Writing Informative Paragraphs with Supporting Details
Writing Informative Paragraphs with Supporting Details Objective: Students will be able to write an informative paragraph that includes a clear topic sentence and supporting details to explain the topic.
Learning Objectives
- Understand what an informative paragraph is.
- Identify the topic sentence and supporting details in a paragraph.
- Plan and write their own informative paragraph using supporting details.
Materials Needed
- Notebook or writing paper
- Pencil and eraser
- Example informative paragraph (printed or displayed)
- Graphic organizer worksheet for planning paragraphs
Key Vocabulary
- Informative Writing
- Writing that gives facts and information about a topic.
- Topic Sentence
- The sentence that tells what the paragraph is about.
- Supporting Details
- Sentences that explain or give more information about the topic sentence.
Detailed Activities
Introduction to Informative Writing
- Explain to the student that informative writing gives facts about a topic.
- Read an example paragraph aloud showing a clear topic sentence and supporting details.
- Discuss what the topic sentence is and identify the supporting details together.
Planning the Paragraph
- Choose a simple topic the student knows well (like their favorite animal or food).
- Help the student write the topic sentence about their chosen topic.
- Use the graphic organizer to list 2-3 facts or details that support the topic sentence.
Writing the Paragraph
- Guide the student to write a complete paragraph starting with the topic sentence.
- Encourage them to add the supporting details in complete sentences.
- Review the paragraph together and make any needed corrections.
Parent & Instructor Notes
- This lesson focuses on building basic writing skills by teaching how to organize information clearly.
- Encourage your child to speak about the topic before writing to help organize their thoughts.
- Be patient and provide positive feedback to build confidence in writing.
Assessment Questions
- What is the topic sentence in your paragraph?
- Can you tell me two details that support your topic sentence?
- Why do we include supporting details in our writing?
Extension Ideas
- Have your child create an illustration to go with their informative paragraph.
- Practice writing paragraphs about different topics and compare how the supporting details change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Try asking guiding questions about the topic to help them think of facts, such as ‘What does it look like?’ or ‘Where can you find it?’
Provide lots of praise for effort, and remind them that writing is a skill that improves with practice.
Teacher’s Guide
Common Misconceptions:
- Students might confuse a topic sentence with a supporting detail.
- They may write a list of facts without connecting them in sentences.
Scaffolding Ideas:
For Struggling Students:
- Use sentence starters like ‘My topic is…’ or ‘One fact is…’.
- Provide a partially completed graphic organizer to guide their ideas.
For Advanced Students:
- Encourage adding a concluding sentence to their paragraph.
- Challenge them to include interesting facts or examples to make their writing more engaging.
Pacing Recommendations:
- Spend about 10 minutes on introduction and examples.
- Allow 15 minutes for planning with the graphic organizer.
- Use 15-20 minutes for writing and reviewing the paragraph.
Standards
- 4.W.2a — Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas clearly.
Printable Worksheet
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