Harcourt 10-11
Lesson 3
Grammar
Day 2 and 3
Paragraph Writing
Prewriting
Drafting
Revising
Editing
Publishing
Types of Writing
Informational
Persuasive
Narrative
Informational
to teach or inform
about something
Ocean
Creature
Reports
Persuasive
to convince someone
to do or believe
something
Visit a
Certain
Place
Narrative
to tell a story;
to entertain
Favorite
Place to
Eat
Best Day You
Spent with
Your Family
The BIG Question:
What makes a
good paragraph?
a group of
sentences that
tells about one
subject or idea
Find the Main Idea
Arnie takes good care of his
pet fish. He keeps their bowl filled
with fresh water. Every morning, he
feeds them special food, and he always
keeps his cat away from the bowl.
Whenever his fish get sick, Arnie takes
them to the vet.
Find the Main Idea
Maria and Carlos have an
unusual job. Every day they go to
the city park. Maria plays music
on her banjo while Carlos dances.
People gather around to watch.
After his dance, Carlos holds out
his hat. People drop their money
into the hat.
Find the Main Idea
I carry out the trash on
Monday morning. On Saturday, I
help my dad weed the garden.
Every morning, I make my bed and
keep my bedroom tidy. On Tuesday
and Thursday, I help my sister with
the dinner dishes. Boy, do I have a
lot of work to do every week!
Find the Main Idea
Max’s little sister can be a
pest. For example, yesterday she
drew all over his homework with a
pen. While he was at school, she
messed up the puzzle he had been
working on for days. Then at
dinner, she knocked her glass of
milk over and it landed on his lap.
Topic
Sentence
Supporting
Details
Ending
Sentence
Create a Topic Sentence
 Built a sand castle
 Ran in and out of the waves
 Explored the tide pools
 Roasted hot dogs over a
fire
I had a great time when
I went to the beach.
Create a Topic Sentence
 A dirty sock
 An old comic book
 My lost homework
 A piece of rotten banana
I couldn’t believe what I
found under my bed.
Create a Topic Sentence
 New shoes
 School clothes
 A lunch box
 A box of crayons
My mom bought me new
school supplies when we went
shopping.
What Doesn’t Belong?
Good Friends
Emily and Tanya are good
friends. They play games, ride
their bikes, and go to the park
together. Tanya’s dog can run
very fast. Emily and Tanya ride
the bus together to school. They
spend the night at each other’s
houses. You’ll never find two
people who are better friends
than Emily and Tanya.
What Doesn’t Belong?
A New Pet
I would like to get a new pet. I think that
a bird would be a good pet. Some birds even
talk to you! I also think that a dog would be a
good pet. You can go for walks and play fetch
with a dog. I have a goldfish as a pet. A
hamster might also be a good pet. It is fun to
watch hamsters as they play in their cages. I
hope I’ll be able to get a new pet soon.
What Doesn’t Belong?
Going Swimming
This afternoon, I’m going swimming in
the pool at the park. I have my swimsuit
and a big towel. Mom gave me money for
a snack. My dad is going to drive me
there. Yesterday, I rode my bike in the
park. It will be a lot of fun!
The BIG Question:
What makes a
good paragraph?
Writing a Good Paragraph
 It isn’t easy to give a dog a
bath.
 Pizza is good to eat.
 Summer is the best season of
the year.
Main
Idea
Writing a Good Paragraph
 It isn’t easy to give a dog a
bath.
 Pizza is good to eat.
 Summer is the best season of
the year.
It isn’t easy to give my dog a bath. As
soon as I fill the tub with water, he runs
away and hides. When we finally get him in
the tub, he shakes water all over the
bathroom. Sometimes he even escapes and
runs through the house when he is covered
with soap! Giving my dog a bath is a lot of
work.
Summer is my favorite season.
I can swim all day long. I don’t
have any homework, and my
parents let me stay up a little
later. It doesn’t even get dark
until 9:00, so I can play outside
for hours and hours. I love
everything about summer!
Pizza is good to eat. In fact, I
love everything about pizza. The
sauce and the cheese taste so good
together. My favorite part of the
pizza is the crust! Nothing can
beat pizza’s crunchy cheesy
goodness.