Building Essays:Building Essays:

Using the Four Square Writing Method

English Language Fellow, Taiwan

Objectives

• Become familiar with the Four Square Writing Model.

• Examine examples of the Four Square Writing Model.

? Create your own essay using the Four Square Model.

Participants will……

Judith S.

Gouldand

Evan Jay

Gould

Teaching and Learning Company1204 Buchanan St.,P.O.Box 10Carthage, IL 62321-0010

We know different languages have a different structures for writing.

Introduction

English(1) Introduction /Topic:(2-3/4) Reason

Detail• Example

Detail• Example

Detail• Example

(4) Conclusion – Summarize, Re-state Thesis

Mandarin(1) Introduction/Topic(2) Expand on Topic(3) Compare & Contrast(4) Conclusion

IntroductionWhen we teach math give you formulas

teach science we give you a scientific method

teach reading give you decoding skills

4 Square Method is a way to learn to write.

(for any grade or any subject)

What is the 4 Square Writing Model?

• � Four-Square writing is a method of teaching basic writing skills that is applicable across grade levels and curriculum areas.

Forms of Composition• Expository• Narrative• Descriptive / Opinion• Persuasive• Compare & Contrast

• Prewriting and organizational skills are taught through the use of a graphic organizer.

• This visual and kinesthetic aid is employed to focus writing, to provide detail and to enhance word choice.

• The visual organizers help students to �conceptualize, understand, and structure a piece of written discourse successfully.

What is the 4 Square Writing Model?

Guidelines

• Four-Square instruction should be done weekly to bi-weekly.

• It should be accompanied by � other writing activities. Ex. Journal Writing

• It is recommended to use the � same prompt repeatedly when introducing the steps because the familiarity will aid instruction.

• It is important for students to � understand the relationship of ideas as demonstrated in the four square format before moving on to paragraphs.

4-Square PrimaryCategorizing

Pets

4-Square PrimaryCategorizing with Words

lion zebra

monkey elephantZoo

4-Square PrimaryExamples with a Feeling Sentence

lion zebra

monkey I like going to the zoo to see the animals

Zoo

4-Square PrimaryUsing Complete Sentences

Box 2Reason:

We learn here.

Box 3Reason:

We meet friends.

Box 4Reason:

We do experiments.

Box 5Feeling:

I love school.

Complete Sentence: School is a great

place.

Writing a Paragraph• Paragraphs are

several sentences on the same topic (5 or more).

• Now we will transfer the sentences from the four blocks to lined paper for paragraph building.

• While class modeling it is best to teach this.

School School is a great place.We learn here. We meetfriends. We do experi-ments. I love school.

Adding More Detail• To move from a 5 sentence paragraph to an 8

sentence paragraph; go back to the 4 Square.• Add one additional detail sentence in each box.• Elaboration: tell more about the topic or tell what is

so great about it.

Reason: We learn here.Detail: I like to learn

science.

Reason: We meet friends.

Detail: My best friend is in my class.

Reason: We do experiments.

Detail: I built a volcano yesterday.

Feeling Sentence:I love school.

Complete Sentence: School is a great place.

School School is a great place. I like tolearn science. It is my favorite subject. We meet many friends here. My best friend is in my class. Her name is Elsa. We do many experiments in school. I built a volcano yesterday. I love school.

Moving to a Multiple Paragraph Essay

Reason: Learn1. Read (ex. letter/sounds)2. Math (ex. numbers/ add)3. Science (ex. world)

Reason: Friends1. Share lunches (ex. diff. food)2. Invite over (ex. after studying)3. Do homework together (ex. have Qs)

Reason: Play1. In centers (ex. edu. game)2. On playground (ex. Recess)

3. Recess (ex. 10 min. break)

School is a great place because we learn, meet friends, and play.

School is a great place.

School School is a great place.

We learn here. We learn letters and sounds for reading. We study numbers

and addition for math. We are also taught about the world around us in science.

We meet many friends at school. I like to share my lunch with my friends, so I get different foods. I like to invite my friends from school over to my house whenwe are done studying. Sometimes, I need to ask my friends how to do the homework assigned by the teacher.

There are many opportunities to play during school. I can play educationalgames during centers. I play with my friends on the playground during recess. I also play with my friends during our 10 minute breaks between classes.

School is a great place because we learn, meet friends, and play.

Adding Connecting Words to Provide Transition Between Ideas

• By now the thesis is developing into three reasons.

• These reasons should be different from each other and therefore necessitate the use of transitions & connecting words.

• Connecting words can be explained as the “little sticking out part” of the puzzle

Connecting words hold the different parts of the puzzle

together!!

Green Yellow

RedYellow

Wall Poster

One reasonFirst

For exampleOne exampleTo begin withTo start with

Color the border of this wall poster green.

SecondThird

Another reasonAnother example

AlsoAs well as

TooIn additionAdditionally

Color the border of this wall poster yellow.

LastFinally

In conclusionIn summary

In shortSo you can seeAs one can seeTo summarize

Hence

Color the border of this wall poster red.

Adding Connecting Words to Provide Transitions Between Ideas

First, Learn1. Read2. Math3. science

Also, Friends

1. Share lunches2. Invite over3. Do homework together

In addition, Play1. In centers2. On playground3. Recess

As you can see,School is a great place because we learn, meet friends, and play.

School is a great place.

School School is a great place.

First, we learn here. We learn letters and sounds for reading. We study numbers

and addition for math. We are taught about the world around us in science.

Also, we meet many friends at school. I like to share my lunch with my friends, so I

get to try different foods. I like to invite my friends from school over to my house when

we are done studying. Sometimes, I need to ask my friends how to do the homework

assigned by the teacher.

In addition, there are many opportunities to play during school. I can play educational

during centers. I play with my friends on the playground during recess. I also play

with my friends during our 10 minute breaks between classes.

As you can see, school is a great place because we learn, meet friends, and play.

Expanding the Introduction

Use the Same Graphic Organizer!• Topic Sentence

(Center of 4 Square & Box 2)• Prepare your Readers

(Give them a little more information in boxes ¾)

• Wrap-Up Sentence (Without connecting word in box 5)

Expanding the Introduction

Hook:For students, this environment can be either a prison or a gateway for freedom, however;

Prepares Readers:You can expand your mind and socialize with many new companions.

Prepares Readers:Ideas are created and formed as you prepare for the future.

Wrap-Up Sentence:School is a great place because we learn, meet friends, and play.

School is a great place.

1. Ultimatum2. Question3. Proverb4. Quote

Improving the Concluding Paragraph

• Wrap-Up Sentence with Connecting Word / Words• Personal / Reflective Sentence, Question, or

Exclamation

Example:As you can see, school is a great place because

we learn, meet friends, and play. I will always cherish the friendships and relationships I made while learning.

ALWAYS MODEL!• When moving from the

information from the 4-Square to the multiple paragraph essay, model by:– The whole class builds a 4-Square.– Build the story one sentence at a

time– As the composition is built one

sentence at a time, students copy it down.

– During this time, the teacher integrates rules of composition.

Make Your Own 4-Square Template

Connecting Word:_______________________________1.2.3.(4.)

Connecting Word:________________________________1.2.3.(4.)Connecting Word:

________________________________1.2.3.(4.)

.

Connecting Word:Wrap-Up Sentence:_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Different Types of Essays

• Expository-Usually nouns in boxes 2-4

• Narrative-Boxes 2-4 are events or verbs

• Descriptive & Persuasive-Information in boxes 2-4

Narrative

In the beginning Cat food commercial

came on1. Dancing cats2. Singing about food3. I said “How cute”

During the commercial My cat got angry1. Arched his back2. His hair stood up3. Hissed aloud

Just then He spoke to me1. Called the commercial

foolish2. Said the food was

gross3. Told me never to buy

it again

Since that dayNever spoken againStopped buying foodMy cat is not allowed to watch TV.

The day my pet spoke to meWho? My cat and IWhat? RelaxingWhere? At homeWhen? In the eveningWhy? It had been a long day

One evening I was relaxing at home. My cat and I were watching television. It had been a long day, and I needed some time to wind down.

In the beginning of our favorite show, a commercial came on for a brand of cat food I usually buy. This commercial had adorable little dancing cats. The cats were singing about the cat food. I thought it was cute, and I laughed out loud.

During this commercial my cat got angry. He stood up and arched his back. The hair on his back was standing up. He let out an ear-splitting scream.

Just then, he started talking. He called the commercial foolish and snarled at the television. My cat told me that brand of cat food was gross. Then he told me never to buy it again. I had always thought that he liked the stuff!

Since that day my cat has not spoken again. I did stop buying that brand of cat food. But because of his ill-mannered hissing and growling, my cat has had a limit placed on his television time.

Descriptive EssayOne reason The grass1. Green2. Neat3. No weeds

Also Memorial Park1. Plaques2. Jerseys3. Baseballs

Too The electricity1. Always there2. Shouting fans3. Memory of

greatness

As one can seeYankee Stadium is a beautiful place because of the grass, Memorial Park and the electricity in the air.

Yankee Stadium is a beautiful place.

Yankee Stadium is a beautiful place. The beauty can be seen in the grass and Memorial Park, and it can be felt in the electricity in the air. I love to visit there.

One reason it is so beautiful is the grass. It is always frog-green. The lawn is manicured and perfectly cut. Weeds are prohibited from entering.

Also, Memorial Park is a special place. One can view the plaques that have so delicately engraved in remembrance. There are jerseys to view that were well-worn by the greats. They have tattered, old baseballs which have priceless signatures.

The electricity in the air is beautiful, too. It is always there, and you can see it in the eyes of the children visiting. The shouting of the fans sounds like the Mormon Tabernacle Choir to the ears of a baseball lover. One can sense the memory of greatness because their spirits live in the air at Yankee Stadium.

As one can see, Yankee Stadium is a beautiful place because of the grass, Memorial Park and the electricity in the air. You should catch a game today.

Expository EssayOne reason Big Kitchen1. Room to cook2. Lots of food3. Big refrigerator

Also Fireplace1. Warm2. Crackling3. Smoky smell

Third My Porch1. Screened2. Relaxing3. Cool

In summaryMy home is a special place because it has a big kitchen, a fireplace and a porch.

My home is a special place.

My home is a special place. It is special because it has a fireplace, a big kitchen, and a porch. It is a wonderful place to live.

One reason my home is special is because I love my big kitchen. It has plenty of room to cook. There is a lot of room for all the food I like to eat. I like my large refrigerator most of all.

Also, my fireplace is wonderful. On chilly nights it keeps my warm as a mitten. I love to listen to the crackling. The smoky smell reminds me of the days when I go camping.

Third, my home has a terrific porch. The porch is screened, which is lucky for me. I am a bug magnet! My porch is a great place for relaxing. Even on warm nights the porch is cool because you can enjoy the evening breezes.

In summary, my home is special because it has a big kitchen, a fireplace and a porch. I couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.

Persuasive Essay

One reason Chores1. Trash2. Walk dog3. Do dishes

Also Study Hard1. Spelling2. Math3. Science

In addition Use Manners1. Please2. Thank you3. Cover mouth

when I yawn

HenceKids should get bigger allowances because we do chores, study hard and use our manners.

Kids should get bigger allowances.

Kids should get bigger allowances because we do chores. Kids are always studying hard. We even use manners! It isn’t easy being a kid, and we deserve a little reward.

One reason for a larger allowance is all the chores we do. We take out stinky trash every night. Walking the dog is really not fun. And who likes doing dishes?

Also, kids study hard, and that should be worth something. Spelling words take a long time to learn. For math we have to add and subtract. Science homework keeps us busy, too.

In addition, kids use their manners, so they should get something in return. Why do you think we say “please”? “Thank you” is another way we are polite. Let’s face it, we don’t cover our mouths while yawning for nothing.

Hence, kids should get bigger allowances because we do chores, study hard and use our manners. How can you disagree?

Four Square in the Language Classroom

Four square is a way to organize thoughts. It is not the writing program. However, four square exercises can be

published by following the writing process.

• Brainstorming: Generating ideas• Organizing: Four square or other methods• Drafting: Rough or first draft• Revising: Revision of content and style• Editing: Editing for surface features, punctuation,

spelling, capitals, etc.

Remember this is a slow process. Try not to over teach.

Other Uses• Speeches: Use the format for organizing and

giving a speech.• Reading Comprehension:

– Have Ss create a 4-Square from a passage written by an author. Discuss the organization.

– Have students create a 4-Square using a paper written by another student.

– Cut apart a Ss composition by sentences. Have Ss draw a sentence at a time and reconstruct the composition, then reproduce it on char paper.

Other Uses• An excellent way to review or summarize

information learned about a specific process.

What are they? Where are they?

How do they operate?

Volcanoes are a powerful, natural

force.

Volcanoes

Workers Resources

TransportationThe workers, resources, and transportation are

important to a community.

Community

But Ellen…..

What about motivation??

CHOICE! Select a person in one of the folders and

describe their life.

Athletes

Authors

Artists

Film Stars

Scientists

Musicians

Political Leaders

Writing BingoTry for one more BINGO this month. Be sure to use your writing goals and our class rubric to guide your work .

Recipe

Invitation

Newspaper Article

Advertisement

Letter to Your Teacher

Directions to one place to another

Rules for a game

Letter to the editor

Thank- you Note

Email request for Information

Letter to a pen pal, friend or relative

Skit or scene Interview

Schedule for your work

Grocery or shopping list

FREE

YOUR ChoiceShort Story

Design a web page

Journal for a Week

Proposal to Improve Something

Cartoon Strip

Poem Instructions Greeting Card

Book Think Aloud

Let’s Try!

Prepare the graphic organizer.

Now fold your paper into 4 squares.

Writing Prompts• Writing Situation: Everyone has a

fond memory of a special birthday. • Think about a birthday that stood out

among all the others. • Directions for Writing: Write a

paragraph/ essay telling about your favorite birthday.

I will never forget my sixth birthday.

My grandmother threw me a surprise party.

My parents gave me a wonderful gift.

My friends and I went to the zoo.

It was the best birthday ever.

1. favorite cake

2. tons of presents

3. exciting games

1. golden retriever

2. named Goldie

3. best friend

1. elephant ride

2. walked for miles

3. rode train

Early in the day, After lunch,

Later,

Indeed,

Getting a year older may be bad for some, but I will never forget my sixth birthday. The attention that I received from friends and family made me feel warm inside. It was a very special day for me.

Early in the day, my grandmother threw me a surprise party. She baked my favorite chocolate fudge cake. I got tons of presents. We had such fun playing exciting games.

After lunch, my parents gave me a wonderful gift. They surprised me with a golden retriever puppy. I named her Goldie. She is my best friend today.

Later, my friends and I went to the zoo. We rode the elephants. The zoo was so large we walked for miles. Finally we gave up and rode the train.

Indeed, it was the best birthday ever. The wonderful surprises from my family and friends will stay with me forever.

____________________________________

____________________________________

________________________________________________

FeelingSentence:____________________________

Directions: Complete the four square with three sentences and a feeling sentence. Then write the paragraph on the lines below.

It’s great to have a pet.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Criteria Score 1Deficient

Score 2Flawed

Score 3Limited

Score 4 Competent

Score 5 Strong

Score 6 Outstanding

Organization Incoherent Weak organization

Inadequate organization

Adequately organized

Generally well organized

Well organized

Development UndevelopedNo details

Not developedLittle or no relevant details

Not developedDoes not explain develop key ideas

DevelopedExplains and illustrates some key ideas

Generally well developedExplains and illustrates most key ideas

Well developedClearly explains and illustrates key ideas

Language Syntax Limited or inappropriate word choice

Limited or inappropriate word choice

Limited or inappropriate word choice

Adequate facility in the use of language

Demonstrates some syntactic varietyFacility in use of language

Strong Syntactic variety

Mechanics Serious and persistent writing errors

Serious errors in mechanics, usage, sentence structure, or word choice

Accumulation of errors in mechanics, usage, sentence structure

Some errors in mechanics/ usage

Generally few errors in mechanics/usage

Few errors in mechanics/ usage

Writing Assessment Scoring Rubric

Resources to Help!• Four Square Writing Method: A Unique

Approach to Teaching Basic Writing Skills for Grades 1-3 by Judith S. Gould.

• Four Square Writing Method Grade 4-6 by Judith S. Gould.

• Four Square: The Total Writing Classroom for grades 5-9 by Judith S. Gould.

• Writing Workouts That Work: By the Authors of Four Square Writing by Judith Gould.