Color-coding sentences within a paragraph enables us to check and make sure that we have everything required for a well written paragraph. It helps us determine if we have enough details to support our IDEAS and CONTENT (trait 1) and if these ideas/content show a logical pattern of ORGANIZATION (trait 2).

TOPIC SENTENCE The first sentence is the topic sentence that tells what the paragraph is about; it is colored GREEN. You have to have a topic and a main purpose for your topic sentence. EXAMPLE: Bob’s car is a mess. Topic=Bob’s car Purpose=it is a disgusting mess.

TRANSITIONS ARE IMPORTANT The first sentence is the topic sentence that tells what the paragraph is about; it is colored GREEN. Now comes the transitional word or phrase in BLUE. (use your transition sheet and the correct type of transition for the type of paragraph you are writing) Example: Inside Bob’s car...

The first sentence is the topic sentence that tells what the paragraph is about; it is colored GREEN. Now comes the transitional word or phrase in BLUE, followed by the first detail, reason or fact you are presenting highlighted in YELLOW. It should be direct, to the point, and only 1 sentence. Example: Inside Bob’s car there is rotting food.

The first sentence is the topic sentence that tells what the paragraph is about; it is colored GREEN. Now comes the transitional word or phrase in BLUE, followed by the first detail, reason, or fact you are presenting in YELLOW. More details and explanations of this first idea come next, in PINK. There should be at least two sentences. The pink sentences must relate to your yellow detail, reason, or fact. Example: On the front seat is a half eaten hot dog with bugs crawling all over it. Sticky, gooey, peanut butter is smeared all over the passenger’s seat making it impossible to sit on.

REPEAT TWO MORE TIMES BLUE, YELLOW, PINK The first sentence is the topic sentence that tells what the paragraph is about; it is colored GREEN. Now comes the transitional word or phrase in BLUE, followed by the first idea, reason, or fact you are presenting in YELLOW. More details and explanations of this first idea come next, in PINK. There should be at least two sentences. Now comes the second transitional word or phrase in BLUE, followed by the second idea, reason, or fact you are presenting in YELLOW. More details and explanations of this second idea come next, in PINK. There should be at least two sentences. Now comes the third transitional word or phrase in BLUE, followed by the third idea, reason, or fact you are presenting in YELLOW. More details and explanations of this third idea come next, in PINK. There should be at least two sentences.

Bob’s car is a disgusting mess. Inside Bob’s car is rotting food. On the front seat is a half eaten hot dog with bugs crawling all over it. Sticky, gooey, peanut butter is smeared all over the passenger’s seat making it impossible to sit on. In front of the seats, is the windshield. It is covered with so much mud that nothing is visible outside. Also, there are hundreds of cracks and chips in it. The seats in the back are even worse than the ones in the front. Bob has his dirty clothes, stinky shoes, school books, and even a TV piled onto the seats. On top of the piles, are Bob’s cats. They have used the piles as their litter box!

Finally, our concluding sentence begins with a closing transition and then we restate our topic again but in different words than the original topic sentence. It is also colored GREEN. Example: To sum up, this car is so repulsive it should be used in a Demolition Derby.

Bob’s car is a disgusting mess. Inside Bob’s car is rotting food. On the front seat is a half eaten hot dog with bugs crawling all over it. Sticky, gooey, peanut butter is smeared all over the passenger’s seat making it impossible to sit on. In front of the seats, is the windshield. It is covered with so much mud that nothing is visible outside. Also, there are hundreds of cracks and chips in it. The seats in the back are even worse than the ones in the front. Bob has his dirty clothes, stinky shoes, school books, and even a TV piled onto the seats. On top of the piles, are Bob’s cats. They have used the piles as their litter box! To sum up, this car is so repulsive it should be used in a Demolition Derby.