CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.3.5

By Anonymous (not verified), 12 March, 2026

Reading a Problem-Solution Paragraph and Essay

Now that you've warmed up your thinking about problems and solutions, you can read a sample paragraph and essay. Note how each writer explains a problem and argues for a specific solution.

Reading a Problem-Solution Paragraph

A problem-solution paragraph has three main parts. The topic sentence introduces the solution to a problem. The body sentences explain the problem and solution. The ending sentence calls readers to action.

Listen to "Helping New Students Fit In"

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Sample Paragraph

Helping New Students Fit In

Topic SentenceComing to a new school is hard, so we should figure out how to make new students feel welcome. New students have to fit in with new classmates in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar rules. Body SentencesThis problem can make them feel lonely. Instead of just expecting new students to make all the effort, we can help them fit in. One of us can volunteer to show the new student around and sit with him or her at lunch. The rest of us can introduce ourselves, learn the new student’s name, and share something about our school or ourselves. Ending Sentence Together, let’s make our school a friendlier place to be.

By Anonymous (not verified), 12 March, 2026

Reading an Opinion Paragraph and Essay

Before you write your own essay, you can read an opinion paragraph and essay that others wrote. As you read, think about how the writers put ideas together and how you might support an opinion in your essay.

Reading an Opinion Paragraph

An opinion paragraph has three main parts. The topic sentence states the opinion. The body sentences support the opinion with reasons. The ending sentence restates or emphasizes the opinion.

Listen to “Keep Art.”

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Sample Paragraph

Keep Art

Topic Sentence:
Opinion
Waterford schools must keep the art program. The School Board has said that art may be cut because of money issues. Before they decide, the board members need to understand certain things about art. First of all, art helps students learn. When students work on an art project, they plan, experiment, and make choices. Working like this will help them learn in all their classes. Body Sentences:
Reasons
Second, art helps students express themselves. In art classes, students create their own projects rather than answer questions or read chapters. And finally, art helps students understand their world. Art is part of our culture, and students need to participate in this culture.
Because of its value, the School Board should Ending Sentence:
Call to Action
think of creative ways to keep art rather than just cutting it.

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

Reading an Informational Paragraph and Essay

Before you write your essay, you'll want to see how others did so. This lesson shows you an informational paragraph and an informational essay, explaining each part. As you read them, think about how the writers put ideas together and how you could describe the results of a classroom poll in your own essay.

Reading an Informational Paragraph

An informational paragraph has three main parts. The topic sentence names the topic. The body sentences explain the topic. The ending sentence gives a final idea about the topic. This paragraph explains the results of the poll about students’ favorite seasons.

Sample Paragraph

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Summer Wins

Topic Sentence Most third graders at Parkview Elementary picked summer as the best season. There are 32 third graders at Parkview, and 20 of them picked summer. Most of these students liked it because of the warm weather and no school. Body Sentences Winter came next with eight third graders voting for it. Playing in the snow and Christmas were the main reasons. Three students picked fall because of Halloween and fall colors. Only one third grader picked spring because of the flowers. Ending Sentence The seasons are all fun, but every third grader has a favorite.

Subject: Thanks for the Vacation Pictures! Dear Ms. Nathan, Thanks for attaching your vacation pictures! You look great in them! Wow, traveling to Yosemite Park sounds cool. And it’s nice you and Dr. Nathan are doing something special every weekend. That’s great that you are playing the Mozart Concerto in C, even though you are playing an easy version. Yes! I am proud of you. I am in Level 3 in piano. Morse School is really looking great. They are almost done remodeling. I wish you could see it. I think we’ll get to move back in soon. My new teacher is Ms. Porter.
How to Make Boiled Eggs Materials: a pan, hot water, one or more eggs Step one: Pour the hot water into the pan and let it boil on the stove. Step two: When that’s done, put the eggs into the boiling water. Step three: Let them sit for about 10 minutes. Take the eggs out. Let them cool for about 5 minutes. Step four: If they’re still hot, let them cool for about 3 more minutes. Step five: Get a plate and a spoon. Peel off the eggshells and eat the eggs with a little salt and pepper. That is how to make boiled eggs.
Cheetahs You should never race a cheetah. Do you know why? Because you'll always lose. That’s because cheetahs are very fast runners. They can run up to 75 miles per hour. The cheetah gets its food by running. But sometimes the lion takes over and grabs the food. That's mean! Cheetahs are carnivores. That means they eat meat. Their prey are gazelles and rodents. The cheetah lives and finds food in Africa. The cheetah and the lion eat each other. If the cheetah is weaker, the lion eats the cheetah, and it's the same with the other. The cheetah has up to three to five babies.