Paragraph

Writing
4th-6th Aligned

Free Lesson Sample

Created by Melissa O’Bryan
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Created by Melissa O’Bryan

T hank you for downloading Paragraph Writing 101.
T his F REE Sample includes:

✓ A Lesson Plan

✓ A Word Wall Card

✓ A Learning Target Slide

✓ Two Practice Slides

✓ Two Student Book Practice Pages

This FREE Sample is one lesson from my Writing Unit 101 series. For Writing Units on
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© Melissa O’Bryan
 Lesson Plan
Learning Target – I can write indented paragraphs that include a topic
sentence, examples, and a closing sentence

1. Explain to your students that today they will practice writing proper
paragraphs. Show the word wall card and discuss the definition of a
paragraph. Hang the card up for reference.
2. Project the first slide and discuss the day’s learning target and its
importance. “I can write indented paragraphs that include a topic
sentence, example sentences and a closing sentence – T.E.E.E.C.” Go
through the elements of a proper paragraph. You may want to create an
anchor chart like the one included for students to reference.
3. Show your students a paragraph from a mentor text that includes the
proper paragraph components, or use the example I’ve provided on the
second slide. Project the paragraph (or write it on an anchor chart) and
work together to identify the topic, example and closing sentences. Use
the third slide to check your work. Discuss the importance of each type of
sentence in a paragraph.
4. Next, pass out student page 1 and have your students find an example
paragraph in a mentor text and write it down. Instruct them to follow the
directions and identify the topic, example and closing sentences.
5. Have your students compare their work with a partner to see if they agree
with how they labeled the sentences.
6. Give your students time to reflect and write about why it’s important to
use proper paragraphing. (I often do this part last and collect it as a
formative assessment exit slip).
7. Then, model for students how to use student page 2 to draft a paragraph
of their own. Remind them to identify the parts of the paragraph when
they finish.
8. Again, tell your writers to compare their work with a partner to see if they
agree that all proper parts (T.E.E.E.C) of the paragraph are included.
9. Continuously remind your students to use the T.E.E.E.C. structure when
writing paragraphs. Hang the anchor chart for easy reference and return
to this lesson again and again if needed.
 Anchor Chart Example

Word Wall Card

Paragraph
A part of a text devoted to one idea. A
paragraph is indented and includes a
topic sentence, example sentences
and a closing sentence.
© Melissa O’Bryan
 Student Page 1
Name:___________________________________________________

Proper Paragraph Parts – T.E.E.E.C

(Topic Sentence, Example Sentences, Closing Sentence)
Choose a paragraph from a mentor text and write it below.

_________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________
Highlight the topic sentence. Underline the example sentences. Circle
the closing sentence.

Show your paragraph to a partner to see if they agree with your

labeling.

Why is it important to use proper paragraphing when writing?

_________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________
© Melissa O’Bryan
 Student Page 2
Name:___________________________________________________

Write Your Own Proper Paragraph

❑ First, start your paragraph with a topic sentence to show your reader what the
paragraph is about. (T)
❑ Next, write 2-3 sentences that explain the topic sentence in detail. (E)
❑ Last, end your paragraph with a closing sentence to sum up the idea. (C)

_________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

Did you remember to indent your paragraph?

Go back and highlight the topic sentence. Underline the example

sentences. Circle the closing sentence.

© Melissa O’Bryan
I can write indented paragraphs that
include a topic sentence, example
sentences and a closing sentence.
T = topic sentence
E = example sentence
E = example sentence
E = example sentence
C = closing sentence

1. Paragraphs start with a

topic sentence to let the
reader know what the
paragraph will be about.

2. The next few sentences

are the examples that
explain the topic
sentence.

3. The paragraph ends with

a closing sentence that
wraps up the idea.

Slide 1 © Melissa O’Bryan

Example Paragraph – Identify the
topic, example and closing sentences.
T = topic sentence
E = example sentence
E = example sentence
E = example sentence
C = closing sentence

Research shows that pets have an important role

in building up a child's immune system. Children
who live with a cat or dog have a lower incidence of
hay fever and asthma and are less likely to develop
animal-related allergies. Recent studies also show
that the immune systems of children of pet-owning
families are more stable than those of children from
non-pet owning families. This means that pet-
owning children are better able to fend off illness.

- The Benefits of Pet Ownership by Pet Health Council

© Melissa O’Bryan
 Example Paragraph – Identify the
topic, example and closing sentences.
Topic Sentence

Children who live with a

cat or dog have a lower incidence of hay
fever and asthma and are less likely to Example
develop animal-related allergies. Recent Sentence
studies also show that the immune
Example systems of children of pet-owning
Sentence
families are more stable than those of
children from non-pet owning families.
This means that pet-owning children are
better able to fend off illness.
Closing
Sentence

- The Benefits of Pet Ownership by Pet Health

Council

© Melissa O’Bryan