Grade: Grade 2 Subject: English Language Arts Unit: Paragraph Writing SAT: ExpressionOfIdeas ACT: Writing

Unit Checkpoint

What You Have Learned

In this unit, you learned how to write organized paragraphs. Let us review the key skills:

  • Topic Sentences - Tell the main idea of your paragraph
  • Supporting Sentences - Give details, facts, and examples
  • Closing Sentences - Wrap up your paragraph
  • Staying on Topic - All sentences should be about one main idea
  • Editing - Check for capitals, punctuation, and spelling

Checkpoint Instructions:

Complete all the activities below to show what you know about paragraph writing. Take your time and do your best work!

Quick Review

Remember the parts of a paragraph:

A Good Paragraph Has:

  1. Topic sentence (tells the main idea)
  2. Supporting sentences (2-4 sentences with details)
  3. Closing sentence (wraps it up)

Remember to edit your writing:

  • Capital letters at the start of sentences and for names
  • Punctuation at the end of sentences
  • Correct spelling
  • All sentences about ONE topic

Checkpoint Activities

Complete these activities to show your paragraph writing skills.

Activity 1: Find the Topic Sentence

"They have colorful feathers and can fly high in the sky. Some birds sing beautiful songs in the morning. Birds also build nests to keep their eggs safe. Birds are amazing animals."

Question: This paragraph is missing its topic sentence at the beginning. Which sentence below would make the best topic sentence?

  • A) I saw a bird yesterday.
  • B) Birds are interesting creatures.
  • C) The sky is blue.
  • D) Nests are made of sticks.

Activity 2: Identify Paragraph Parts

"Recess is my favorite part of the school day. I can run and play with my friends. The playground has swings and slides. We also play games like tag. Recess gives me energy for the rest of the day."

Questions:

  1. What is the topic sentence?
  2. How many supporting sentences are there?
  3. What is the closing sentence?

Activity 3: Find the Sentence That Does Not Belong

"Pizza is a popular food. It has a crispy crust with tomato sauce. Cheese melts on top and tastes delicious. My sister has a purple bike. You can add toppings like pepperoni. Pizza is great for dinner."

Question: Which sentence does not belong in this paragraph? Write the paragraph without that sentence.

Activity 4: Put Sentences in Order

These sentences are mixed up. Put them in the right order to make a good paragraph:

  • A) I brush my teeth every morning and night.
  • B) Taking care of my teeth keeps me healthy.
  • C) Brushing keeps my teeth clean and white.
  • D) It also stops cavities from hurting my teeth.

Question: What is the correct order? (Write A, B, C, D in order)

Activity 5: Edit This Paragraph

"i have a pet rabbit her name is snowball she is white and flufy. snowball likes to hop around she eats carrots and lettis. i love my rabbit"

Task: Rewrite this paragraph with correct capitals, punctuation, and spelling.

Activity 6: Add Supporting Sentences

Topic sentence: "The library is a great place to visit."

Closing sentence: "I always enjoy my time at the library."

Task: Write 3 supporting sentences to go in the middle of this paragraph.

Activity 7: Write a Closing Sentence

"Fall is a beautiful season. The leaves change to red, orange, and yellow. The air becomes cool and crisp. Pumpkins appear at farms and stores. _______________"

Task: Write a good closing sentence for this paragraph.

Activity 8: Write a Complete Paragraph

Task: Write a paragraph about your favorite animal. Your paragraph must have:

  • A topic sentence that tells the main idea
  • At least 3 supporting sentences with details
  • A closing sentence that wraps it up
  • Correct capitals and punctuation

Activity 9: Edit Your Paragraph

Task: Look at the paragraph you wrote in Activity 8. Use this checklist to edit it:

  1. Does my topic sentence tell the main idea?
  2. Do my supporting sentences give details about my topic?
  3. Does my closing sentence wrap up the paragraph?
  4. Did I start each sentence with a capital letter?
  5. Did I end each sentence with punctuation?
  6. Did I spell words correctly?

Make any changes needed.

Activity 10: True or False

Write True or False for each statement:

  1. A topic sentence tells the main idea of a paragraph.
  2. Supporting sentences can be about any topic.
  3. You should always edit your writing.
  4. A closing sentence goes at the beginning of a paragraph.
  5. All sentences in a paragraph should be about one topic.

Activity 11: Short Answer

Answer these questions in complete sentences:

  1. What are the three parts of a paragraph?
  2. Why is it important to stay on topic when writing a paragraph?
  3. What should you check when you edit your writing?

Activity 12: Final Writing Task

Task: Choose ONE of these topics and write your best paragraph:

  • A) My favorite thing to do on the weekend
  • B) Why I like my best friend
  • C) A place I want to visit

Remember to:

  • Plan before you write
  • Include all three parts of a paragraph
  • Use at least 3 supporting details
  • Edit your work when you are done

Check Your Work

Before you finish, make sure you:

  • Completed all 12 activities
  • Checked your spelling and punctuation
  • Used complete sentences
  • Did your best work

Great Job!

You have finished the Paragraph Writing unit! You now know how to write organized paragraphs with topic sentences, supporting sentences, and closing sentences. Keep practicing these skills in all your writing!

Next Steps

  • Share your best paragraph with a teacher or family member
  • Practice writing paragraphs about different topics
  • Move on to the next unit in English Language Arts
  • Remember to use these skills whenever you write!