3rd Grade Language Arts
Writing
Unit 2
Writing Strategies
Whenever you write, there are some guidelines most authors follow! Take a look at the features listed below to learn more!
What is a Topic Sentence
Topic sentences are normally the first sentence of a text and state what the text will be about. Here are some tips for writing topic sentences!
Include the main idea of what the paragraph will be about.
This will be how you start your paragraph.
What is a Main Idea?
A main idea is the overarching theme or topic of a text!
What is the Writer's Purpose
Writer's purpose is an author's reason for writing something! Auhtors normally write texts for one or more of three different reasons: to entertain, to inform, and to persuade.
Whenever you write something, you too have a writer's purpose, so try asking yourself why you are writing it! Here are some tips to consider!
Understand the concept of the question or writing prompt before writing. It helps to highlight the question!
What are Linking Words?
Linking words are words writers use to bridge or transition between different sections of a text. These transition words can make a text flow more smoothly and sound better. Most transition words fall into 4 categories: emphasis, contrast, addition, and order.
Emphasis: Used to make something more important or stand out.
Contrast: Used to introduce differences between topics.
Addition: Used to make a new point or state a new topic.
Order: Used to place some statements before or after each other.
Sentence Variety
When writing, it is important to use different types of sentences to make your writing more complex and engaging! There are 3 main types of sentenced: simple sentences, compound sentences, and complex sentences.
A simple sentence has one subject and one predicate (verb phrase), and is completely independent.
A compound sentence has two or more complete sentences (each with their own subject and predicate) connected by a conjunction.
A complex sentence is a sentence with more than one subject or predicate BUT only one part of is a complete sentence.
NOTE: Complete simple sentences are also called independent clauses. Clauses that have a subject and verb but are not complete sentences are called dependent clauses.
Simple Sentence Example
Gabriella wears her favorite shoes to school.
SUBJECT: Gabriella ... VERB/PREDICATE: wears her favorite shoes
Compound Sentence Example
Gabriella's favorite shoes have polka-dots and her best friend also likes them.
SUBJECTS: "Gabriella's favorite shoes" and "her best friend"
VERBS/PREDICATES: "have polka-dots" and "likes them"
Complex Sentence Example
Even though her shoes are sandles, Gabriella still wears them during the winter.
SUBJECTS: "her shoes" and "Gabriella"
VERBS/PREDICATES: "are" and "wears them"
Spelling and Vocabulary!
Get comfortable with reading different words and adding new words to your vocabulary! Check out this website to familiarize yourself with new words!
What is Figurative Language?
When a statement is not meant to be taken literally, it is known as figurative language!
Simile: A comparison between two different things using the words "like" or "as" (Example: He is as strong as a lion)
Metaphor: A comparison made between different, unlike things to show deep meanings (Example: It was raining cats and dogs)
Personification: Giving non-human objects human traits or abilities (Example: The bridge groaned as he walked across it)
Imagery: Detailed and vivid words that describe and deepen meaning (Example: The clouds during the sunset were highlighted by purple and gold)
Hyperbole: An exaggerated statement that is not meant to be taken literally (Example: He ran faster than a race car)
Grammar
Language has certain rules everyone must follow when speaking and writing! Within these rules, language also has parts of speech. Take a look at the parts of speech below!
Nouns
Nouns are word used to identify a person, place, thing or idea.
Example: Dogs, Harry Styles, Walmart, Iphone, Religion
Pronouns
a word that can function by itself as a noun phrase and that refers either to the participants in the discourse
Example: she, her, they, them, he, him
Capitalization
Whenever you start a sentence, spell out a proper noun (the name of a specific person, place, or thing), you must capitalize the first letter!
Adjectives
a word or phrase naming an attribute, added to or grammatically related to a noun to modify or describe it.
Example: The pretty woman
Adverbs
a word or phrase that modifies or qualifies an adjective, verb, or other adverb or a word group.
Example: I carefully woke her up
Verb Types
Action Verbs are usually actions which you can see somebody doing.
Transitive Verbs are action verbs that have an object to receive that action.
Intransitive Verbs are actions verbs but unlike transitive verbs, they do not have an object receiving the action.
Linking Verbs do not express action. Instead, they connect the subject of the verb to additional information about the subject.
Articles
articles are words like "a" and "an" when describing one object or thing you use "an" if the word behind it starts with a vowel, and "a" if the word after it starts with a consonant.
Example: I'm going to see a movie.
Example: Can I have an orange please?
Writing Genres
Expository: In expository writing, you "expose" and explain information about a certain topic.
Descriptive: In descriptive writing, you "describe" and write information about a certain topic or idea.
Persuasive: In persuasive writing, you write in to "persuade" or make the reader agree with your opinion.
Narrative: In Narrative writing, you write about or "narrate" a story that happened from a certain point of view.
Watch the video below to get a better feel for the different types of writing!