Presentation Class Lesson 3 Lesson Preview: I. Writing a Paragraph - - PDF document

Presentation Class Lesson 3 – page 1

Presentation Class Lesson 3

Lesson Preview: I. Writing a Paragraph

• a. What is a paragraph?
• b. Paragraph organization
• c. Considering purpose and audience
• d. Writing to teach or inform

II. Explanatory Paragraph

• a. Definition
• b. Steps to writing an explanatory paragraph

III. Comma Review

• IV. Impress Practice
• a. Word Splash Slide
• b. Chart Slide
• I. Writing a Paragraph

What is a paragraph? A paragraph is a group of sentences that describe the same idea or topic. A paragraph can be any length and written on any topic as long as all of the sentences are organized around a single idea. How a paragraph is organized: The content of a paragraph is organized in a particular way so that the reader can understand what you are trying to say. Here is how a paragraph is to be organized:

• 1. The first sentence is usually your topic sentence. It tells the reader the main idea
• f the paragraph.
• 2. The following sentences are detail or supporting sentences. They tell the reader

more about the main idea you stated in your topic sentence. Your ideas should also follow a logical order.

• 3. The last sentence in a paragraph is a closing sentence and it restates the main

idea of your paragraph.

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Considering Purpose and Audience when writing: Most writers will write for a specific purpose and audience. The purpose of your writing helps the reader to understand “why the piece was written.” Is it to entertain your reader with a funny story? Maybe it will be to inform or teach, or possibly to persuade your audience to believe something. Whatever the purpose, it is also important to identify the audience. The audience is the person or persons who will be reading your writing. A good writer will write about things that are interesting to his or her audience. Before you start writing, remember to determine your paragraph’s purpose and

• audience. After you determine these two things, you are ready to start writing your

paragraph.

• II. Explanatory Paragraph

Definition An explanatory paragraph is used to inform readers of a topic. You will provide your audience with information on your topic, using a topic sentence and supporting detail sentences that include adjectives, adverbs, and varied structure. How to write an explanatory paragraph Step 1: Choose your topic. Step 2: Brainstorm the information that you would like to include in your

• paragraph. Make sure to choose information that is important about the topic and

explains what it is or does. Conduct research about your topic and create a list of details. Step 3: Create a topic sentence. This will introduce what you will be informing your readers about. Step 4: Begin to write information regarding your topic. You will begin with the most important fact and work your way to the least important. Make sure you are not just “listing” your ideas, you need to use transitions so your writing flows. Step 5: Create a closing sentence, which will summarize what was discussed in your paragraph. Step 6: Revise-Look for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. Now write your paragraph:

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Step 1: In your case, you will choose one of the topics I have listed. For this example, I will use reading a book. Step 2: Reading a book  Use imagination to create own images of characters and setting  Provides an escape from reality  Can be taken anywhere  Bookmark can mark place where reader stops  Quiet activity that can be done at the same time as others are doing other activities Step 3: One of the most pleasant ways to spend an afternoon involves reading a book. Step 4: Whether reading on a cold, dreary winter day or a hot, humid summer day, a book can take the reader away on a magic journey. The reader can create her

• wn visual images of the characters and the setting in a book, all from the words
• n the page. Of course, curling up on the sofa with a good book fill the time when

the reader is waiting for something else to happen. When the call to dinner interrupts the reading, or a friend arrives to play, placing a bookmark at the stopping point easily marks where the reader can return later and continue the

• story. Because of the small size of a book, it can be carried or placed in a purse or

bag or backpack and taken anywhere. Stretching out on the grass at the park, the reader can dive into a few chapter, lazily passing the afternoon. When going on a long car trip, bringing along an exciting book to read can make the time pass more

• quickly. Actually, reading a mystery or adventure story to fill the hours makes any

method of travel more. In addition, since reading does not disturb the peace and quiet, several people can be reading or even engaging in other activities. Step 5: The quiet and relaxing activity of reading a book allows different people to envision their own interpretation of the characters and action as they delve into the story. Step 6: You would proofread your paragraph and look for spelling, punctuation, or grammatical errors at this step.

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This is an example of all of the steps put together:

Last name page number Student Name Teacher Name Presentation Class Date One of the most pleasant ways to spend an afternoon involves reading a book. Whether reading on a cold, dreary winter day or a hot, humid summer day, a book can take the reader away on a magic journey. The reader can create her own visual images of the characters and the setting in a book, all from the words on the page. Of course, curling up on the sofa with a good book fill the time when the reader is waiting for something else to happen. When the call to dinner interrupts the reading, or a friend arrives to play, placing a bookmark at the stopping point easily marks where the reader can return later and continue the story. Because of the small size

• f a book, it can be carried or placed in a purse or bag or backpack and taken anywhere.

Stretching out on the grass at the park, the reader can dive into a few chapter, lazily passing the

• afternoon. When going on a long car trip, bringing along an exciting book to read can make the

time pass more quickly. Actually, reading a mystery or adventure story to fill the hours makes any method of travel more. In addition, since reading does not disturb the peace and quiet, several people can be reading or even engaging in other activities. The quiet and relaxing activity of reading a book allows different people to envision their own interpretation of the characters and action as they delve into the story.

Presentation Class Lesson 3 – page 5

• III. Comma Review

Commas are used in a sentence to separate thoughts or words, which help make the meaning of the sentence clear to the reader. In this lesson, we will go over four of the main comma usage rules.

• 1. Use a comma to separate words and word groups with a series of three or more.

Example: Next summer I will go rafting with John, Susan, and Pete.

• 2. Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction (For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So)

to join two sentences that express related ideas. We call this type of sentence a compound sentence. Example (first sentence): Benny enjoys playing video games. Example (second sentence): Tami enjoys playing board games. Compound Sentence Example: Benny enjoys playing video games, and Tami enjoys playing board games.

• 3. Use a comma to set off an introductory word or phrase.

Example: Usually, Daniel is on time. In fact, he has never been late.

• 4. Use commas around an expression that interrupts a sentence unless it is essential

to the meaning of the sentence. Example: Trevor, a student at the charter school, will start driving this year. Comma Hint: Say the sentence aloud. If you hear a natural pause, you probably need a comma.

• IV. Impress Practice

Word Splash Slide A Word Splash is an organizer that contains a collection of words that answer a question or have something in common. You will be using the Compare and Contrast Word Chart and Cause and Effect Word Chart to complete these slides of your final presentation. You will take words from the chart that we have created and place them in a Word Splash with the title, “Compare and Contrast Words” and another titled, “Cause and Effect Words”. For this example we will refer back to your “All About Me” slide show.

Presentation Class Lesson 3 – page 6 Rotating Tool Text Box

• 1. Insert a new slide by clicking INSERT>SLIDE.
• 2. Insert your background color by clicking FORMAT>PAGE> BACKGROUND
• tab. Choose your color.
• 3. You are now ready to create your Word Splash.

For your “All About ME” presentation you will do a Word Splash with words that describe yourself. First you will start with a Title, which will be your name. Edit the font to your preferences. Next you will begin to add words that describe yourself. You will do so by clicking the textbox tool at the bottom of the page. Draw a textbox. You will then type the word and change the font and color. You can then rotate the word by clicking the rotating tool at the bottom of the page. By doing this, your slide will look more like a “splash”.

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This is an example of a completed Word Splash. Of course, you can make yours a lot more colorful and interesting. Chart Slide You will include a Chart Slide in your final presentation but not in your “All About Me” presentation. This slide is very simple. You will copy and paste and the Compare and Contrast Chart that you will create in this lesson into a slide on your final presentation. Of course you will need to change the background, add a title, and change the font color…make it your own.

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Presentation Class: Lesson 3 Assignments Presentation Class: Lesson 3 Assignments

When typing your assignments in Word, please make sure to use MLA

• format. Also, when you e-mail me your assignments, please make sure that the

subject line on your e-mail includes your name first, then the class name (Presentation) and the assignment number or numbers. Example: Subject: Your Name - Presentation-1A Or (if sending more than one): Subject: Your Name - Presentation-1B and 1C (and so on...)

• 3A. Paragraph Practice: This assignment will require that you review what you

learned in this lesson on paragraph writing. Please follow the directions below to complete this assignment. The purpose of this paragraph is to inform, and your audience will be your teacher and other students. Please type your work in a Word document and name it: Your name - Presentation-3A. E-mail this assignment to me as an attachment. Don’t forget MLA format! Start by following these steps: Step 1: Choose a topic, which you did in the last lesson. Step 2: Brainstorm the information that you would like to include in your

• paragraph. Make sure to choose information that is important about the topic and

explains what it is or does. Conduct research about your topic and create a list of

• details. (You should have already started this last week.)

Step 3: Create a topic sentence. This will introduce what you will be informing your readers about. Step 4: Begin to write information regarding your topic. You will begin with the most important fact and work your way to the least important. Make sure you are not just “listing” your ideas, you need to use transitions so your writing flows. Step 5: Create a closing sentence, which will summarize what was discussed in your paragraph. Step 6: Revise-Look for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors. Keep in mind that your paragraph needs to be between 14 and 18 lines in length. Students who have taken Paragraph Writing or higher are expected to write 16-18 lines.

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• 3B. Comma Usage Activity: You will retype these sentences and add the commas

where they are needed. Please type your work in a Word document and name it: Your name - Presentation-3B. Remember to use MLA format. Now you try it:

• 1. Please correctly punctuate the following sentences.
• a. I love playing with my best friends Sherry Kevin and Kyle.
• b. Cooking can be a very exciting activity but cleaning up afterwards is not.
• c. Typically I like to do my homework before I watch television.
• d. Mrs. K our teacher is the most outstanding instructor there is.
• 3C. Impress Practice

Through out the course you will be creating an “All About Me” presentation using

• Impress. Each week a section will be explained in your lesson with instructions on

how to complete that specific slide(s). You are to follow the instructions using your own information to create your “All About Me” presentation. This will be your time to practice and experiment with the components of the software. You will not be sending this assignment to me. It will be for your own practice. When this assignment is completed, please have a parent e-mail me and let me know that you have completed the activity successfully. Word Splash Slide. This week you will use the instructions provided to create a Word Splash Slide for your “All About Me” presentation slide show. Remember to use colors and list at least (10) words. Remember: This is for your own practice. Do not send me this assignment.