Lesson Plan Writing: Paragraphs

Your learner has identified some learning goals around writing. This lesson plan is designed to introduce your learner to write a simple paragraph. A paragraph consists of several sentences that are grouped together to discuss one main idea. Typically there are three main parts to a paragraph: the topic sentence, the body sentences, and the concluding sentence. The topic sentence, which is usually the first sentence of a paragraph, introduces a general idea to be discussed in the paragraph. The body or supporting sentences expand on the idea presented in the topic sentence. The concluding sentence summarizes the information that has been written. Information on preparing for your lesson can be found in your Tutor Training Manual. READ Saskatoons website (http://www.readsaskatoon.com/volunteers/resources.htm) includes more tips.

Essential Skills practiced in this lesson

Reading Writing Oral Communication Thinking

Learning Objectives
To identify important parts of a paragraph To practice organizing sentences into a paragraph and writing a paragraph

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Writing

Sample Lesson Plan

Date: _________________ Learners Name: ______________________________

Tutors Name: ________________________________________________ Time: ___________ Materials:

Writing a Paragraph activity sheets included in lesson plan

Its More Than Words, pages 53-60

http://www.readsaskatoon.com/pubs/more_than_words.pdf

Hamburger Style video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3tyaIDlu_I&feature=email

Activity

Sample Question

5 Minutes

Warm up:
Conversation about week (this can be used as a topic for writing)

10 Minutes

Review and Overview:

Discuss learners goals again and write them down in a place both of you can refer to often Discuss the importance of writing about something familiar. Also talk about the how sentences are arranged to form a paragraph

15 Minutes

Lesson Part A Learning skill to be presented:

Reading Writing

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Learning Objective:

To identify important parts of a paragraph.

Learning Exercises:

10 Minutes

Discuss parts of a paragraph, referring to Its More Than Words, pages 53-60
Hamburger Style video on YouTube Activity sheets included in lesson

Break

15 Minutes

Lesson Part B Learning skill to be presented:

Writing Thinking

Ask the learner how they will be able to use the information presented in this lesson.

Learning Objective:

To practice organizing sentences into a paragraph and writing a paragraph.

Learning Exercise: Refer to the activity sheets included in lesson

5 Minutes

Review tips and write a resume with learner

Summary and Homework:

Review work covered in lesson, relate it back to goals, and plan for what learner would like to achieve for next lesson and give homework if learner would like homework. Make sure the homework is based on the skill they would like to build Document this completed task in the Portfolio Items List that was included in the folder you and your learner received at your first meeting

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Lesson Part A: Writing a Paragraph

What is a Paragraph?
A paragraph consists of several sentences that are grouped together to discuss

one main idea.

Typically there are three main parts to a paragraph. The topic sentence, body sentences and the concluding sentence.

Parts of a Paragraph 1. The Topic Sentence

The topic sentence which is usually the first sentence of a paragraph, explains what the paragraph is about. This sentence introduces a general idea that you want to discuss in

the paragraph. For example: My husband and I are happy to have known each other a very long time. We
have been married forty years. We live in Saskatoon and have three children, two dogs

and one cat.

In the above example, the first sentence, My husband and I are very happy to have known

each other a very long time, is the most general statement. The sentences that follow
provide specific details about the first sentence - how long we have been married, how many children and animals we have.

2. Supporting Sentences Let's consider again our example again: When you read the topic sentence, My husband and I are very happy to have known each other a very long time, a question usually appears in the reader's mind. In this example
you might ask yourself, why is that important? The rest of the sentences in the paragraph answer this question. It is important because we have been married forty years, live in Saskatoon, have three children, two dogs and one cat.

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3. The Concluding Sentence

The final sentence in the paragraph summarizes the information that has been written. Let's add a concluding sentence to our example paragraph. My husband and I are happy to have known each other a very long time. We have been married forty years. We live in Saskatoon and have three children, two dogs

and one cat. My husband and I are very happy to have been together for so long because we have such a lovely family.
Notice how the underlined concluding sentence completes the paragraph and is similar to, but not the same as, the topic sentence.

Tips for Writing a Paragraph Make an Outline 1. Decide what you want to write about 2. Compose your topic sentence 3. Brainstorm supporting ideas. a) Make a list of everything you know about the topic b) Research the topic if you need to c) make a visual to help with creativity 4. Compose a concluding sentence

Begin by writing a short paragraph - 4 or 5 sentences. Gradually increase the number of supporting sentences.

Write what you are most interested in.

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Activities:
Read the following paragraph: Saskatoon is the best city in Canada! Saskatoon has a beautiful river running through it. The University of Saskatchewan is located in Saskatoon and many students from all over the world attend our University. Saskatoon has many community organizations that help people. Most important, the p people eople in Saskatoon are very friendly. We are fortunate to live in such a wonderful city.

What is the topic sentence in the paragraph?

What are the supporting sentences?

What is the ending sentence?

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Organize the following sentences into a paragraph

I visited my grandma on Monday.

Another day I met my two good friends for lunch.

I had a parent teacher interview on Thursday and learned my son is very good at math!

I Ihave been very busy this past week.

I had a very busy week but it sure was fun!

Topic Sentence:

Supporting Sentences:

Conclusion:

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Look at the pictures below and write a short paragraph.

Topic Sentence:
Supporting Sentences:

Conclusion:

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Topic Sentence:
Supporting Sentences:

Conclusion:

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Topic Sentence:
Supporting Sentences:

Conclusion:

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Lesson Part B
From the learner's experience, write a paragraph together, remember to discuss the parts of a paragraph.

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