11 Building Paragraphs

Mode:

Form:

Explanatory Paragraph

Theme:

Food

21st Century Skills:

English Language Arts:

110.22.b.10.A, 110.22.b.10.B

Page 093 from Write on Course 20-20

A Closer Look at the Parts

Review with students “A Closer Look at the Parts.” Relate the discussion of each part with the paragraph on the previous page. Then consider implementing this activity:

Have students write topic sentences for the general subjects that follow. Inform them that each topic sentence should include a specific topic and a feeling about it. (Refer them to the formula on page 93 for a guide.)

TV Show
Movie
Book

Then ask students to list three or four specific details that support or explain one of the topic sentences. And finally, have them write a paragraph using the topic sentence and details they listed. They should also include a closing sentence.

State Standard Reference:

LAFS Standard:

LAFS.6.W.2.4

TEKS Standard:

NE ELA Standard:

LA 6.2.2

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:

Mode:

Explanatory Paragraph Narrative Paragraph Persuasive Paragraph

Form:

21st Century Skills:

English Language Arts:

110.22.b.10, 110.22.b.11.A

Page 094 from Write on Course 20-20

Types of Paragraphs: Narrative Paragraph

The next four pages provide sample paragraphs: narrative, descriptive, explanatory, and persuasive (argument). Consider introducing each type when appropriate during the school year. The writing guidelines on page 98 will work for all four types of paragraphs.

Start by asking a volunteer to read the introduction and narrative paragraph on page 94. Discuss the writing using the side notes as a guide. Then ask students to write a narrative paragraph about one of their own food-related activities. Remind students to include the three parts in their paragraph and organize their details chronologically. Afterward, have volunteers share their work for discussion.

State Standard Reference:

LAFS Standard:

LAFS.6.W.1.3

TEKS Standard:

NE ELA Standard:

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:

Mode:

Form:

Theme:

21st Century Skills:

English Language Arts:

110.22.b.10, 110.22.b.11.A

Page 095 from Write on Course 20-20

Descriptive Paragraph

Have a volunteer read the introduction and descriptive paragraph on page 95. Discuss the writing using the side notes as a guide. Then ask students to write a descriptive paragraph in which they describe someone or something. Remind them to include sensory details in the body of their paragraph. Afterward, have volunteers share their work for discussion.

State Standard Reference:

LAFS Standard:

LAFS.6.W.1.3

TEKS Standard:

NE ELA Standard:

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:

Mode:

Narrative Writing

Form:

Description

21st Century Skills:

Writing Project

English Language Arts:

110.22.b.10, 110.22.b.11.B

Page 096 from Write on Course 20-20

Explanatory Paragraph

Have a volunteer read the introduction and explanatory paragraph on page 96. Discuss the writing using the side notes as a guide. Then ask students to write an explanatory paragraph that shows how to do something. Remind them to be clear in their directions, which should be arranged chronologically, and to include a graphic if needed. Afterward, have volunteers share their work for discussion.

State Standard Reference:

LAFS Standard:

LAFS.6.W.1.2

TEKS Standard:

NE ELA Standard:

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:

Mode:

Explanatory Writing

Form:

Explanatory Paragraph

21st Century Skills:

Writing Project

English Language Arts:

Page 097 from Write on Course 20-20

Persuasive (Argument) Paragraph

Have a volunteer read the introduction and persuasive (argument) paragraph on page 97. Discuss the writing using the side notes as a guide.

Then share the following paragraph with students (download and distribute the activity):

Schools do many things. They provide meals for their students. They offer counseling for those students who need advice. They give health care for those students who require medical attention. They offer extracurricular activities, too. And, in addition to all of this, schools provide an education to each student.

Note that every sentence begins with “Schools do” or “They provide” or "They offer. . . ." The repetition drives home the writer’s main point. Ask students to write their own persuasive paragraph in the same way beginning with one of these sentence starters:

Students care about . . .
Music is . . .
We need to clean up . . .
Coaches should . . .

Afterward, have volunteers share their paragraphs for discussion.

Downloads:

Persuasive Paragraph Activity

State Standard Reference:

LAFS Standard:

110.22.b.10, 110.22.b.11.C

TEKS Standard:

NE ELA Standard:

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:

Writing Project Building Arguments

Mode:

Persuasive Writing

Form:

Persuasive Paragraph

21st Century Skills:

English Language Arts:

Page 098 from Write on Course 20-20

Writing Guidelines: Paragraphs

Carefully review these guidelines with students, and remind them to refer to this page whenever they have a question about their paragraph writing. Consider having students write a paragraph following the steps. For topic ideas, refer students to the “Essentials of Life Checklist” on page 33.

State Standard Reference:

LAFS Standard:

110.22.b.10, 110.22.b.11.C

TEKS Standard:

NE ELA Standard:

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:

Mode:

Narrative Paragraph Explanatory Paragraph Persuasive Paragraph Story Paragraph

Form:

21st Century Skills:

Writing Project

English Language Arts:

Writing Logical Organization Structure Writing Process Prewriting Revising Editing

Page 099 from Write on Course 20-20

Creating Unity

Ask for a volunteer to define unity (being one or united as a whole). Then ask students how unity can apply to writing. Next, have a volunteer read the introduction and paragraph on page 99. Discuss the unity problems with this paragraph.

Special challenge: Ask students to write a paragraph with one or two details that disrupt the unity. Then have pairs of students exchange their writing and identify the disruptive sentences in the text.

State Standard Reference:

LAFS Standard:

110.22.b.10.B.ii, 110.22.b.11.C

TEKS Standard:

NE ELA Standard:

LA 6.2.1.b, LA 6.2.1.c, LA 6.2.2.a, LA 6.2.2.b

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:

Mode:

Explanatory Paragraph Persuasive Paragraph

Form:

21st Century Skills:

Qualities of Writing Writing

English Language Arts:

Page 100 from Write on Course 20-20

Establishing Coherence

Be sure that students understand the term coherence (logical connection between ideas or parts). Then have a volunteer read the introduction and paragraph on page 100. Discuss how transitions improve the coherence and readability of the text.

State Standard Reference:

LAFS Standard:

110.22.b.10.B.i, 110.22.b.11.C

TEKS Standard:

NE ELA Standard:

LA 6.2.1.b, LA 6.2.2.d

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:

Mode:

Narrative Paragraph Explanatory Paragraph Persuasive Paragraph

Form:

21st Century Skills:

Qualities of Writing Writing

English Language Arts:

Page 101 from Write on Course 20-20

Using Transitions

Carefully review with students the chart on page 101. Point out how different sets of transitions work with different patterns of organization. Then discuss the use of transitions with various writing models in the handbook.

To give students practice using transitions, have them write an explanatory paragraph telling how to get from their home (apartment) to another dwelling, park, school, or business. Afterward, ask for volunteers to share their paragraphs. Note any transitions the writer uses to connect ideas.

State Standard Reference:

LAFS Standard:

110.22.b.10.B.i, 110.22.b.11.C

TEKS Standard:

NE ELA Standard:

LA 6.2.1.b, LA 6.2.2.d

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:

Mode:

Explanatory Paragraph Persuasive Paragraph Narrative Paragraph

Form:

21st Century Skills:

Qualities of Writing Writing

English Language Arts:

Page 102 from Write on Course 20-20

Paragraph Checklist

Review with students the items on the paragraph checklist, and then consider applying it to different paragraphs in the chapter. Also have students apply the checklist to one or two of the paragraphs they wrote earlier in the chapter. And remind students to refer to this page whenever they want to assess their future paragraphs.

Downloads:

Paragraph Checklist

State Standard Reference:

LAFS Standard:

LAFS.6.W.2.4

TEKS Standard:

110.22.b.10.A, 110.22.b.10.B

NE ELA Standard:

LA 6.2.2

Related Resource Tags

Click to view a list of tags that tie into other resources on our site

Level:

Mode:

Narrative Paragraph Explanatory Paragraph Persuasive Paragraph

Form:

21st Century Skills: