1. Chapter 1 Characteristics of Good Writing Grade 8 Common Core Writing Companion © Perfection Learning ® Reproduction permitted for classroom use only. 1 Activity 2A Analyzing a Paragraph (p. 9) Read the following paragraph. Then complete the exercises on the following screens. Our school should institute a dress code of jeans and plain colored T-shirts. This is a good idea for several reasons. First, it will make it easier for principals and teachers to enforce the dress code. Right now, it is hard to tell if shorts are too short or shirts are too revealing. With a dress code, a teacher could tell at a glance if a student were wearing appropriate clothes. Secondly, if everyone wore the same thing, students would feel more equal. Rich kids and poor kids would be judged by their (continued)

2. Chapter 1 Characteristics of Good Writing Grade 8 Common Core Writing Companion © Perfection Learning ® Reproduction permitted for classroom use only. 2 Organization: Formal writing has a clear beginning, middle, and ending. It presents details in a logical order. Transitional words and phrases help the reader understands the relationship between ideas. These sentences will fit together into paragraphs that clearly communicate the main idea.

3. Chapter 1 Characteristics of Good Writing Grade 8 Common Core Writing Companion © Perfection Learning ® Reproduction permitted for classroom use only. 3 OrganizationUsed InTransitional Phrases Chronological: Time order Narrative writing to explain events Informational writing to explain events Next, later, first, a few days later, at the same time Order of Importance: Least to most important Most to least important Argumentative writing to explain reasons. Informational writing to explain details. Another reason, however, on the other hand, most importantly Comparison and Contrast: Similarities and differences Informational writing to show how things are alike or different. Similarly, in the same way, on the other hand, but, conversely

4. Chapter 1 Characteristics of Good Writing Grade 8 Common Core Writing Companion © Perfection Learning ® Reproduction permitted for classroom use only. 4 Activity 2A Analyzing a Paragraph (p. 9) Read the following paragraph. Then complete the exercises on the following screens. character, not by how they look. Finally, having a simple dress code would help students focus on their schoolwork, instead of their appearance. This could result in better grades and higher test scores. Changing the dress code to jeans and T-shirts would improve the learning experience for both the staff and students at our school.

5. Chapter 1 Characteristics of Good Writing Grade 8 Common Core Writing Companion © Perfection Learning ® Reproduction permitted for classroom use only. 5 Activity 2A Analyzing a Paragraph (p. 9) 1. Underline the main idea of the paragraph.

6. Chapter 1 Characteristics of Good Writing Grade 8 Common Core Writing Companion © Perfection Learning ® Reproduction permitted for classroom use only. 6 Activity 2A Analyzing a Paragraph (p. 9) 1. Underline the main idea of the paragraph. Our school should institute a dress code of jeans and plain colored T-shirts.

7. Chapter 1 Characteristics of Good Writing Grade 8 Common Core Writing Companion © Perfection Learning ® Reproduction permitted for classroom use only. 7 Activity 2A Analyzing a Paragraph (p. 9) 1. Underline the main idea of the paragraph. Our school should institute a dress code of jeans and plain colored T-shirts. 2. How are the main points organized? Refer to the chart on page 9 of the student book for organizational structures.

8. Chapter 1 Characteristics of Good Writing Grade 8 Common Core Writing Companion © Perfection Learning ® Reproduction permitted for classroom use only. 8 Activity 2A Analyzing a Paragraph (p. 9) 1. Underline the main idea of the paragraph. Our school should institute a dress code of jeans and plain colored T-shirts. 2. How are the main points organized? Refer to the chart on page 9 of the student book for organizational structures. The main points are organized by order of importance.

9. Chapter 1 Characteristics of Good Writing Grade 8 Common Core Writing Companion © Perfection Learning ® Reproduction permitted for classroom use only. 9 Activity 2A Analyzing a Paragraph (p. 9) 3. Put parentheses around transitional words and phrases that help the reader make connections between the ideas. Our school should institute a dress code of jeans and plain colored T-shirts. This is a good idea for several reasons. First, it will make it easier for principals and teachers to enforce the dress code. Right now, it is hard to tell if shorts are too short or shirts are too revealing. With a dress code, a teacher could tell at a glance if a student were wearing appropriate clothes. Secondly, if everyone wore the same thing, students would feel more (continued)

10. Chapter 1 Characteristics of Good Writing Grade 8 Common Core Writing Companion © Perfection Learning ® Reproduction permitted for classroom use only. 10 Activity 2A Analyzing a Paragraph (p. 9) 3. Put parenthesis around transitional words and phrases that help the reader make connections between the ideas. Our school should institute a dress code of jeans and plain colored T-shirts. This is a good idea for several reasons. (First), it will make it easier for principals and teachers to enforce the dress code. Right now, it is hard to tell if shorts are too short or shirts are too revealing. With a dress code, a teacher could tell at a glance if a student were wearing appropriate clothes. (Secondly), if everyone wore the same thing, students would feel more (continued)

11. Chapter 1 Characteristics of Good Writing Grade 8 Common Core Writing Companion © Perfection Learning ® Reproduction permitted for classroom use only. 11 Activity 2A Analyzing a Paragraph (p. 9) 3. Put parenthesis around transitional words and phrases that help the reader make connections between the ideas. students would feel more equal. Rich kids and poor kids would be judged by their character, not by how they look. Finally, having a simple dress code would help students focus on their schoolwork, instead of their appearance. This could result in better grades and higher test scores. Changing the dress code to jeans and T-shirts would improve the learning experience for both the staff and students at our school.

12. Chapter 1 Characteristics of Good Writing Grade 8 Common Core Writing Companion © Perfection Learning ® Reproduction permitted for classroom use only. 12 Activity 2A Analyzing a Paragraph (p. 9) 3. Put parenthesis around transitional words and phrases that help the reader make connections between the ideas. students would feel more equal. Rich kids and poor kids would be judged by their character, not by how they look. (Finally), having a simple dress code would help students focus on their schoolwork, instead of their appearance. This could result in better grades and higher test scores. Changing the dress code to jeans and T-shirts would improve the learning experience for both the staff and students at our school.