Melissa Doll
3-20-2012
SPED 503MM
WRITING STRATEGY SHARE
Parts of a Paragraph
 Paragraph Chains
 Each student should have six strips of construction
paper:




One white strip
One green strip
Three yellow strips
One red strip
 White strip = Title of the paragraph
 All writing assignments need a title
 Green strip = Topic sentence
 Just as green means “Go” on a stoplight, this signifies the
beginning of the paragraph
 Yellow strips = Supporting details
 Yellow is the middle color on a stoplight, so this
represents the middle of the paragraph
 Red strip = Concluding sentence
 Just as a red light means “Stop” to a driver, this signifies
the end of the paragraph
On the White Strip, write…
 Title of the paragraph
On the Green Strip, write…
 Introduce the content of the paragraph
On the Yellow Strips, write…
 Details about the topic sentence
On the Red Strip, write…
 Restates what the paragraph is about
How to Use this Tool
 Staple or tape the six paper strips in correct
order.
 Have students touch each link and explain the
meaning of each part.
 Chains may be taped to desks or tables as
references for paragraph writing activities.
Benefits of this Tool
 Excellent for teaching to various strengths
and learning preferences, teaching English
learners, and teaching students with learning
disabilities because…
Source: www.creative-writing-ideas-and-activities.com
Benefits of this Tool
 Appeals to Multiple Intelligences:
 Verbal-Linguistic:
 writing sentences
 restating the parts of a paragraph
 writing paragraphs
 Math-Logic:
 charting the parts of a paragraph
 using a paragraph chain
 writing paragraphs about numbers
 Spatial:
 creating a paragraph stoplight
 using color to identify the parts of a paragraph
Source: www.creative-writing-ideas-and-activities.com
Benefits of this Tool
• Appeals to Multiple Intelligences:
 Bodily-Kinesthetic:
 assembling paragraph chains
 touching the chain links while explaining the parts of
a paragraph
 Interpersonal:
 write paragraphs with a partner
 Intrapersonal:
 write an autobiographical paragraph
Source: www.creative-writing-ideas-and-activities.com
Benefits of this Tool
• Appeals to Multiple Intelligences:
 Musical:
 clap out paragraph parts to a rhythm
 Naturalist:
 write paragraphs describing nature scenes
 Existential:
 write paragraphs for character education topics
Source: www.creative-writing-ideas-and-activities.com
Possible Classroom
Applications
 Students can quiz each other on the meaning of each link
 Students can display the links on their desks or post them
on the wall to gather and reference during writing activities
 Students can practice writing paragraphs link-by-link on
color strips as a class, in a small group, with a partner, and
individually
 Students can peer edit each other’s paragraphs using the
links as an evaluation guide
Reference
 www.creative-writing-ideas-and-
activities.com