Proper Paragraphs

Matt Leggat

State Standards and Objectives: Competency Goal 6: The learner will apply conventions of application of grammar and language usage.

Objective 6.01- using a variety of sentences correctly, punctuating them properly, and avoiding fragments and run-ons.

Purpose: This minilesson is designed to show students how to create effective and grammatically correct paragraphs. This minilesson is an essential part of the writing curriculum for the 7^th grade language arts experience. The minilesson will show student the proper construction and ingredients required for writing a paragraph. This is an essential element in the curriculum for the year, as it teaches students how to better compose essays.

Materials and Resources: Pencils, colored pen, paper

Total Time Required: 20 minutes

Script: “Hello class, can anyone tell me what makes a good, clear paragraph? Why are well written paragraphs so important? Paragraphs are the components that make up an entire piece of writing. A well-written paragraph supports and expresses the idea that the writer is trying to get across. Can anyone tell me how many different ideas should be found in on single paragraph? A paragraph should contain and support one main idea. Where do you find that idea in the paragraph? The main idea of the paragraph is found in the topic sentence, which is the first sentence in the paragraph. If the topic sentence is at the beginning of the paragraph, then what are all the rest of the sentences there for? They are there to provide evidence that supports the topic sentence. This is important to learn as we go through the rest of the year, because the paragraph will at the heart of what we are doing as writers. Here is an example:”

Black bears are omnivores, but they eat mostly roots, berries, leaves, and

Topic Sentence

insects. When a black bear is very hungry, and there is no vegetation or insects

Supporting Sentence

to eat, they will go after other mammals. Although this is true, it is not very

Supporting

likely to happen. A regular black bear diet consists mainly of berries, nuts, roots,

Sentence Supporting Sentence

leaves, and insects. Most black bears are quite happy to eat grubs, crickets,

Supporting Sentence

black berries, and wild onions, among other things (10 min).

“Now, Think of a fan. The cylinder in the middle is the topic sentence and the fan blades are the supporting sentences. Notice that all the fan blades come directly out of the main cylinder. In a well-written paragraph all of the supporting sentences are directly related to the topic sentence. Now get out a piece of paper and draw the fan. With your colored pen label the topic sentence and the supporting sentences. Here is a fan drawing I did for a paragraph about an otter.”

The teacher shows the class the drawing and walks around the room to help and guide the students (10 min).

Resources: The chosen textbook, and an additional writing handbook.