The first paragraph will be a description of your stone. Describe its color, size, and shape. (You might also want to make up a place that you found it.) Use describing words that are exactly what you mean; for instance, you might want to use the thesaurus for the exact colors in your stone (there are many shades of and names for blue: cerulean, sapphire, azure, etc.).
The second paragraph will be about the powers the stone will give you and how you discovered these powers. For instance, did you have to rub the stone as Aladdin did his lamp? Did you all of a sudden find yourself doing something unusual and not know how it was possible, then gradually discover that it was the stone that had given you the power?
The third paragraph will be about what you do with your stone when you find out about its powers--what feats will you perform, what things will you change, whose life will you make better or worse?
You may want to do some brainstorming on the back of this sheet before you begin your first draft. Make three columns, labelling them to correspond to each paragraph described above. Create a list or a web of ideas appropriate for each paragraph's topic. Use these ideas to help you organize your thoughts as you write your first draft.
Check:
1. _____ 5 to 8 sentences in EACH paragraph, including a topic and concluding sentence
2. _____ Five elements of good writing, focus on PURPOSE and DIRECTION
3. _____ Good transitional sentences
4. _____ Clearly reworked draft
5. _____ Final is neat and in ink
6. _____ All three papers stapled with final copy on top.
7. _____ The signature of an adult who helped you proofread your rough draft.
inspired by an idea by Barb
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