Interview Poster: Topic Sentences 1 Writing mini-lesson
A topic sentence: Is often the first sentence of a paragraph. Shares general information to let the reader know the paragraph s topic. 2 Saves the specific details for the rest of the paragraph. Should make readers want to continue reading.
For the interview poster, your topic sentence should: Mention your classmate s name. Give a general idea of the topic your paragraph will cover; save any specifics for later. Avoid including the word because. 3
Sample Topic Sentences 4 Though my classmate plays sports and acts in plays, music is her first love. Most 7th graders like technology, but takes it to a whole new level. Not many students at Mitchell Middle School have lived in as many places as.
Interview Poster: Transitions 5 Grammar mini-lesson
Transitions tie ideas together. 6 Examples: First, to begin with Next, then, also, in addition to Finally, lastly All in all, overall Transitions help the flow of a paragraph.
Example Paragraph with Transitions 7 Though she s only 13, Shyla has the future goal of becoming a hair stylist. One of her inspirations for this career has been her older sister, who works in a salon in Sioux Falls. Shyla hopes to attend Stewart s in Sioux Falls as her sister did to develop her skills as a stylist and then to work in Mitchell, possibly at Smart Styles. The past few years, Shyla has been cutting other people s hair and her own and learned not only that she has a talent for styling but also that she really enjoys it. In fact, Shyla believes that her favorite part of being a stylist would be creating new styles for her clients. She also thinks that coloring women s hair would be a fun part of her job, almost like a make-over. All in all, with a little hard work and more practice, Shyla will be able to make her stylist dreams come true.
First, second, third, etc. After, before, during Next, then For example, for instance In addition, also More Transitions In the same way, similarly On the other hand, however Most importantly Finally, lastly, all in all, overall 8
Interview Poster: Run-Ons 9 Grammar mini-lesson
What is a run-on? Two sentences that should have a period in between them I went to the movie over break it was hilarious. I forgot to buy extra pencils tomorrow I ll need to go to Walmart. 10 Two sentences that have a comma instead of a period between them (known as a comma splice) I went to the movie over break, it was hilarious. I forgot to buy extra pencils, tomorrow I ll need to go to Walmart.
How do I correct a run-on? By adding a period and capital letter I went to the movie over break it was hilarious. I went to the movie over break. It was hilarious. 11 By adding a semi-colon We spent the weekend at Grandma s she lives four hours away. We spent the weekend at Grandma s; she lives four hours away. By adding a comma and a conjunction (FANBOYS) Sally received a guitar for her birthday she wanted a banjo. Sally received a guitar for her birthday, but she wanted a banjo.
Try correcting these It rained hard this morning on the way to school we couldn t see. We rode all of the carnival rides then we ate corn dogs. My brother got a new car it s a red Ford Focus. 12 Charlene s birthday is tomorrow what should I get her for a gift? I plan to go out for wrestling my favorite sport, though, is football.
What about correcting a paragraph? 13 They say that a dog is a man s best friend, and in Austin s case, his best friend is his golden retriever Copper. However, he can t take credit for Copper s name his mom named their dog Copper after the dog in the Disney movie The Fox and the Hound. Copper is four years old (in human years) and was born on Halloween when Copper is around Austin s younger siblings, he is extremely gentle and patient, even when Austin s one-year old brother smacks Copper in the nose with a toy Austin s favorite thing to do is to go pheasant hunting with his dad and Copper. In fact, he has helped to train Copper with his dad and uncle. My family really couldn t ask for a better dog, Austin states. Overall, Austin is one lucky kid to have such a faithful friend in his dog Copper.