Third Grade · Writing · week 12

Two Reason Paragraphs

Draft two body paragraphs, each built around one clear reason that supports the essay's opinion.

The body of your essay is where you prove your opinion. This week you write TWO body paragraphs, and each one focuses on just ONE reason.

Each reason paragraph starts with a topic sentence stating the reason, then adds detail sentences that explain and support it -- just like the single paragraphs you have practiced all year.

Keep your two reasons different from each other. Two reasons that basically say the same thing do not make your opinion any stronger.

📋 For the teacher
Teach it (10–15 min):
  • Help your child brainstorm three or four possible reasons before choosing the two strongest, most different ones.
  • Check that each reason paragraph has its own clear topic sentence, just like single paragraphs from earlier weeks.
  • If two reasons sound similar, ask "how is this one really different from the other?" to sharpen the distinction.
  • Remind your child that a reason without a detail sentence to back it up is not finished yet.
Talk about it:
  • What is the topic sentence of each of your two reason paragraphs?
  • How are your two reasons different from each other?
  • What detail supports your strongest reason?

Mastery looks like: They draft two distinct reason paragraphs, each with a clear topic sentence and at least one supporting detail.

Common stumbles: Writing two reasons that overlap too much; adding a detail sentence that does not truly connect back to the stated reason.

See it visually

Interactive, spoken-aloud tools that show this idea in motion.

Paragraph BuilderStack a paragraph: topic sentence, details, closing.try →Essay & Thesis PlannerShape a thesis and outline an intro, body, and conclusion.try →
Homework for this lessonType it, write it with a stylus, or print it for pencil & paper.open →
Records attendance + 15 min of Writing for this learner.
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