Framed Paragraphs

Framed paragraphs are pre-writing tools that help students write well-
developed paragraphs. They are skeleton formats containing information about the main
ideas and transition words that guide the organization and the development of supportive
details. Framed paragraphs offer a structure for students to use as they begin to write
paragraphs and essays.

When to use: Before reading During reading After reading

How to use: Individually With small groups Whole class setting

More writing strategies
 Paragraph Hamburger

 Sentence Combining

 Transition Words

Why use framed paragraphs?

 It provides a framework for writing strong paragraphs

 The frame guides students by providing the transitional phrases for sentences

 It can incorporate various sentence types: long and short, simple and complex.

How to use framed paragraphs

1. Discuss how to write a framed paragraph by using:

o A topic sentence — a general statement or opinion

o Three to five examples that develop the topic or opinion

o Transitions when needed

o A summary sentence at the end

2. Provide students with a blank frame.

3. Ask students fill in the missing portions of the frame to write a complete paragraph.

4. Encourage students to incorporate a variety of sentences: long and short, simple and
complex.

Download blank template

 There are many ways to create a frame for a paragraph. This simple template helps children
summarize what they learned from their reading.

 Paragraph frame (36K PDF)*

Watch: Four Square Writing Method

Help students develop skills for beginning paragraph writing by providing a graphic organizer
that encourages them to use facts to support their main point. See the lesson plan.

This video is published with permission from the Balanced Literacy Diet. See many more how-
to videos with lesson plans in the Text Structures and Genres and Writing Processes and
Strategiessections.

You can also watch sentence frames in action in this video from the Teaching Channel.

Examples
Language Arts
This example of a framed paragraph centers on Holidays and provides additional space for
students to re-write the completed paragraph.

See example > (99K PDF)*

Math
This site includes an example of using a framed paragraph for writing a description about
decimals.

See example > (110K PDF)*

Social Studies
This example shows how teachers can use a writing frame to develop a "compare" and
"contrast" essay.

See example > (28K PDF)*

English Language Learners

Using sentence frames to increase English language fluency at each level's language
development.

See example >

Differentiated instruction
For Second Language Learners, students of varying reading skill, and for
younger learners
 Vary the amount of information you provide in the frame. Some students may require lots of
transition words for sentences, others will need very few.

 Model the frame paragraph strategy with a text that is familiar to students before asking
them to complete it on their own.
 Some students may enjoy making their own frame for something they've read. Students
could pair up, write their own frames, and then trade texts and frames and complete the new
frame.