BEST PRACTICES IN THE

WRITING CLASSROOM
IMPORTANT SKILLS STUDENTS NEED
TO DEVELOP FOR ACADEMIC
WRITING
Which skills do you
consider are essential
before students start
writing paragraphs
and essays?
Brainstorming
Today we
will focus
on:
Topic Sentences
BRAINSTORMING
ACTIVITY

TOPIC SENTENCE:
What makes a good one?

It expresses a
view or makes
a point about
the topic.
It makes clear
what the
paragraph is
aboutthe
topic.
tells the one
thing the
paragraph is
about

helps the
reader know
what
supporting
details will be in
the paragraph

Example:

People can avoid burglaries by taking
certain precautions.
Two Tips for making good
topic sentences:

Choose a manageable topicone that is
neither too general nor too specific.
- This is too general: "The United States suffered a
lot during the Civil War."
- This is too narrow: "Christmas trees are either
cedars or firs."
- Dont make a list of what youre going to talk
about, but instead give a small taste of what
is to follow in your paragraph.

Example 1: In the story, Amelia did many good
things such as help out her friends, talk to her
parents, and support her team at school.
Example 2: As a result of the many activities
Amelia accomplished, she was recognized for
her positive influence on the community.




Do not write a fact generally
accepted as true or
something too obvious.

For example: The Sun is the
star of our solar system.


1. Students need to
identify topics.
2. Students should practice
identifying topic and
controlling ideas.
3. Students must write their
own topic sentences.
4. Students need to check
their topic sentences.
Use strong verbs. To seem, to
feel, to think, to be, to
know are examples of weak
verbs. To attack, to
overcome, to transform are
strong verbs.

Do not use the
same word more
than once in a
sentence unless you
need to (e.g.
keywords)

Avoid clichs.
(Every cloud has a
silver lining, beat
around the
bush, fight tooth
and nail, etc)
Strong sentences are easy to read expressively
(they sound great when read aloud)
Expressive reading involves reading a text with
the appropriate changes in pitch, rhythm,
volume, and tone that we hear in normal
speech. It improves
Comprehension and is also fun. When writing
flows smoothly from word to word, phrase to
phrase, and sentence to sentence, we can
easily match our expression to the writers
meaning.
Use a structure for your sentences.


Part 1

On a bitter cold winter morning,

Lead-In

Part 2

Malcolm Maxwell,

Main

Part 3

a young man of simple means but good
intentions,

In
-
Between

Part 4

left the quiet country town in which hed been
raised,

Main

Part 5

and set off on the bold errand hed been
preparing for all his life.

Add-On
SENTENCE STRUCTURE: A
SUGGESTED MODEL


Do not write
short, choppy
sentences.

Example:

Susan went somewhere.
That place was the mall.
Susan wanted to buy new shoes.
The shoes were for Susans mother.

Susan went to the mall because she
wanted to buy new shoes for her mother.


Use the five senses: hearing, taste, touch, sight and smell



Transitions are phrases or words used to
connect one idea to the next.
Transitions can be classified according to their
use.