This Lesson's Title:

Perspective Paragraphs

using adjectives to inspire a descriptive character paragraph

This lesson was created as a demonstration lesson for the 2005 Picture Books as Mentor Texts inservice class, which was sponsored by WritingFix's SBC Grant.

The intended "mentor text" to be used when teaching this on-line lesson is the picture book Tough Boris by Mem Fox. Before writing, students should listen to and discuss the writing style of this book's author.

Check out Tough Boris at Amazon.com.

Washoe County teachers, click here to search for this book at the county library.

Three-Sentence Overview of this Lesson:

After discussing word choices in Mem Fox's Tough Boris, students will first write a paragraph about Tough Boris from the stow-away's point of view.  Next, they will brainstorm strong adjectives that go with original characters they might like to write about.  Finally, students will create an original character perspective paragraph based on their best brainstorm. Teachers: Click here to see the entire lesson plan.

6-Trait Overview for this Lesson:

The focus trait in this writing assignment is word choice; writers will brainstorm strong adjectives before composing their paragraphs.  The support trait in this assignment is voice; requiring the paragraph to be "voiced" from another character's perspective gives developing student writers practice as they develop their own voices.