Polishing Paragraphs

Lesson Overview

Duration: 20 minutes
Grade: 7
Subject: English Language
Focus: Correcting Writing Conventions
Curriculum Area: Ontario Language Curriculum, Writing - Grade 7

Learning Objective

Students will improve their ability to recognize and correct errors in written conventions such as punctuation, capitalization, grammar, and spelling within a paragraph. They will understand the impact of these conventions on the clarity and readability of their writing.

Materials Needed

• Printed worksheets with sample paragraphs for each student
• Pencils or pens
• Whiteboard and markers

Introduction (3 minutes)

1. Warm-Up Discussion: Begin with a brief discussion on why writing conventions (punctuation, capitalization, grammar, and spelling) are important. Ask students how errors can affect the meaning of their writing.

2. Objective Sharing: Explain that today's lesson will focus on identifying and correcting these errors in writing, helping them to become clearer communicators.

Activity (12 minutes)

Worksheet Exercise:

1. Instructions:

   • Distribute the worksheets containing two short paragraphs that include a variety of errors.
   • Explain that students will work individually to identify and correct these errors.

2. Guided Practice:

   • Choose one sentence from the paragraph on the worksheet and demonstrate how to find and correct an error. For example, show how a missing capital letter at the beginning of a sentence should be added.

3. Independent Work:

   • Allow students to work on the first paragraph individually, encouraging them to mark corrections directly on their worksheets.
   • Walk around the classroom to provide support and answer any questions.

Worksheet Example

Paragraph One

"In the morning, the sun rise's over the horizon it casts a golden glow acros the field's. The brids begin to sing, and the world slowly wakes up. Its a beutiful sight, one that remind's us of the simple joy's of life."

Paragraph Two

"Every Sunday my family and I goes to the market. Their are many differnt stalls selling fresh fruit's, vegitables, and baked good's. It's always a fun experience, and we usually by more than we intended."

Task: Find and correct all the errors related to punctuation, capitalization, grammar, and spelling in each paragraph.

Conclusion (5 minutes)

1. Review: Go over the corrected paragraphs with the class using the whiteboard. Ask students to volunteer their corrections and discuss why those changes are necessary.

2. Big Idea Recap: Reinforce the importance of writing conventions in communicating effectively. Highlight how small errors can change the meaning of sentences.

3. Exit Question: Ask students to write down one thing they learned about writing conventions today on a slip of paper as their "exit ticket."

Extension Activity

For Further Practice: Challenge students to write a short paragraph about their morning routine, deliberately including two errors of each type (punctuation, capitalization, grammar, and spelling). They can swap paragraphs with a partner to find and correct each other's mistakes.

Encourage students to reflect on how focusing on these conventions can become a natural part of their writing process, enhancing their overall clarity and effectiveness as writers.