DLI 1st grade guide

"Four Square" Writing Overview

You can easily write properly structured paragraphs with a topic sentence and conclusion using a simple graphic organizer – "the four-square." With further practice, you will learn to write well-developed compositions of five or more paragraphs, complete with introductory and concluding paragraphs.

Step 1: Write or draw your topic sentence based on your writing prompt or topic.

Divide an entire piece of notebook paper into equal quarters, leaving a large rectangle in the center (as illustrated below.) Once you have formulated your position into a main idea (K-1), topic sentence (2-3), write your Main Idea or Topic Sentence in Box 1 .

The main idea (topic sentence) is placed in the center box of the four square (box 1). Boxes 2, 3, and 4 are used for supporting ideas. The lower right box (box 5) is used to build a summary or concluding sentence. This "wrap-up" sentence encompasses all the ideas developed in the four-square, and is the basis of developing good introductory and concluding paragraphs in the essay.

Step 2: Write or draw three supporting ideas (reasons, details or facts).

Once you've written your topic or prompt in Box 1, BRAINSTORM three supporting ideas (Write these in Boxes 2, 3 and 4.) Finally, write a concluding sentence in Box #5. Now the center box will contain a complete sentence (topic sentence based on your prompt), and boxes 2, 3, and 4 will contain supporting ideas (reasons, details or facts) that prove or support box 1. These ideas must be all different from one another, real, and not simple opinions. Step 3: 4 Square + T: Adding Transitional words to provide transition between thoughts- By now you are developing your ideas (box 1) into three reasons, details or facts (boxes 2, 3, and 4). Transition words are now needed to provide smooth transitions and reading between what will eventually become sentences or paragraph(s).