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writing

This activity helps students identify the elements of a paragraph and learn how to write a paragraph. The materials recquired are envelopes containing individual sentences, a tape and sheets of paper.The paragraphs can be taken from books or written by the teacher and are arranged in a series of individual sentences using a large font.

Objective

Students learn the elements of a good paragraph.

Procedure

• Divide students into groups of four.
• Give each group an envelope containing sentences.
• Students work to place the paragraph in the correct order and tape the sentences in place on a sheet of paper.
• Students identify the elements of a paragraph, namely, topic sentence(TS), supporting details(SD), concluding sentence(CS).
• Call on one group to read the paragraph to the others. Have all students who created the same paragraph raise their hands.
• Have other groups share their paragraphs if they are different.
• Allow students to discuss the order and decide which order is best. It is possible to have more than one answer.
• Let students decide if the meaning of the paragraph changes with the order.
• Each group is given a topic and writes their own paragraph using the TS, SD and CS approach.
• Students share and critique paragraphs.

Follow up

• Write topics on the board and allow students to choose one.
• Students individually write a paragraph.
• Peer correction using a checklist.