Strategies for Writing a Descriptive Paragraph

Strategies for Writing a Descriptive Paragraph • Uses words that help readers see, hear, feel, smell and sometimes taste what is happening.

• Includes plenty of details. • Expresses how the writer feels.

Grade 3, Lesson 1

Strategies for Writing Interviews • Use questions to gather information. • Includes questions about what the person is like, what the person does, and what the person thinks. • Includes questions about important details • Make careful notes of the answers. • Include the names of the interviewer and the person being interviewed. Grade 3, Lesson 2

Strategies for Writing a Paragraph of Information • Gives facts about real things.

• Has a topic sentence. • Discusses a topic that can be covered in one paragraph. • Includes details. • Uses words called transitions to connect ideas.

Grade 3, Lesson 3

Strategies for Writing a Biography • Is the story of a real person’s life as told by another person. • Begins when the person is born or is very young.

• Is usually told in time order. • Gives dates and place names. • Includes facts about what the person has done. • Uses he or she, his or her.

Grade 3, Lesson 4

Performance Checklist Yes

No

Yes

No

I read at a good rate

I read accurately I listened quietly and politely as others read.

Performance Checklist I read at a good rate I read accurately

I listened quietly and politely as others read.

Grade 3, Lesson 5

Strategies of Good Speakers • Adjust voice based on punctuation. • Practice reading difficult words ahead of time.

Grade 3, Lesson 5

Strategies of Good Listeners • I pay attention to what is being read. • I save questions until after the reading.

Grade 3, Lesson 5

Strategies for Writing a Character Sketch • Describes how a person looks, sounds, or acts.

• Tells what a person is like. • Included a topic sentence

• Includes detail sentences.

Grade 3, Lesson 6

Strategies for Writing a How-To Paragraph • Includes materials needed. • Include a topic sentence. • Include details that explain, in order, how to do a specific activity. • Use words that show sequence, such as first, next and then. • May include measurements or dimensions as details. • Can be followed by more than one person with the same results. Grade 3, Lesson 7

Strategies for Writing a Description • Uses vivid words that appeal to the senses. • Uses precise words that give specific information about the topic.

• Uses different types of language. • Includes a main idea for each paragraph

• Includes detail sentences that tell about the main idea of each paragraph.

Grade 3, Lesson 8

Strategies for Writing a Summary • Includes the main idea and key details of a passage. • Uses words that help readers understand the exact meaning of a passage. • Uses strong, exact language.

Grade 3, Lesson 9


No

I paused at commas and periods. I used expression. I listened quietly and politely as others read.

Performance Checklist Yes I paused at commas and periods. I used expression. I listened quietly and politely as others read. Grade 3, Lesson 10

No

Strategies of Good Speakers/Readers • Read and speak loudly and clearly. • Change their voices for different kinds of punctuation.

Grade 3, Lesson 10

Strategies of Good Listeners • Make Eye Contact with the speaker. • Give positive feedback.

Grade 3, Lesson 10

Strategies for Writing a Paragraph That Compares • Has a topic sentence that tells what is being compared. • Tells how two or more things are alike.

• Uses signal words such as both, alike, and same. • Gives details of the things being compared.

• Sums up the main idea at the end.

Grade 3, Lesson 11

Strategies for writing a Realistic Story • Includes characters and settings that could be real. • Includes events that could happen. • Tells about a problem and how it is solved. • Includes a plot with a beginning, a middle and an ending.

• May include dialogue.

Grade 3, Lesson 12

Strategies for Writing an Explanation • Gives facts and details about a topic. • Starts with a topic sentence. • Answers “What?” “How?” and “Why?” • Follows a logical sequence.

Grade 3, Lesson 13

Strategies for Writing a Cause-and-Effect Paragraph • Include the cause or the effect in the first sentence. • Use key words to explain the relationship between the cause and the effect. • May include several effects or several causes.

Grade 3, Lesson 14


No

Yes

No

I read clearly and loudly. I read at a good rate and speed. I used expression and intonation. I listen quietly and politely as others read.

Performance Checklist I read clearly and loudly.

I read at a good rate and speed. I used expression and intonation.

I listen quietly and politely as others read. Grade 3, Lesson 15

Strategies of Good Listeners • I listen attentively by facing the speaker and making eye contact. • Give positive feedback.

Grade 3, Lesson 15

Strategies of Good Speakers • Read and speak clearly, and use intonation and expression.

• Make eye contact with the audience.

Grade 3, Lesson 15

Strategies for Writing a Character Sketch • Uses adjectives to tell how a character looks, sounds, and acts. • Each paragraph has a topic sentence.

• Tells what a character is like.

Grade 3, Lesson 16

Strategies for Writing a Play Scene • Is a story that can be performed for an audience. • Includes a cast of characters. • Describes the setting at the beginning. • Gives plot events. • Includes dialogue. • Provides stage directions. Grade 3, Lesson 17

Strategies for Writing a Folktale • Has repeated events. • Teaches a lesson.

• Includes human or animal characters. • Is told by a narrator.

• Has a long-ago setting. • Has subjects and verbs that agree. Grade 3, Lesson 19


No

Yes

No

I read clearly with few mistakes. I grouped words into phrases. I read smoothly. I listened quietly and politely as others read.

Performance Checklist I read clearly with few mistakes. I grouped words into phrases. I read smoothly. I listened quietly and politely as others read. Grade 3, Lesson 20

Strategies of Good Readers • Speak loudly and clearly. • Chunk words that fit together.

Grade 3, Lesson 20

Strategies of Good Listeners • Listen quietly. • Pay attention.

Grade 3, Lesson 20

Strategies for Writing an Explanation • Tells information about a topic.

• Includes a main idea sentence, facts, and details. • Tells the details in order.

• Often uses time-order words such as first, next, then, or last.

Grade 3, Lesson 21

Strategies for Writing a Summary • Include the most important ideas. • Use connectives, including time-order words.

• Include details that support the important ideas.

Grade 3, Lesson 22

Strategies for Organizing Content • Remember to read your first sentence clearly so that your audience knows what the summary is about. • Underline the connective words and phrases so that you remember to emphasize them when you speak. Emphasizing connective words will help your audience understand how ideas connect to one another. • Write on index cards notes explaining details so that you can refer to them while you are speaking.

Grade 3, Lesson 22

Strategies of Good Speakers • Use your voice to emphasize the main ideas and important details. • Speak slowly when reading information.

Grade 3, Lesson 22

Strategies of Good Listeners • Concentrate on the speaker by looking at him or her. • Take notes on topic. • Save comments until the reading is over.

Grade 3, Lesson 22

Strategies for Writing Fantasy • Could not happen in real life. • Often has animal characters that behave like people. • Contains characters who may or may not be realistic. • Has events that cause other events to take place.

Grade 3, Lesson 23

Strategies for Writing a Persuasive Paragraph • Includes a topic sentence that states the writer’s opinion. • Provides reasons to support the writer’s opinion. • Often uses facts to convince readers. • Organizes reasons and details into an order that makes sense. • Concludes by restating the opinion.

Grade 3, Lesson 24


No

Yes

No

I read at an appropriate rate.

I used expression to show the character’s feelings. I listened quietly and politely as others read.

Performance Checklist I read at an appropriate rate. I used expression to show the character’s feelings. I listened quietly and politely as others read.

Grade 3, Lesson 25

Strategies for Writing Directions • Explain how to do something. • Explain steps one-by-one and in time order. • Use accurate words and phrases. • Use numbers or time-order words.

• Follow a logical order.

Grade 3, Lesson 26

Strategies for Writing an Explanation • Tells how something is done or how and why it happens. • Includes a main idea sentence.

• Gives information and details about the topic. • Organizes information, usually in sequence order. • Answers questions abut who, what, how, and why. • Uses everyday words that readers understand.

Grade 3, Lesson 27

Strategies for Writing a Description • Includes a topic sentence. • Tells what is being described. • Uses details to show what made the event exciting and memorable. • Shows excitement about the event. • Uses strong, specific language that appeals to the senses. • Includes a closing paragraph that tells what the event means to the writer. Grade 3, Lesson 28

Strategies for Organizing Content • Write notes on the order of events in your story. • Think about any questions your readers might have and include the answers to these questions in your presentation. • Underline similes, metaphors, alliteration, and onomatopoeia to emphasize those parts in the presentation. Grade 3, Lesson 28

Strategies of Good Speakers • Use intonation and volume to create a mood of excitement. • Express your ideas with vivid words.

Grade 3, Lesson 28

Strategies of Good Listeners • Listen Quietly and respectfully. • Listen for intonation and volume and how they set the mood of the presentation. • Think of questions to ask after each presentation.

Grade 3, Lesson 28

Strategies for Organizing Content • Create a visual aid that shows both planets. Be sure to make the differences between the planets stand out for the class. • For the rest of your presentation, write each difference between the planets on a separate note card or slip of paper.

Grade 3, Lesson 29

Strategies of Good Speakers • Practice sharing your presentation. • Point out the differences noted on your graphic aid as you describe them with words. • Use intonation that tells the audience when you are moving from one point to the next. Grade 3, Lesson 29

Strategies of Good Listeners • Give the speakers your full attention.

• Look closely at the visual aids as the speakers point to the differences between the planets. • Ask questions to clear up any confusion after each presentation. Grade 3, Lesson 29


No

Yes

No

Use intonation to emphasize important parts of the passage. Use eye contact and gestures to engage listeners. Listen to and make connections with the speaker. Listen attentively by facing the speaker and making eye contact.

Performance Checklist Use intonation to emphasize important parts of the passage.

Use eye contact and gestures to engage listeners. Listen to and make connections with the speaker.

Listen attentively by facing the speaker and making eye contact. Grade 3, Lesson 30


No

Yes

No

I read clearly and loudly. I used punctuation and intonation. I listened quietly and politely as others read.

Performance Checklist I read clearly and loudly. I used punctuation and intonation. I listened quietly and politely as others read. Grade 3, Lesson 30