This activity helps students identify the elements of a paragraph and learn how to write a paragraph. The materials required 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.