4 Square Writing Method2 - Hazleton Area High School

4 Square WritingMethodDeveloped by Judith GouldMadalyn JiraTaylors Elementary

When we teach MathGive students formulas ScienceGive students ascientific method ReadingGive students decodingskills 4 Square Method is a way to learn to write. (for any grade or anysubject)

What is 4 Square Writing? Four-square writing is amethod of teaching basicwriting skills that isapplicable across gradelevels and curriculumareas. It can be appliedfor the narrative,descriptive, expositoryand persuasive forms ofwriting.

What is 4 Square Writing?Continued Prewriting and organizational skills are taughtthrough the use of a graphic organizer.This visual and kinesthetic aid is employed tofocus writing, to provide detail and to enhanceword choice.The visual organizers help students toconceptualize, understand, and structure a pieceof written discourse successfully.

Guidelines Four square instruction should be done weeklyto bi-weekly.It should be accompanied by other writingactivities. Ex. Journal WritingIt is recommended to use the same promptrepeatedly when introducing the steps becausethe familiarity will aid instruction.It is important for students to understand therelationship of ideas as demonstrated in the foursquare format before moving on to paragraphs.

4 Square-PrimaryCategorizingPets

4 Square-PrimaryCategorizing with WordsGiraffeLionZooElephantCamel

4 Square-PrimaryExamples with a Feeling SentenceLionGiraffeZooElephantI like going to the zooto see the animals.

Using Complete SentencesBox 2Box 3Reason –Reason –We learn here.We meet friends.Complete sentence –School is a great place.Box 4Box 5Reason –Feeling –We do experiments.I love school.

Writing a Paragraph Paragraphs are severalsentences on the sametopic.Now we will transfer thesentences from the fourblocks to lined paper forparagraph building.Whole class modeling isbest to teach this.SchoolSchool is a greatplace. We learn here.We meet friends. Wedo experiments. Ilove school.

Adding More Detail To move from a 5 sentence paragraph to an 8sentence paragraph; go back to the 4 Square.Add one additional detail sentence in each box.Elaboration: tell more about the topic or tellwhat is so great about it.Reason: We learn here.Reason: We meet friends.Detail: I like to learnscience.Detail: My best friend is inmy class.Complete sentence –School is a great place.Reason: We do experiments.Detail: I built a volcanoyesterday.Feeling Sentence: Ilove school.

Moving to a Multiple ParagraphEssayLearnFriends read share lunches math invite over science do homework togetherSchool is a great place.Play in centers on playground recessSchool is a great placebecause we learn, meetfriends, and play.

Adding Connecting Words toProvide Transition Between Ideas By now the thesis is developinginto three reasons.These reasons should bedifferent from each other andtherefore necessitate the use oftransition or connecting words.Connecting words can beexplained as the “little stickingout part” of the puzzle.Connecting words hold thedifferent parts of thepuzzle together.

Adding Connecting Words toProvide Transitions Between IdeasAlsoFirstFriendsLearn share lunches read invite over math science do homework togetherSchool is a great place.NextPlay in centers on playground recessSo you can seeSchool is a great place because welearn, meet friends, and play.

Expanding the Introduction1.2.3.Topic Sentence(center of four square)Wrap-Up Sentence(without connecting word)Personal/Reflective Sentence

Improving the Final Paragraph1.2.Wrap-Up Sentence with ConnectingWord/WordsPersonal/Reflective Sentence, Question,or Exclamation

Rote Instruction When moving from theinformation from thefour square to themultiple essay, use a rotelesson by: The whole class builds a foursquare.Build the story one sentence at atime.As the composition is built onesentence at a time, students copy itdown.During this time, the teacherintegrates rules of composition.

Make your own 4 Square Template1.2.3.4.5.6.Fold the sheet of paper into four equal squares.Draw a box in the middle of the paper.In three of the squares students will write a complete sentencewhich states reasons, examples, or explanations that supportthe sentence in the center of the paper.In the fifth box students will write a feeling sentence tosupport the topic.Now draw a picture in each box, which describes yoursentences. (primary)Last use your Four Square writing to write a story.(intermediate)

Make your own 4 Square TemplateConnecting WordConnecting Word Connecting WordWrap-Up Sentence:

Different Types of Essays Expository–Usually nouns in boxes 2 – 4 Narrative –Boxes 2 – 4 events or verbs Descriptive and Persuasive Writing StylesIntent of information in boxes 2-4

Four Square in the Language ArtsProgramFour square is a way to organize thoughts. It is not thewriting program. However, four square exercises canbe published by following the writing process.¾ Brainstorming: Generating ideas¾ Organizing: Four square or other methods¾ Drafting: Rough or first draft¾ Revising: Revision of content and style¾ Editing: Editing for surface features, punctuation,spelling, capitals, etc.Remember this is a slow process. Try not to over teach.

Other Uses!!! Language Arts Use-Book ReviewBeginningMiddleTitleEndDid you like it?

Other Uses Speeches: Use the format for organizing and giving thespeech.Reading Comprehension: Have students create a four square from a passage written byan author. Discuss the organization.Have students create a four square using a paper written byanother student.Cut up a student’s composition by sentences. Have studentsdraw a sentence at a time and reconstruct the compositionthen reproduce it on chart paper or overhead. (students canwork in groups at centers for this)

Other Uses in Science An excellent way to review or summarizeinformation learned about a specific process.What arethey?Where arethey?VolcanoesHow do theyoperate?Volcanoes are apowerful, onThe workers, resources,and transportation areimportant to acommunity.

Other Uses in Math Word problems require the employment of logic andreasoning different from the usual compute and solve drills.These problems require that students develop their ownequation, and then perform an unnamed operation to find asolution.ProcessInformationQuestionCompute 4, 2Mrs. Smith had four straight A students.Then 2 more in her class got straight A’s.How many A students does she have in all?Solution4 2 6 “A” Students

Resources to Help!! Four Square Writing Method : A Unique Approach toTeaching Basic Writing Skills for Grades 1-3by Judith S. GouldFOUR SQUARE WRITING METHOD GR. 4-6by Judith S. GouldFour Square: The Total Writing Classroom for grades 5-9by Judith S. GouldFour Square: Writing in the Content Areas for Grades 1-4: ACompanion to the Four Square Writing Methodby Judith GouldWriting Workouts That Work: By the Authors of FourSquare Writingby Judith Gould

Teaching Basic Writing Skills for Grades 1-3 by Judith S. GouldJudith S. Gould FOUR SQUARE WRITING METHOD GR. 4-6 by Judith S. GouldJudith S. Gould Four Square: The Total Writing Classroom for grades 5-9 by Judith S. GouldJudith S. Gould Four Square: Writing in the Content Areas for Grades 1-4: A Companion to the Four Square Writing Method