Four Square Writing Categorizing Begin with a topic

Four Square Writing • Categorizing • Begin with a topic sentence. • Then brainstorm using word webs, lists, ideas, brief thoughts or notes

Four Square Writing: Picking a topic 2 3 • Step 1 – Box 1 1 • Pick a topic to write about. My favorite meal is. . . – For example: “My favorite meal is…” 4 5

Four Square Writing: Picking a topic 2 3 • Step 1 – Box 1 1 • Pick a topic to write about. My favorite meal is. . . – For example: “My favorite meal is…” 4 5

Four Square Writing: Supporting the Topic Sentence (Box 2, 3, and 4) • Step 2 – Box 2, 3, and 4 • Now ask “Why” • Write one or two short phrases that answer “Why” in each box. • Remember the reasons or details should support the topic sentence. • Box 2, 3, and 4 are going to become paragraphs later. 2 3 • First • It’s easy 1 My favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs. • Third • It’s delicious 4 • Also • It’s fun to eat

Four Square Writing: Supporting the Topic Sentence (Box 2, 3, and 4) • Step 2 – Box 2, 3, and 4 • Now ask “Why” • Write one or two short phrases that answer “Why” in each box. • Remember the reasons or details should support the topic sentence. • Box 2, 3, and 4 are going to become paragraphs later. 2 3 • First • It’s easy 1 • Third • It’s delicious 4 • Also • It’s fun to eat

Four Square Writing: Wrap Up Sentence (Box 5) • Step 3 – Box 5 • Time to write a complete sentence using what you have. • Take boxes 1, 2, 3, and 4 to write a sentence that wraps it all up in box 5. 2 3 • First • It’s easy 1 My favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs. • Third • It’s delicious 4 • Also • It’s fun to eat So you can see, my favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs because it’s easy, fun to eat and delicious. 5

Four Square Writing: Wrap Up Sentence (Box 5) • Step 3 2 3 – Box 5 • Time to write a complete sentence using what you have. • Take boxes 1, 2, 3, and 4 to write a sentence that wraps it all up in box 5. 1 4 5

Four Square Writing: Supporting the Details (Box 2, 3, and 4) • Step 4 – Asking “Why” again! • This time you will ask “Why” for each short phrase in box 2, 3, and 4. • Remember, each reason should support the detail of that box. 2 3 • First • Also • It’s easy • roll up meat • throw in pot • pour sauce 1 • twirl on a fork • slurp it • splatter the sauce My favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs. • Third • It’s delicious • tomatoes • Italian spices • filling meat 4 • It’s fun to eat So you can see, my favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs because it’s easy, fun to eat and delicious. 5

Four Square Writing: Supporting the Details (Box 2, 3, and 4) • Step 4 2 3 – Asking “Why” again! • This time you will ask “Why” for each short phrase in box 2, 3, and 4. • Remember, each reason should support the detail of that box. 1 4 5

Four Square Writing: Describing the Supporting Details (Box 2, 3, and 4) 2 3 • First, it’s easy • roll up meat • golf balls • Step 5 • throw in pot • huge cauldron-size • pour sauce – Box 2, 3, and 4 • Now think of ideas or adjectives that describe your supporting details. • mama someone 1 • twirl on a fork • looks like a twister • slurp it • loud smacking sound • splatter the sauce • like an explosion My favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs. • Third, it’s delicious • tomatoes • red and tangy • Italian spices • zippy garlic • filling meat • like a hamburger 4 • Also, it’s fun to eat So you can see, my favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs because it’s easy, fun to eat and delicious. 5

Four Square Writing: Describing the Supporting Details (Box 2, 3, and 4) 2 3 • Step 5 – Box 2, 3, and 4 1 • Now think of ideas or adjectives that describe your supporting details. 4 5

Four Square Writing: Final Draft Now use each box to write your final draft. Each box is a new paragraph. My favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs. First, my favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs because it’s easy. You simply roll up the meat into golf ball-sized pieces, then you throw it in the pot. I use a huge, cauldron-sized pot. Pour on the store-bought sauce. My favorite brand is Mama someone or other. Also, my favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs because it’s fun to eat. I like to twirl it on my fork. It looks just like a twister. It’s fun to slurp because it makes a loud smacking noise. I always splatter the sauce. When I’m done, it looks like an explosion. Third, my favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs because it’s delicious. I like the tangy taste of red tomatoes. The Italian spices are great, especially the zippy garlic. The meat is filling, like a hamburger. So you can see, my favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs because it’s easy, fun to eat, and delicious.

Four Square Writing: Final Draft Now use each box to write your final draft. Each box is a new paragraph.