1. Power Paragraphs Introduction to the 4-Square Method

2. Whats the Point? Get Organized! Notes and personal writing is very informal and can be unorganized. School Writing needs structure and organization. School Writing usually tries to prove a point. Thus, we need a tool, or a diagram, to organize our thoughts.

3. What is the 4-Square Method? The 4-Square Method uses a Graphic Organizer to arrange your facts, thoughts, or ideas. A Graphic Organizer is a diagram. –Webbing, Idea maps, bubbles, etc., are all graphic organizers. The 4-Square Method makes writing a great paper very easy!

4. Meet the 4-Square! The 4-Square is simply a different kind of graphic organizer; it looks like this:

5. The Simple 4-Square Defined Main Idea Idea #1 Idea #2 Idea #3 Wrap-Up Sentence

6. The 4-Square Extended My favorite meal is Spaghetti and Meatballs Easy to cook Fun to eat delicious My favorite meal is Spaghetti and Meatballs because its easy to cook, fun to eat, and delicious A statement for the Main Idea. Thesis statement re- worded becomes your Wrap-Up Sentence. It needs to be in your concluding paragraph.

7. Adding Details We will add 3 details to support each idea in the 4-Square Graphic Organizer. Main Idea Idea #1 Supporting Detail 1 Supporting Detail 2 Supporting Detail 3 Idea #2 Supporting Detail 1 Supporting Detail 2 Supporting Detail 3 Idea #3 Supporting Detail 1 Supporting Detail 2 Supporting Detail 3 Wrap-Up Sentence Notice the Details!

8. The Big Picture! Main Idea/hook/ thesis Idea #1 Supporting Detail 1 Supporting Detail 2 Supporting Detail 3 Idea #2 Supporting Detail 1 Supporting Detail 2 Supporting Detail 3 Idea #3 Supporting Detail 1 Supporting Detail 2 Supporting Detail 3 Wrap-Up Sentence

9. The Next Step: Adding Detail My favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs. Its easy to cook Roll up the meat Golf ball size Throw it in the pot Huge cauldron Pour store-bought sauce Mama something or other Its fun to eat Twirl on fork Looks like a twister Slurp it Loud smacking noises Splatter the sauce Like an explosion Its delicious Tomatoes Red and tangy Italian spices Zippy garlic Filling meat Like a hamburger Spaghetti and Meatballs is my favorite meal because it is easy to cook, fun to eat, and its delicious.

10. The Resulting Power Paragraph My sister, Sarah, loves chicken nuggets. Those little pressed fake meat patties fried in a vat of bubbling oil really turn her on. Adam, my brother, adores peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. His simple palate has yet to learn about the finer things in life. As for me, my all time favorite meal is spaghetti and meatballs because its easy to cook, its fun to eat, and its delicious!