Four Square Writing
• Categorizing
• Begin with a topic sentence.
• Then brainstorm using word
webs, lists, ideas, brief thoughts
or notes
Four Square Writing:
Picking a topic
2
3
• Step 1
– Box 1
1
• Pick a topic to
write about.
My favorite meal is ...
– For example:
“My favorite
meal is…”
4
5
Four Square Writing:
Picking a topic
2
3
• Step 1
– Box 1
1
• Pick a topic to
write about.
My favorite meal is ...
– For example:
“My favorite
meal is…”
4
5
Four Square Writing:
Supporting the Topic Sentence
(Box 2, 3, and 4)
• Step 2
– Box 2, 3, and 4
• Now ask “Why”
• Write one or two
short phrases that
answer “Why” in
each box.
• Remember the
reasons or details
should support the
topic sentence.
• Box 2, 3, and 4 are
going to become
paragraphs later.
2
3
•First
•It’s easy
1
My favorite meal is
spaghetti and meatballs.
•Third
•It’s delicious
4
•Also
•It’s fun to eat
Four Square Writing:
Supporting the Topic Sentence
(Box 2, 3, and 4)
• Step 2
– Box 2, 3, and 4
• Now ask “Why”
• Write one or two
short phrases that
answer “Why” in
each box.
• Remember the
reasons or details
should support the
topic sentence.
• Box 2, 3, and 4 are
going to become
paragraphs later.
2
3
•First
•It’s easy
1
•Third
•It’s delicious
4
•Also
•It’s fun to eat
Four Square Writing:
Wrap Up Sentence
(Box 5)
• Step 3
– Box 5
• Time to write a
complete
sentence using
what you have.
• Take boxes 1, 2,
3, and 4 to write
a sentence that
wraps it all up in
box 5.
2
3
•First
•It’s easy
1
My favorite meal is
spaghetti and meatballs.
•Third
•It’s delicious
4
•Also
•It’s fun to eat
So you can see, my
favorite meal is spaghetti
and meatballs because it’s
easy, fun to eat and
delicious.
5
Four Square Writing:
Wrap Up Sentence
(Box 5)
• Step 3
2
3
– Box 5
• Time to write a
complete
sentence using
what you have.
• Take boxes 1, 2,
3, and 4 to write
a sentence that
wraps it all up in
box 5.
1
4
5
Four Square Writing:
Supporting the Details
(Box 2, 3, and 4)
• Step 4
– Asking “Why”
again!
• This time you
will ask “Why”
for each short
phrase in box 2,
3, and 4.
• Remember,
each reason
should support
the detail of that
box.
2
3
•First
•Also
•It’s easy
•roll up meat
•throw in pot
•pour sauce
1
•twirl on a fork
•slurp it
•splatter the sauce
My favorite meal is
spaghetti and meatballs.
•Third
•It’s delicious
•tomatoes
•Italian spices
•filling meat
4
•It’s fun to eat
So you can see, my
favorite meal is spaghetti
and meatballs because it’s
easy, fun to eat and
delicious.
5
Four Square Writing:
Supporting the Details
(Box 2, 3, and 4)
• Step 4
2
3
– Asking “Why”
again!
• This time you
will ask “Why”
for each short
phrase in box 2,
3, and 4.
• Remember,
each reason
should support
the detail of that
box.
1
4
5
Four Square Writing:
Describing the Supporting Details
(Box 2, 3, and 4)
2
3
•First, it’s easy
•roll up meat
•golf balls
• Step 5
•throw in pot
•huge cauldron-size
•pour sauce
– Box 2, 3, and 4
• Now think of
ideas or
adjectives that
describe your
supporting
details.
•mama someone
1
•twirl on a fork
•looks like a twister
•slurp it
•loud smacking sound
•splatter the sauce
•like an explosion
My favorite meal is
spaghetti and meatballs.
•Third, it’s delicious
•tomatoes
•red and tangy
•Italian spices
•zippy garlic
•filling meat
•like a hamburger
4
•Also, it’s fun to eat
So you can see, my
favorite meal is spaghetti
and meatballs because it’s
easy, fun to eat and
delicious.
5
Four Square Writing:
Describing the Supporting Details
(Box 2, 3, and 4)
2
3
• Step 5
– Box 2, 3, and 4
1
• Now think of
ideas or
adjectives that
describe your
supporting
details.
4
5
Four Square Writing:
Final Draft
Now use each box to write your final draft. Each box is a new paragraph.
My favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs.
First, my favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs because it’s easy. You
simply roll up the meat into golf ball-sized pieces, then you throw it in the pot.
I use a huge, cauldron-sized pot. Pour on the store-bought sauce. My favorite
brand is Mama someone or other.
Also, my favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs because it’s fun to eat.
I like to twirl it on my fork. It looks just like a twister. It’s fun to slurp
because it makes a loud smacking noise. I always splatter the sauce. When
I’m done, it looks like an explosion.
Third, my favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs because it’s delicious.
I like the tangy taste of red tomatoes. The Italian spices are great, especially
the zippy garlic. The meat is filling, like a hamburger.
So you can see, my favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs because it’s
easy, fun to eat, and delicious.
Four Square Writing:
Final Draft
Now use each box to write your final draft. Each box is a new paragraph.