Strategies to teach paragraph writing to primary students. Hand-book 2

Strategies to Teach

Paragraph Writing

to

Primary Students

Handbook 2Handbook 1

Kavita Grover

As a part of my research in classroom intervention to accelerate students’ learning the given worksheets are a compilation of worksheets and strategies to teach students from grades 3-5 to write an organised paragraph. I have presented my research work in three parts.

Handbook 1: What is a paragraph and parts of a paragraph

Handbook 2: Types of paragraphs

Handbook 3: Using graphic organisers to teach paragraph writing

These strategies can be used for individual, pair or group work. They are in the form of worksheets with increasing complexity.

In this handbook I have also included strategies that help the students to write a character sketch and an informal letter. As part of my research I had used a student friendly rubric so that they could assess their own work against a given criteria. The criteria for assessment were Content, Organization, Word choice, Sentence fluency and Conventions.

Initially two parameters content and organization were assessed, conventions being kept a constant. An opened –ended question was assessed in each worksheet. When the learner had shown a measurable improvement in their paragraph writing/organizational skills a learner could identify their own weaknesses in word choice and sentence fluency.

Kavita Grover Page 1

Worksheet 1

Structure of a paragraph quiz

“Why I want to learn English”

(1) There are three reasons why I want to learn English. (2)One reason is that

English has become an international language.(3)It is used by most

international companies, including the company where I work for business

communication.(4)Another reason why I want to learn English is that I can

travel to English speaking countries .(5)The United Stated ,England,

Australia and many other countries all use English as their primary

language.(6)Finally I want to learn English because I plan to move to the

U.S.in the future.(7) I will become a manager for my company soon. (8) For

all these reasons, I am very excited about learning English.

1) Write the correct number for each sentence:

i. Identify the topic statement:_______

ii. Identify the conclusion:____________

iii. Identify the first main point:_________

iv. Identify the second main point:_______

v. Identify the third main point:________

vi. Identify the support detail for the first main point:________

vii. Identify the support detail for the second main point:______

viii. Identify the support detail for the third main point:_______


Fact sheet on types of paragraphs

A. Classification paragraph: When writing a classification paragraph, you group things or ideas into specific categories.

B. Description paragraph: In a description paragraph, you are writing about what a person, place, or thing is like. Sometimes, you may describe where a place is located.

C. Compare and contrast paragraph: In a compare and contrast paragraph, you write about the similarities and differences between two or more people, places, things, or ideas.

D. Sequencing paragraph: In a sequencing paragraph, you are writing to describe a series of events or a process in some sort of order. Usually, this order is based on time.

E. Explaining paragraph: In an explanation paragraph, you need to explain how or why something happens. Very often in social studies class, you will be asked to explore causes and effects of certain events.


Worksheet 2Descriptive Paragraph

You are writing what a person, place or thing is like. Helper or key words used for writing a descriptive paragraph are given in the table below.

Properties Measurement Analogy Location

size length is like in

colour width resembles above

shape mass/weight below

purpose speed beside

near

north/east/south/west

Activity: Study the picture given below and with the help of the key words write a paragraph on the African Elephant.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


http://www2.actden.com/Writ_den/tips/paragrap/describe.htm#P1

http://www2.actden.com/Writ_den/tips/paragrap/describe.htm#L6



http://www2.actden.com/Writ_den/tips/paragrap/describe.htm#M4






http://www2.actden.com/Writ_den/tips/paragrap/describe.htm#A2




http://www2.actden.com/Writ_den/tips/paragrap/describe.htm#A1


Worksheet 3

Compare and contrast paragraph

You write about similarities and differences between two or more places, things or ideas. The helper/ key words used to compare are given in the table below.

Similarities Differences

is similar to the other hand

both however

also but

too in contrast

as well differs from

while

unlike

Activity 1: With the help of the key words given above write any three differences between the Asian and the African elephants.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


http://www2.actden.com/Writ_den/tips/paragrap/compare.htm#D7



http://www2.actden.com/Writ_den/tips/paragrap/compare.htm#S5









Worksheet 4Sequencing paragraph

In a sequencing paragraph, you are writing to describe a series of events or a process in some sort of order.

i) Carefully study the picture given and convert it into a flow chart.



Introduction

Event 1

Event 2

Event 3

Event 4

ii) With the help of the key words given in the box convert the flow chart into a sequencing paragraph with a suitable title.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Order Time

first, second, third, etc. recently

in the beginning previously

before afterwards

then when

after after

finally

at last

subsequently

http://www2.actden.com/Writ_den/tips/paragrap/sequence.htm#O8



http://www2.actden.com/Writ_den/tips/paragrap/sequence.htm#T5










Remediation

Frequently occurring mistakes in the sequencing paragraph:

1) In the beginning, first the barks are cut.

________________________________________________________

2) The trees will be cut.

________________________________________________________

3) Then at second after the bark-- ______________________________

4) First bark is stripped, second wood chips broken---

________________________________________________________

5) Then it goes ahead to make pulp then pulp is cleaned and bleached

then pulp is beaten and then chemicals and dyes are mixed.

________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________


Note: The samples given below are some of the students’ written responses.

Worksheet 5

Objective: Picture comprehension

Skill: Synthesis of a story using visual prompts.

The pictures below have got mixed up. Put them in the correct order and write a story. Use the helping words for a sequencing paragraph.

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Objective: self evaluation of the written text (story)

You had written a story in your last workshop. Read your story again and grade

yourself according to the story writing rubric given to you. For each category

tick the correct box. Fill in the table given below using the rubrics. Add the

marks and find your total marks out of 20.

1) What marks/grades did you get? ________________

2) What/which mistakes did you make?

Mistakes

Ideas

Organization

Word choice

Fluency

Convention


Story writing rubric


Character sketch


Character sketch

Before asking the students to write the character sketch sensitize them to feeling, emotions, facial expressions and situations. Ask to identify situations where they have felt these emotions. Then ask them to critically read the text to identify sentences which gave them the cue about a person’s character.

1) Identify the expression and tick the correct emotion.

Facial expression emotion SynonymsSurpriseAngerHappy FearSadDisgust

Startle, sudden reaction to something, astonished

Ans: Surprise

SurpriseAngerHappy FearSadDisgust

Contempt, revulsion, scornful

Ans: Disgust


Unhappy, miserable, distress, feel like crying

Ans: Sad


Excitement, glad, merry, delighted, joyful

Ans: Happy



Rage, furious, hostile, angry,

Ans: Anger


Terror, scared, afraid, terrified

Ans:Fear

2) Feeling can be of two types: pleasant and unpleasant. From the table given in question 1, classify the feelings as pleasant and unpleasant. Write the synonyms for each in the word tree.

Pleasant Feeling


Unpleasant feeling

3) What emotion is conveyed by the following sentences?

a) “I was I who broke the vase.” ______________b) “I am the cleverest boy in the class!”_______________c) “Look, there’s a mouse over there.”_________________d) “I’ll stop your pocket money if you don’t behave.” __________e) I d-d-d-did it.” _____________f) Please, please, help me.”______________g) “This hotel if filthy.” ___________h) Go on, Jim, try harder.”_____________

4) Use the verbs in the box to show how people might speak in the situations listed.

a) I ___________ when I am in pain.b) Children ___________ when they are sad.


sob howl stammer whisper

mutter ask shout chuckle

c) He _________ when he is being secretive.d) I ___________ when I am sulking.e) They __________ when they are amused.f) I ____________ when I am unsure.g) She ___________ when she is angry.h) Tom __________ when he is nervous.

5) What will you feel in the given situations?

a) You see a snake. _________________b) You have stood first in your class. ____________c) You are being scolded in front of your friends._____________

6) Choose a verb which best fits the meaning of the sentences. The first one has been done for you.

a) "I am the cleverest boy in the class,” the little boy boasted.b) “It was I who broke the vase,” he ___________.c) “Look there’s a mouse over there,” she ___________.d) “I’ll stop your pocket money if you don’t behave,” she ____________.e) “I d-d-did it,” he ____________.f) “Please, please, help me,” he _________.g) “This hotel if filthy,” she ___________.h) “Go on, Jimmy, try harder,” he _________.

7) Write a paragraph on “My best friend” but first answer the question given below to help you write the paragraph.

a) Write the name of your best friend._________________b) How old is she? _____________c) What does she look like? ___________d) What are her hobbies? __________e) Does your friend notice your feelings? Yes/Nof) What is your friend’s mood usually?

i) Cheerfulii) Sadiii)Angry

g) Is your friend


i) Hardworkingii) Lazyiii)Easy going

h) Can you trust your friend with a secret? Yes/Noi) Does your friend like to mix with other people? Yes/Noj) Now write a paragraph on your best friend. (Take the help of the

checklist given above)__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8) Ask your partner the following questions about his/her best friend. Then identify the quality asked in each survey question. One example is done for you. Apart from the words given in the list you can use other adjectives/words as well.

a) Is your friend usually in a good mood? Cheerfulb) Does your friend notice your feelings? _______________c) Does she give you presents, or pays for tea and coffee? ____________d) Does your friend hard? _______________e) Can you trust her with a secret? ___________f) Does she listen well when you are speaking? ________________g) Does your friend usually not worry about things, no matter what

happens? _____________h) Does your friend often change their opinion about things?

__________i) Does your friend often postpone things he/she has to do? _________j) Is your friend happy one moment and sad the next? ____________


Generous easygoing anxious cheerful hardworking trustworthy

Impatient optimistic sensitive moody social indecisive

Reserved lazy attentive

k) Does your like to be with other people? ______________l) Is it important for your friend to be successful in whatever he/she

does? _______m) Does your friend become angry or annoyed if he/she has to wait for

something or someone? ______________n) Does your friend keep her/his feelings to her/himself? _____________

How to write a character sketch

(Reference story Cinderella)

Here are some great descriptive character trait words that you can use for your character sketch! If you don't know the meaning of the words, look them up in a dictionary.

Eager efficient Enthusiastic Firm Patient

energetic fair Flexible meticulous Forgiving

friendly gentle Healthy honest Humble

imaginative dutiful intelligent Kind/sympathetic Humorous

independent industrious inventive likable good-natured

hopeful brave motivated optimistic Precise

reliable responsible sensible sincere Spontaneous

tenacious trustworthy Wary loyal Modest

open-minded practical realistic resourceful Punctual

a) Read the story of Cinderella.

b) Write different adjectives that describes the characteristics or qualities of the main character (Cinderella) of the story and complete the character trait cluster word web. Use the fact sheet to find appropriate adjectives. (Avoid words like 'nice'. Choose instead, words like


generous. Do not use words like 'pretty' to describe his/her appearance--that is not a character trait. )

c) Now write the reasons or examples from the story that tells you that Cinderella has these characteristics.

Adjective Reasons12345

d) What type of person was Cinderella’s step mother?

Adjective Reasons1


2345


e) Write a character sketch of Cinderella.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

f) Write a character sketch of Cinderella’s stepmother.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________


Informal Letter


Worksheet 1

Objective: Identifying parts of an Informal Letter

1) You have to teach your brother how to write an informal (friendly) letter. Given below is the

format of the letter .What instructions will you give?

______________

_________________

_____________

Dear _(5)________ (6)

(7)

(8) ___________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________

(9)

__(10)____________ (11)

___________(12)_____


2

3

4

1

Answer

S No Instructions(1) Write the address in 3 lines(2) Leave one line space(3) Write the date as Nov.29,2006(4) Leave one line space(5) Name(6) There should be no comma after the salutation(7) One line space should not be left(8) One finger space should be left(9) One line space should not be left(10) Yours affectionately ( s in yours should be without an apostrophe)(11) There should be no comma after the ending

(12) Write your first name


Worksheet 2

Objective: Writing an informal letter

You are Ali, living in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia. You have received a letter

from Sam who lives in Albury in Australia. In his letter he has written about

his life in the Downs. Here is his letter. Read it carefully.

Using the format given before, write a letter to Sam describing where you

live. (Refer to the helping words for writing a descriptive paragraph.)


67 Riverside Lane

Albury

Australia

Oct.26, 2006

Dear Ali,

Hello, how are you? I am fine.

Last week when we were chatting on the internet, you asked me about the life in

Albury. We live on a sheep station. Our sheep farm is so large that we have to drive

for three hours to visit our neighbours in the next farm.

I go to school only once a week as it is very far. But my teacher explains the lessons

to me on the radio. I listen to her, do my homework and send it by post.

I will be happy to hear from you.

Write to me and tell me about your life in Saudi Arabia, which I think is a desert

country.

Yours affectionately

Sam

Annexure

Cinderella

Once upon a time, there was a beautiful girl named Cinderella. She lived with her wicked stepmother and two stepsisters. They treated Cinderella very badly. One day, they were invited for a grand ball in the king’s palace. But Cinderella’s stepmother would not let her go. Cinderella was made to sew new party gowns for her stepmother and stepsisters, and curl their hair. They then went to the ball, leaving Cinderella alone at home.

Cinderella felt very sad and began to cry. Suddenly, a fairy godmother appeared and said, “Don’t cry, Cinderella! I will send you to the ball!” But Cinderella was sad. She said, “I don’t have a gown to wear for the ball!” The fairy godmother waved her magic wand and changed Cinderella’s old clothes into a beautiful new gown! The fairy godmother then touched Cinderella’s feet with the magic wand. And lo! She had beautiful glass slippers! “How will I go to the grand ball?” asked Cinderella. The fairy godmother found six mice playing near a pumpkin, in the kitchen. She touched them with her magic wand and the mice became four shiny black horses and two coachmen and the pumpkin turned into a golden coach. Cinderella was overjoyed and set off for the ball in the coach drawn by the six black horses. Before leaving. the fairy godmother said, “Cinderella, this magic will only last until midnight! You must reach home by then!”

When Cinderella entered the palace, everybody was struck by her beauty. Nobody, not even Cinderella’s stepmother or stepsisters, knew who she really was in her pretty clothes and shoes. The handsome prince also saw her and fell in love with Cinderella. He went to her and asked, “Do you want to daance?” And Cinderella said, “Yes!” The prince danced with her all night and nobody recognized the beautiful dancer. Cinderella was so happy dancing with the prince that she almost forgot what the fairy godmother had said. At the last moment, Cinderella remembered her fairy godmother’s words and she rushed to go home. “Oh! I must go!” she cried and ran out of the palace. One of her glass slippers came off but Cinderella did not turn back for it. She reached home just as the clock struck twelve. Her coach turned back into a pumpkin, the horses into mice and her fine ball gown into rags. Her stepmother and stepsisters reached home shortly after that. They were talking about the beautiful lady who had been dancing with the prince.

The prince had fallen in love with Cinderella and wanted to find out who the beautiful girl was, but he did not even know her name. He found the glass slipper that had come off Cinderella’s foot as she ran home. The prince said, “I will find her. The lady whose foot fits this slipper will be the one I marry!” The next day, the prince and his servants took the glass slipper and went to all the houses in the kingdom. They wanted to find the lady whose feet would fit in the slipper. All the women in the kingdom tried the slipper but it would not fit any of them. Cinderella’s stepsisters also tried on the little glass slipper. They tried to squeeze their feet and push hard into the slipper, but the servant was afraid the slipper would break. Cinderella’s stepmother would not let her try the slipper on, but the prince saw her and said, “Let her also try on the slipper!” The slipper fit her perfectly. The prince recognized her from the ball. He married Cinderella and together they lived happily ever after

http://shortstoriesshort.com/story/cinderella/


http://shortstoriesshort.com/story/cinderella/

Acknowledgment

www.english-zone.com

http://www2.actden.com/Writ_den/tips/paragrap/index.htm

http://researchthetopic.wikispaces.com/How+is+paper+made%3F+-+R

http://www.wikipedy.com/how_is_paper_made_from_trees.htm

http://www.robinsonlibrary.com/technology/manufactures/paper/howmade.htm

https://classnet.wcdsb.ca/sec/StD/Gr9/Eng/Lehmann1L/Shared%20Documents/Character%20Sketch%20reference%20with%20sentence%20starters.pdf

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Strategies to teach paragraph writing to primary students. Hand-book 2