Good afternoon!Please be in your seats

when the bell rings. Let’s make it a great

day! -Ms. Weatherford

•Creating organized paragraphs is an important writing skill.•We will learn how to write a paragraph that contains three main parts:•A top bun•The fixings•A bottom bun

Let’s satisfy those appetites!

Think Pair Share

If Ms. Weatherford is talking about a paragraph in terms of a hamburger what do you think the top bun stands for? Fixings? Bottom bun?

Let’s share our ideas!

Topic sentence

Juicy details(Supporting

sentences)

Concluding sentence

Paragraph Structure

Of the 78 species of whale, the orca (or killer whale) is the most feared. These mammals live in families called pods and swim in all the oceans of the world. One is most likely to find them in the cooler waters of the Arctic and Antarctic regions of Earth. A tall dorsal fin and black and white body make them easily recognizable. Their rounded snouts and bullet-shaped bodies allow orcas to swim at speeds up to 40 miles per hour. A killer whale is the only whale that eats warm-blooded prey. Often it takes 300 pounds of fish, squid, and other marine animals a day to satisfy this beast’s huge appetite. The orca may appear to be friendly or playful at water parks or on television, but this wild animal is one of the most ferocious in nature.

Topic sentence?Supporting sentences?Concluding sentence?

Topic Sentences

• Topic sentences are really, really important.

• They're the sentences that state the topic or main idea of a paragraph.

• They make it easy for you to write and easy for your reader to read. (That's a win-win situation!)

• Remember that paragraphs are groups of sentences that are based around one single idea or theme.

• Topic sentences usually come at the beginning of the paragraph.

Topic Sentences

Main Aspects of a Topic Sentence

• They state the main idea of a paragraph. • They're not too broad and not too specific.

(You want it to be just right. Think Goldilocks). • They grab your reader's attention.

Let’s practice!

Not Too Broad, Not Too Specific

Too Broad Too Specific Just Right

The world is full of people who like cheese.

Cheddar cheese is orange.

My mother uses cheddar cheese in a few of her recipes.

The United States has had many Presidents.

The fourth President of the United States was James Madison.

James Madison is often called the "Father of the Constitution."

1. The world is full of people who like cheese.2. My mother uses cheddar cheese in a few of her recipes.3. Cheddar cheese is orange.

1. James Madison is often called the “Father of the Constitution.”2. The United States has had many Presidents.3. The fourth President of the United States was James Madison.

Exciting Topic Sentences!

How can we change these topic sentences to captivate the reader?

I had an exciting sailing trip.OR

If you can imagine sailing alone through rough storms, you’ll understand why I loved

the adventure of my solo sailing trip.

In this paragraph, I’ll explain to you why I like photography.

OR

Exciting Topic Sentences!

I clicked the camera's shutter just as an eagle caught a fish, and I thought of how

much I love photography.

Topic Sentences Cont.

• Think of a topic sentence as the movie preview and the paragraph as the movie.

• They tell your reader what you'll discuss in the paragraph, and they help you, the writer, identify what's important as you write the paragraph.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXZY_XRjABs– Write a topic sentence based on this movie clip

Despicable Me Topic Sentences

• Gru is a super villain who has to control an army, outsmart his arch enemy, and deal with three small problems.

• Gru is a villain.• Gru is a super villain with a lot of obstacles on

his hands including stealing the moon.

• A paragraph has several supporting sentences that are sandwiched between the topic sentence and the concluding sentence.

• These sentences RELATE and SUPPORT the topic.• If they don’t, they shouldn’t be in your paragraph.• Make sure to use correct grammar, punctuation,

and spelling.

The Juicy Details

• The concluding sentence is at the end of the paragraph.

• This sentence restates the topic sentence in a different way.

Concluding Sentence

• How can you restate the following topic sentences to create concluding sentences?

– Joining a sports team is a great way to make friends.

– Christmas time is full of laughter and joy.

Concluding Sentence

Literature Lounge

In groups, create topic sentences for the following writing ideas:1. The best place to go swimming2. My favorite amusement park ride3. Going fishing with a friend4. Enjoyable board games to play5. The surprise party