Strategies for Writing Sentences About a Picture
Each sentence tells about the picture.
Each sentence tells a complete idea.
The first sentence tells the main idea of the picture.
The other sentences tell more about the picture.
Each sentence begins with a capital letter and ends with a period.
Grade 2, Lesson 1
Strategies for Writing a Paragraph
The beginning of a paragraph is indented.
The first sentence is a statement that tells the main idea.
The other sentences give more details about the main idea.
Each statement begins with a capital letter and ends with a period.
Grade 2, Lesson 2
Strategies for Writing a Description
The first sentence tells what will be described.
Each sentence gives details that create a picture by using one
or more describing words.
Words such as in, on, and under tell where things are.
The paragraph has a beginning, middle, and end.
Grade 2, Lesson 3
Strategies for Writing a Paragraph of Information
The first sentence tells the main idea of the paragraph.
The other sentences give details that tell more about the main idea.
The first word is indented.
The paragraph is about just one idea.
Grade 2, Lesson 4
Strategy for Writing a Story Summary
A summary is a short retelling of what happens in the story.
A summary includes the title of the story you are retelling.
A summary identifies the main characters and tells the most
important things that happen in the story.
A summary should be written using your own words.
Grade 2, Lesson 6
Strategies for Writing Directions
Tell how to make or do something.
List materials, if needed.
List steps in order from first to last.
Uses commands, short sentences, and exact words.
Can include a picture.
Grade 2, Lesson 7
Strategies for Writing a Story
A story tells about one main idea.
A story has characters, or who the story is about.
A story has a setting, or where and when the story takes place.
A story has a plot, or everything that happens in the story.
A story has a beginning, middle and end.
Grade 2, Lesson 8
Strategies for Writing A Letter of Invitation or Request
A letter has five parts: a date, greeting, body, closing, and a signature.
The date tells the month, day, and year.
The greeting consists of Dear and the writer’s name.
The body is a paragraph that tells where and when the event will happen.
The closing is a phrase such as Sincerely or Your Friend.
The signature is your name.
Grade 2, Lesson 9
Strategies for Writing a Personal Narrative
A personal narrative tells a true story about something that happened in your life.
Use the words, I, me, we, and us.
Tell about your thoughts and feelings.
Use capital letters and periods in abbreviated titles such as Mr. and Dr.
Grade 2, Lesson 11
Strategies for Writing a Paragraph That Gives Information
The paragraph gives information about a real topic.
The first sentence tells the main idea.
The other sentences give more information about the main menu.
Some of the sentences may tell what to do in the correct order, or sequence.
Grade 2, Lesson 12
Strategies for Writing a Dialogue
Dialogue tells the words characters say.
Dialogue is inside quotation marks.
Words like said and asked tell how the character says
the dialogue.
Grade 2, Lesson 13
Strategies for Writing a Paragraph That Explains
The topic sentence tells about the main idea.
The other sentences give more details about the main idea.
The writer may do research to find facts.
Grade 2, Lesson 14
Strategies for Writing a How-to Paragraph
The how-to paragraph tells how to do or make something.
The title explains what the paragraph is about.
Materials are listed first.
Each sentence tells a step to follow, in order.
The sentences are written as commands.
Grade 2, Lesson 16
Strategies for Writing a Description
The first sentence tells what will be described.
Each sentence gives details that create a picture.
Sense adjectives are used throughout the paragraph.
Grade 2, Lesson 17
Strategies for Writing a Poem
A poem tells a writer’s feelings about a topic.
A poem may be rhymed or unrhymed.
A poem uses colorful words and details to help the reader
see, feel or hear what the writer is telling about.
A poem may use comparisons.
A poem includes a title.
Grade 2, Lesson 18
Strategies for Writing a Narrative Biography
A narrative tells a story about a real person, event, or thing.
A biography is about a real person’s life other than you.
A biography tells events in time order.
A biography has facts about the person’s life.
Grade 2, Lesson 19
Strategies for Writing a Personal Narrative
A personal narrative tells about an important experience that writer really had.
The beginning tells what the personal narrative is about.
The writer uses the words I and me.
Details and words describe the setting, characters, objects, events and feelings.
The ending tells how things work out.
Grade 2, Lesson 21
Strategies for Writing Fantasy
A fantasy tells about something that could not take place in real life.
A fantasy includes characters that behave in ways that they couldn’t in real life.
A fantasy should have a problem, important events, and a solution.
Grade 2, Lesson 22
Strategies for Writing a Paragraph of Information
The paragraph gives information about one topic.
The title explains what the paragraph.
The topic sentence tells about the main idea.
The other sentences give more details about the main idea.
Sometimes the writer does research to find facts and information for the paragraph.
Grade 2, Lesson 23
Strategies for Writing a
Paragraph That Compares or Contrasts
A paragraph that compares tells how two things are alike.
A paragraph that contrasts tells how two things are different.
The first sentence introduces the topic or one of the subjects.
Other sentences give examples of how another subject is the same or
different from the first subject.
The paragraph uses words such as like or different.
Grade 2, Lesson 24
Strategies for Writing a Business Letter
A business letter may ask for information or place an order.
The first paragraph explains the purpose of the letter.
The parts of a business letter are the heading, date, inside
address, greeting, body, closing, and signature.
The greeting or salutation is followed by a colon.
A comma follows the formal closing.
Grade 2, Lesson 26
Strategies for Writing a Report About a Person
The first paragraph tells the person’s name and explains why
he or she is interesting to the writer.
The second and third paragraphs provide information, in
time order, about one part of the person’s life.
The first and last sentences capture the reader’s attention
and are interesting to read.
Grade 2, Lesson 27
Strategies for Writing a Book Report
The title and the author are listed first.
The first paragraph briefly tells what the book is about. It does not give away the ending.
The second paragraph tells how the writer feels about the book and why.
The last paragraph gives reasons that other readers should read the book.
Grade 2, Lesson 28
Strategies for Writing a Folktale
Tell about a culture’s customs and belief.
Have characters, a setting and a plot with a beginning, middle, and end.
Events are in an order that makes sense.
Characters solve a problem.
May teach a lesson or explain something.
Grade 2, Lesson 29