Writing a paragraph
using the
Traffic Signal System
GO = Topic Sentence: The sentence
that tells what the paragraph will
be about.
CONTINUE = Supporting
Sentences: These sentences add
details to the topic sentence.
STOP = Ending Sentence: This
sentence closes the paragraph. It
tells the reader that the paragraph
is finished.
School is very important.
Topic Sentence
Supporting Sentences
Teachers teach you how to add and
subtract.
You learn how to read books.
You learn how to write and use
computers.
Ending sentences can
(A) repeat the topic sentence in a
different way,
Example: It is important to go
to school.
STOP
Ending sentences can
(B) express how we feel about the
topic,
Example: I love going to school.
STOP
Ending sentences can
(C) express what we think about
the topic.
Example: I think school is
important for kids.
STOP
School is very important.
Teachers teach you how to add
and subtract. You learn how to
read books. You learn how to
write and use computers. I
think school is important for
kids.
Finished Paragraph
indent
Joseph and Tom are good
friends. They walk to school
every morning. After school,
the boys ride their bikes and
play games together.
Sometimes, Joseph and Tom
sleep at each other’s house.
The boys like to be together.
Example Paragraph
indent
On your paper write the numbers of
the sentences in the order they
should be arranged.
1. They love to lick you when you hug
them.
2. They are fun to have.
3. Dogs know how to do tricks.
4. Dogs are wonderful pets to have.
5. They love to run and play.
6. Dogs are furry and very cute.
One possible way!
Dogs are wonderful pets to have.
Dogs know how to do tricks. They
love to run and play. Dogs are
furry and very cute. They love to
lick you when you hug them. They
are fun to have.
indent
The writing process:
Pre-write – brainstorm ideas
Rough Draft – make a sloppy copy
Revise – make changes / make it
better
Editing – proofreading for spelling
and grammar
Publishing: Final Draft / neat copy
Prewrite – list of words,
quick notes and ideas
•Christmas favorite holiday
•Decorate Santa
•lights
•food
•family
•presents
•toys
Rough Draft-a first time
writing that is a sloppy copy
where things are crossed
out and ideas are changed.
Example: The best holiday
is Christmas.I like love
decorating my tree. with
lights.
My favorite
Revising
•making decisions about how you
want to improve your writing
•looking at your writing from a
different point of view
•picking places where your writing
could be clearer, more
interesting, more informative and
more convincing.
Editing
My faforite holidai is christmas I love
dekorating my tee with lights.
v
y
c
r
Final Draft – neat, error
free and in cursive
My favorite holiday is
Christmas. I like decorating my
tree with lights. Santa Claus
brings us nice presents. In the
morning, we get to open our
presents and play with our toys.
Then our family eats a big dinner
for Christmas. I love
Christmas with my family.
Choose a picture from the
following slide to write a
paragraph about.
Use the steps of the writing
process.
On your final draft, use green
for the topic sentence, yellow
for the supporting sentences,
and red for the concluding
sentence. Cursive!
My German Shepard, Lilo, loves to
play ball. She sees me coming with the
ball, and her tail starts to wag
continuously. Sometimes she waits
very patiently, other times, she jumps
around like she ate too much candy.
When I throw the ball, she retrieves it
and obediently sets it back near my
feet. She will even fetch the ball when
it goes in the dirty water. I love to play
ball with my dog.