1. Focus - Benchmark Education Company

Author's Craft

Start Sentences with Different Words

Objectives

In this mini-lesson, students will: ? Learn that starting sentences with

different words makes sentences more interesting to read. ? Practice starting sentences with different words. ? Discuss how they can apply this strategy to their independent writing.

Preparation

Materials Needed ? Chart paper and markers ? Interactive whiteboard resources

Advanced Preparation If you will not be using the interactive whiteboard resources, copy the modeling text and practice text onto chart paper prior to the mini-lesson.

1. Focus

Explain Starting Sentences with Different Words

Say: When I write a persuasive letter, I want to hold my readers' attention. I try to make my sentences sound interesting and different. If every sentence sounds the same, readers will get bored, and they won't want to read my letter. For example, listen to this letter:

Dear Mom and Dad, I really want a dog. I really hope you will let me have one. I will take good care of my dog. I will walk him. I will bathe him. I will feed him every day. Example Text

Say: Now listen to this letter.

Dear Mom and Dad, I really want a dog. Will you let me have one, please? If so, I will take very good care of him. I will walk and bathe him. Every day I will feed him, too. Example Text

Say: Which letter would you rather read? (Allow responses.) Good writers don't start every sentence the same way. They know that readers will get bored if they do that. It's okay to start some of my sentences with the same word, but I try not to have too many sentences in a row that start with the same word. Today I'll show you how I start sentences with different words to keep my letters interesting.

Model Starting Sentences with Different Words

Display the modeling text on chart paper or using the interactive whiteboard resources.

I read a study about food ads. The study said some kids saw more than twenty food ads per day on TV. Thirty-four percent were for candy or snacks. Modeling Text

Ask students to listen to the way the sentences start as you read the passage from "Stop Junk Food Ads for Kids" aloud.

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Benchmark Writer's Workshop ? Grade 2 ? Persuasive Letters ? ?2012 Benchmark Education Company, LLC

Persuasive Letters

Say: I like the way this writer has used different words to start his sentences. The writer starts his first sentence by referring to himself as I. In this sentence, he lets me know that he has read a study about food ads. He starts the next sentence with the words the study. Then he begins his next sentence with a percentage that came from the study. The writer could have started his sentences all the same. He could have written: "The study was about food ads. The study said that kids saw more than twenty food ads per day on TV. The study said that thirty-four percent were for candy or snacks." But this would not have sounded as interesting. This writer kept his sentences interesting, and if readers are interested, they will pay attention. That is very important in a persuasive letter. We want readers to pay attention to our opinions.

2. Rehearse

Practice Starting Sentences with Different Words

Display the practice text on chart paper or using the interactive whiteboard resources.

Fast food chains give kids toys with their meals. Fast food chains know what they are doing. Fast food chains know junk food is not good for kids.

Practice Text

Ask students to work with a partner to rewrite the sentences so that each one starts in a different way. Each pair should write down their sentences and be prepared to read them to the class and explain how the different words keep the text interesting.

3. Independent Writing and Conferring

Say: We learned one way to keep our sentences interesting is to start them in different ways. Remember, readers won't want to keep reading if every sentence sounds the same. As you revise your persuasive letters, look for opportunities to start sentences with different words.

Encourage students to think about starting their sentences with different words during independent writing time. During conferences, reinforce students' use of this and other strategies using the prompts on your conferring flip chart.

4. Share

Bring students together. Invite volunteers who have varied their sentence structures by starting sentences in different ways to read sample sentences they've written.

Share Practice Sentences

Bring students together and invite partners to read aloud their sentences and explain how they changed them. Record students' sentences and post these as models for students to use as they draft or revise their persuasive letters.

Strategies to Support ELs

Beginning

Provide practice with simple sentences during independent writing time or while other students work with partners. Point to a student. Say: [Student's name] is a student. She likes to read. Write the sentences on the interactive whiteboard and underline the beginning words. Ask students to talk about other students using the sentence models.

Intermediate and Advanced Pair ELs with fluent English speakers during the partner activity.

?2012 Benchmark Education Company, LLC ? Benchmark Writer's Workshop ? Grade 2 ? Persuasive Letters

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