How do you use paragraphs to organize different ideas?

In this lesson you will learn how to use paragraphs to

organize ideas by introducing headings.

Let’s ReviewLet’s Review

An informational text gives facts about a non-fiction topic.

Pocahontas Meets the StrangersPocahontas was one of the friendly Powhatan visitors to the English colony. The tribe often provided the English with gifts of food and supplies because the English did not understand how to farm or use the land.

Pocahontas Saves John SmithIn December 1607, just a few months after their arrival in Virginia, the settlers were having great difficulties getting along with the Powhatans. An English captain named John Smith was caught by the Powhatans and taken to the Chief’s main village.

Let’s ReviewLet’s Review

Writing Process

1

Write Drafts

Revise and Edit

Generate Ideas

2 3

Let’s ReviewA Common Mistake

Not breaking up your text into paragraphs.

The settlers

came here. The

Powhatans were mad.

?

Let’s ReviewCore Lesson

Read through the sentences in each chapter to determine where breaks in ideas occur.

1

2 Create headings that explain the information in each paragraph.

3 Re-write the new paragraphs to include the headings.

Let’s ReviewCore Lesson

Read through the sentence in each chapter to determine where breaks in ideas occur.

1Land Disputes

English settlers claimed the Virginian peninsula for their own. Unfortunately, the town they formed, called Jamestown, did not have traditional farmland. As they attempted to grow crops, the Powhatans watched angrily as their land was being taken.

These ideas are different.

I need to break them apart.

Let’s ReviewCore LessonRead through the sentence in each chapter to determine where breaks in ideas occur.

1Working Together

During the Cold Months

The Powhatan tribes saw the settlers suffering through the fall and winter. They sent food as a peace offering. It helped them survive. After, settlers traded English goods for knowledge about the land.

These ideas are different.

I need to break them apart.

Let’s ReviewCore Lesson

2 Create headings that explain the information in each paragraph.

Trouble with the

Land

Land Disputes

English settlers claimed the Virginian peninsula for their own. Unfortunately, the town they formed, called Jamestown, did not have traditional farmland. As they attempted to grow crops, the Powhatans watched angrily as their land was being taken.

Let’s ReviewCore Lesson

2 Create headings that explain the information in each paragraph.

A Peace Offering

Working Together During the Cold Months

The Powhatan tribes saw the settlers suffering through the fall and winter. They sent food as a peace offering. It helped them survive. After, settlers traded English goods for knowledge about the land.

Let’s ReviewCore Lesson

3Re-write the new paragraphs to include the headings.

Trouble with the LandEnglish settlers claimed the Virginian peninsula for their own. Unfortunately, the town they formed, called Jamestown, did not have traditional farmland.

Land DisputesAs they attempted to grow crops, the Powhatans watched angrily as their land was being taken.

Let’s ReviewCore Lesson

3 Re-write the new paragraphs to include the headings.

A Peace OfferingThe Powhatan tribes saw the settlers suffering through the fall and winter. They sent food as a peace offering. It helped them survive.

Working Together During the Cold Months

After, settlers traded English goods for knowledge about the land. In time, they were skilled at farming, hunting and fishing.

Let’s ReviewCore Lesson

Read through the sentences in each chapter to determine where breaks in ideas occur.

1

2Create headings that explain the information in each paragraph.

3 Re-write the new paragraphs to include the headings.

In this lesson you have learned how to use paragraphs to

organize ideas by introducing headings.

Let’s ReviewGuided Practice

Use the example paragraph below and try and separate it with headings:

The Powhatan Native Americans lived on the East Coast. They made use of the nature there. They used wood to build houses. They also likes to fish and farm. This is how they got food. They had nice gardens of fruits and vegetables.

Let’s ReviewExtension Activities

Find a photocopy of a text provided by your teacher. Go through the same steps as in this lesson and make notes where there are breaks in ideas. Then think of headings on your own and rewrite them into the text.

Let’s ReviewQuick Quiz

Review your own draft and add appropriate headings for your informational text.