper!


Now we will need to rewrite Now we will need to rewrite our paragraph using the our paragraph using the

sentencessentenceswe madewe made

Remember to start your first sentence Remember to start your first sentence by by indentingindenting your sentence. Remember your sentence. Remember capitals and periods or exclamation capitals and periods or exclamation points.points.

Start with your Start with your beginning sentencebeginning sentence.. Rewrite your Rewrite your detail sentencesdetail sentences in order. in order. Add your Add your ending sentenceending sentence to the end. to the end. You should have a great paragraph now! You should have a great paragraph now! I will show you how mine came out!I will show you how mine came out!


My Cat GatewayMy Cat Gateway

My cat is very cuteMy cat is very cute! He is ! He is black and white. My cat’s black and white. My cat’s favorite toy to play with is a favorite toy to play with is a feather I tied to a fishing pole. feather I tied to a fishing pole. He loves to sleep in a window He loves to sleep in a window sill that is up high. My cat likes sill that is up high. My cat likes canned food and people food. canned food and people food. My cat runs and hides every My cat runs and hides every time he hears the garage door time he hears the garage door go up! go up! My cat is my best My cat is my best buddybuddy!!


Now let’s get started on Now let’s get started on your paragraph!your paragraph!

After you brainstorm, your teacher After you brainstorm, your teacher might ask you to rewrite your story might ask you to rewrite your story to make a final draft.to make a final draft.

Add a short title to the top of the Add a short title to the top of the paragraph where you name your cat.paragraph where you name your cat.

Share Share your paragraph with your class your paragraph with your class when you get done!when you get done!


Great Job!Great Job!

Now you know how to write the Now you know how to write the perfect paragraph! I can’t wait to perfect paragraph! I can’t wait to hear your paragraph!hear your paragraph!

Can you think of some other topics we Can you think of some other topics we could write paragraphs about?could write paragraphs about?

Share two topics that you would like Share two topics that you would like to write about with your neighbor!to write about with your neighbor!

We will be practicing more We will be practicing more paragraphs later!paragraphs later!


You did a great job planning You did a great job planning youryour

paragraph! paragraph!Good luck writing it!Good luck writing it!

Writing the Perfect Writing the Perfect ParagraphParagraph

The EndThe End

writing the perfect_paragraph2

Education

great paragraph

cat sleep

perfect paragraph1

real cat

final draft paper map

description sentence

ending sentence

perfect paragraphcontent