Before you begin writing, I want you to think about questions that will allow you to explore the feelings and expectations of the person/character you choose. Pretend you are that person. What are the most important things in your life? Who are your friends? What are some of your goals? What do enjoy doing in your free time? Do you have a job and if so, what is it? Think about these questions and any others you can think of that will help you understand the way the person/character of your choice thinks.
With those questions in mind, I want you to write at least three well constructed and detailed paragraphs about one event from the person/character's life. The event can be something big that could affect the person's life altogether or something very small like what to have for breakfast. The event is not as important as your portrayal of how the person thinks with extra consideration to why the person makes the choices he/she does.
Organize your thoughts in a web map, following the paragraph structure with main ideas and details. The first paragraph should introduce us to the person and the event you have chosen. Describe the event in detail and its importance to the character. The second paragraph should bring the readers into the mind of your person/character. Discuss what they think about the event and its consequences, if any. The last paragraph should describe the way the event ended and the person or character's thoughts about the outcome.
Don't Forget! Before you turn in your paper, look to see if you have...
1. ______ name and date
2. ______ 5-8 sentences for all three paragraphs
3. ______ each paragraph includes a topic and closing sentence, and
detail sentences
4. ______ use of transitional sentences when appropriate
5. ______ five elements of good writing; focus on IDEAS and STYLE (word
choice should reflect the person/character you have chosen)
6. ______ clearly reworked rough draft
7. ______ signature of adult who helped proofread for STYLE and
PRESENTATION
8. ______ final paper is neat and written in ink
9. ______ all four papers stapled together with final on top
(directions, web map, rough draft, final)
submitted by KW
Return to the Paragraph a Week Index.