Sentence Strips

Sentence Strips is a strategy designed to assist students with paragraph unity and the inclusion of examples with specific details. The use of color and the manipulation of separate strips of paper are compatible with brain research.

Implementation

1. Materials: Paper strips in 3 different colors. Each student needs 5 strips: 3 of one color and 1 each of the remaining two. Optional but recommended: large strips of bulletin board or construction paper to replicate the colored strips given to students. It is best if yours and theirs are the same colors.
2. Provide information about a topic based on research or a reading selection.
3. After teaching your students how to use Sentence Strips for writing strategy, they will have the tools to do paragraph writing that includes a topic sentence, three supporting sentences with details, and a closing sentence.
4. Have students write a five paragraph essay using this same method.

Classroom Management

1. Take 5 strips of construction paper, 3 yellow and 2 blue and arrange them in a blue, yellow, yellow, yellow, blue pattern. (You may use whatever color you choose. Make sure your color pattern is ABBBA.
2. Label the paper strips as follows:

• Topic Sentence (blue): The place to state why you are writing this paragraph in a single sentence.
• Reason/Detail/Fact (yellow): The place to give the reader an initial reason, detail or fact that relates to and supports the topic sentence.
• Reason/Detail/Fact (yellow): The place to give the reader a second reason, detail or fact that relates to and supports the topic sentence.
• Reason/Detail/Fact (yellow): The place to give the reader a third reason, detail or fact that relates to and supports the topic sentence.
• Concluding Sentence (blue): The place to restate and remind the reader what the paragraph or composition was about.

• I would be great on Survivor (blue).
• I am a great athlete (yellow).
• I am excellent with puzzles (yellow).
• I am a natural debater (yellow).
• I know I could be the ultimate survivor and million-dollar winner (blue).

• On the back of the top blue strip, write a hook or attention getter.
• On the back of each of the yellow strips, give reasons and/or examples to support the details and facts on the reverse side.
• Be sure to use transitions (First,... First of all,... In addition,... Also,... Secondly,… Most importantly,… Finally,… etc.) on each yellow strip.
• On the back of the last blue strip, restate your details/facts/reasons. Remember this is your last chance to convince your reader about your point of view. (Begin this sentence with Clearly,... In conclusion,... All in all,.. etc.)