Day 6: Intro to Body Paragraphs

Hi, y'all! Unfortunately, I am sick, but fortunately for you all, my friend and coworker Omid is willing to teach for me today! You are all in great hands!

Short List:

1. Attendance
2. Intro to Unit 1
3. Small Group Paragraph-Learning Activity
4. Paragraph Writing

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The Details

Schedule of events:

1. [5 mintues] Attendance Check and Introduction of Substitute

Tell him who you are! What is your name and your alliterative adjective? Remember, I'm joyful Jon! 

2. [10 minutes] Overview of Unit 1

1. In this part, Omid will discuss the basics of what we are going to do during this unit: learn the basics of the paragraphs that make up our essays.  We are starting small with paragraphs before working on larger things like whole essays and analysis papers.  If you have specific questions, please save them until Wednesday when I am back to answer them.  

3. [20 minutes] Group Paragraph-Learning Activity

First, get in the small groups you were in on Friday following your birthdays:

• January - March = Group 1 (Front Left)
• April - June = Group 2 (Back Left)
• July - September = Group 3 (Back Right)
• October - December = Group 4 (Front Right)

Part 1: (5 minutes)

What do we know about paragraphs? 

Look at this handout as Omid leads the whole class in a couple of minutes of discussion about what makes up an English body paragraph.  

Part 2: (8-10 minutes in groups and 5-7 minutes of whole group discussion and review)

Now, using what you learned from Part 1, in your group, download this handout  to one of the computers in your group and try to identify the problems in the paragraph without looking at the handout from part 1! Don't be cheaters! 

After you have completed this, Omid will ask for your answers in a whole group discussion and will go through what is "correct."  

4. [10-15 minutes]

Using the Google Docs linked above (named "Group 1," "Group 2," and so on) rewrite the bad paragraph making it good!  As you do so, Omid will ask each group what exactly they think is wrong with the paragraph and why they think that.  Be prepared--Omid is a hard question-asker! :) 

Attribution: This lesson was developed by Cassandra Rosado and has only been customized and adapted for my class and teaching style.  The overall lesson, the materials, and even many of the details are her creation.