50 Engaging Paragraphing Skills

50 Engaging Mini-Lessons, Activities, and Student Checklists for
Teaching Paragraphing Skills
Adele Fiderer

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Acknowledgments
I would like to thank the following people who have made this book possible: Scholastic executive editor, Wendy Murray, who suggested the topic; my manuscript editor, Ray Coutu, whose excellent advice helped me improve the text; and my husband, Martin, who barbecued our dinner when I was deep into the endless composing and rewriting
If they’re having trouble, you can remind them of the purpose of each kind of sentence—that topic sentences let the reader in on the “big idea” in an interesting way, body sentences provide details about that idea, and closing sentences sum up the idea so the reader isn’t left hanging.
Check students’ work:
I am reading Anastasia Ask Your Analyst. That’s a good title because
Anastasia does have a big problem. [She realizes that it’s not her parents and
Sam, her little brother, who aren’t normal—it’s that she isn’t normal. I am at the part where Anastasia and her mom are having a fight because she just asked her parents if she could go to an analyst.] I’m glad I chose this book because I like to read books about girls my age and their problems.
For additional practice in identifying body and closing sentences, distribute Activity 3.
(Answers: 1. B 2. C 3. B 4. B)
Have students write one-paragraph letters to you describing a character in a story