CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.1.D

By Anonymous (not verified), 12 March, 2026

Writing a Problem-Solution Essay

Once you have explored a problem and its solution, you are ready to write a first draft of your essay. These writing activities will help you create a strong beginning, middle, and ending. You'll also read another student's problem-solution essay to see how all of the parts came together.

Writing the Beginning Paragraph

The first sentence is called the lead. This sentence is meant to capture your reader’s attention. In a problem-solution essay, the lead introduces the topic or problem in an interesting way.

Write a lead.

Review the lead-writing strategies. Write examples of your own.

Ask a question about the topic.
Have you noticed all the trash at Rosemont Park?
Start with a surprising fact or detail about the topic.
Last week, my brother cut his hand on a piece of broken glass at Rosemont Park. There’s glass everywhere.
Tell a little story about the topic.
My family used to go to Rosemont Park every Sunday. . . .

By Anonymous (not verified), 12 March, 2026

Revising Opinion Essays

Once you finish a first draft of your opinion essay, set it aside for awhile. When you return to it, you can see it anew. That's what revising means—seeing your work with new eyes. When you revise, you look at your essay from your reader's perspective to make sure your writing includes compelling details and flows smoothly. These activities will help you revise.

Revising to Make Concessions

It is important that you remain fair in an opinion essay. This means that you must consider all the issues and other opinions related to your topic. If you concede some of the issues on “the other side,” you can actually strengthen your own opinion.

The second paragraph in “Car Problems” fairly concedes that cars are important in modern life. But the writer also says that they are still a problem. Sometimes, a concession will begin with a transition such as these: it is true that, admittedly, even though, or I agree that . . .

Evaluate concessions.

Review these concession paragraphs and decide if the writer remains fair in discussing opposing ideas. Also underline the transition that introduces the concession, if one is used.

It is true that many older adults are uncomfortable with new technology. They have spent most of their lives without laptops and smart phones, and it is hard for them to learn how to use them. But we should still make every attempt to become a paperless society.

By Anonymous (not verified), 12 March, 2026

Writing an Opinion Essay

Once you finish prewriting, you are ready to create the first draft of your essay. These writing activities will help you create a strong beginning, middle, and ending for your opinion essay. You'll also read examples from another student's essay to see how each part works.

Writing the Beginning Paragraph

The beginning paragraph of an opinion essay is very important. It should introduce the topic, get the reader’s attention, and state your opinion. To get the reader’s attention, you can ask questions, make a dramatic statement or two, or share important information.

Review a sample and write your beginning.

Read this beginning paragraph and then write your own.

Dramatic Statements It is expensive and dangerous. It doesn’t always work in cold weather, and it pollutes. Would anyone possibly want such a thing? The answer is yes. Topic Named People in the United States and around the world all want their own cars. Opinion Statement People can’t wait to drive them, even though they do cause problems.

By Anonymous (not verified), 12 March, 2026

Reading a Process Paragraph and Essay

Before you explain a process, you'll want to see how others did so. This lesson shows you a process paragraph and a process essay, explaining each part. As you read them, think about how the writers put ideas together and how you might explain ideas in your process writing.

Reading a Process Paragraph

A process paragraph has three main parts. The topic sentence states the process. The body sentences describe the steps. The ending sentence wraps up the process. This paragraph describes the process of building a tree house.

Listen to "Tree House Summer."

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Sample Paragraph

Tree-House Summer

Topic SentenceLast summer, my friends and I built a tree house in my back yard. We started by designing the tree house. Body SentencesThen we listed materials we needed and found a store that sold building supplies. We took our list and the money we had saved and went shopping. We loaded everything into my dad’s van and headed back. The first thing we had to do was build a frame for the floor of the house. (My mom helped with that.) Next we used a rope to raise all the wood up into the tree. We then carefully nailed the boards to the frame, and we soon had a floor. After that, we added walls and a roof. Ending SentencesWe now had a great place to hang out for the rest of the summer!

By Anonymous (not verified), 12 March, 2026

Understanding Persuasive Paragraphs

In a persuasive paragraph, you give your opinion on a subject and try to get your reader to agree with you. To do this, you need to give facts and other reasons to support your opinion. Otherwise, you won’t persuade your readers.

Read a persuasive paragraph.

Note the opinion that the writer is presenting and supporting. Pay special attention to the reasons the writer gives for the opinion.

Listen to "Perfect Tree House Place"

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Opinion Statement Kids need a place to call their own, and a tree house is the perfect place. For instance, a tree house gives my friends and me a chance to get away from the pressures of school, homework, and little brothers or sisters. We can just hang out and be ourselves. Body Sentences We can also decorate our tree house any way we want. In addition, a tree house is a good place for thinking, playing music, looking at the sky, or just being with friends. Reasons Sure, if we didn’t have this kind of place, we’d find other ways to keep busy. We’d go to the mall, text our friends, play video games, or just watch TV. Ending Sentence But doesn’t a tree house sound like a better place for kids to spend their time?

By Anonymous (not verified), 12 March, 2026

Writing Strong Beginnings and Endings

An effective paragraph begins with a clear topic sentence and ends with a strong closing point. These activities will help you practice writing these important parts.

Writing Topic Sentences

The topic sentence tells the reader what the paragraph is about. It names the topic and gives a thought or feeling about it. Most of the time, it is the first sentence of the paragraph.

Sample Topic Sentence

The new indoor skateboard park challenges even the best skateboarders.

Specific topic: The new indoor skateboard park
Thought or feeling: Challenges even the best skateboarders

Read topic sentences.

Write the topic and thought or feeling for each sentence.

My brother’s room is the messiest room on the planet.
Topic:

Thought or feeling:
Keeping a well-organized backpack is one of the keys to a good day at school.
Topic:

Thought or feeling:

Adopting a Pet from the Pound

Adopting a Pet from the Pound Owning a pet from the pound or Animal Rescue League has many advantages. First of all, a child feels good about rescuing an abandoned or abused animal and giving it a whole new life. Besides, if the animals from the pound aren’t adopted right away, they might be put to sleep. Having a pet also means lots of responsibilities. A child has to feed, clean up after, brush, and exercise the pet. Another great advantage of having a pet from the pound is the price of these cute and cuddly animals.

Letter to the Editor

Letter to the Editor Dear Editor, I’m writing to you about the Teacher-Who-Made-a-Difference contest. Ms. Wells made a difference to me! I think she should be the winner of your contest. Ms. Wells has done so much for me and for all of her students; this is the least I can do for her. First of all, Ms. Wells is helpful. She’s willing to help anyone in the classroom who needs help. My teacher always helps us with worksheets. On Friday, she showed me how to do something in math. If you ask her for help, she’ll help you. In addition, Ms. Wells is a kind person.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.5.1.D