Paragraph+Hamburger

**Paragraph Hamburger**

**Content** The paragraph hamburger is a graphic organizer that shows students the 3 main elements of a paragraph. The hamburger is built as the student adds a topic sentence, detail sentences, and a closing sentence. These are the factors that constitute a good paragraph.

**Grade Level** This strategy could be adapted for any grade but is primarily used for the elementary and younger middle school grade levels.

**Curriculum Standards** RLA.O.5.2.3 from a prompt, use the writing process to develop a 3-5 paragraph composition with an introductory paragraph, supporting detail paragraph(s), and concluding paragraph that incorporates specific, relevant details

RLA.O.6.2.7 develop a 5-7 paragraph composition with an introductory paragraph, supporting details paragraph(s) and concluding paragraph.

RLA.O.8.2.04 use the five-step writing process (pre-writing, drafting, revising, editing, publishing) to develop a creative or reflective composition (e.g., reflect on an experience or time in the past, draw upon imagination) and identify areas for further research by making personal connections to self, to texts, and to the world to demonstrate that written communication is affected by choices writers make in language, tone and voice. RLA.O.8.2.05 from a prompt use the five-step writing process to develop a focused composition that contains specific, relevant details, and vivid, precise words. RLA.O.8.2.06 recognize and write a simple thesis statement.

**Description of Practices**

1. Discuss the three main components of a paragraph, or story. Click here for Template 2. The introduction (top bun) 3. Ask students to write a topic sentence that clearly indicates what the whole paragraph is going to be about. 4. Have students compose several supporting sentences that give more information about the topic. 5. Instruct students on ways to write a concluding sentence that restates the topic sentence.
 * 1) The details or supporting information (the filling)
 * 2) The conclusion (bottom bun

**Implementation Considerations** I believe this strategy would be great for whole group practice or in a small group. If your students need to know how to properly write a paragraph this could be a great way to get them thinking about it. You could give each student a template and tell them that they just need to think about a story they would like to share with you or the class. Then write 5 sentences. This is also a great way to begin thinking about writing three paragraph essays! Maybe your class could have a "hamburger writing contest!"

This could be adapted for writing a paper. Instead of writing a paragraph, you could tell the students that the bun is like the first paragraph, they should write it to introduce their topic. The second, third, and forth paragraph should describe in great detail the students' topic. Then the last paragraph should conclude.

**Examples:** There are a few examples on this page. It has a great power point and a page that describes the main elements of the paragraph along with an activity. Reading Rockets

**Citation** Reading Rockets. WETA Washington DC 2012. []

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