Connecting to Friend Writing

5 paragraphs

  1. Fill out the planning sheet
  2. Fill out notes on the 5 quadrant sheet
  3. Centre square – introduction of friend, how you met, why he or she is your friend.Explain things you like to do with your friend.
  4. Square 1 – Explain a special memory you had with your friend.
  5. Square 2 – Explain a problem you once had with your friend.
  6. Square 3 – Explain how the problem was solved or not resolved. Results.
  7. Square 4 – Conclusion: summarize what your friend means to you.
  8. Writing assignment
  9. Take your information from the quadrant sheet and write a 5 paragraph CLIMBING STORY in THIRD PERSON, about you and your friend.
  10. Things to think about:
  11. Triple-scoop words
  12. Feeling words
  13. Use detail
  14. Use third person pronouns (They, she/her, he/him, etc)
  15. Verb tense (past tense –‘ed’ endings not ‘ing’, ‘were’ not ‘are’, etc)

Example (simplified example):

Cheryl and Cassie were best friends from the day they met in Mr Smith’s grade 3 class. Cheryl had a great sense of humour and always made Cassie laugh and feel good about herself. Cassie was very spontaneous and always found new ways to have fun. Cheryl and Cassiewere two peas in a pod. They wore the same style of clothes, listened to the same music, loved to eat the same foods and played the same sports. They loved to go mountain biking on the trails behind their houses, and always ended up at the tree house which Cassie’s dad built at the edge of the forest.

There was one very special memory that Cheryl and Cassie shared. They played on the same basketball team at MoodyMiddle School.During their grade 8 year, the team won the district championships. They were both elated, as this was by far the highlight of their final year at Middle School. Their parents took both girls out for dinner at Milestones to celebrate the great event.

One day in math class, Cheryl made a joke about Cassie’s new haircut and all the other kids laughed. Cassie’s heart got tight and her eyes stung whenshe heard her friend making fun of her. In all the years Cassie knew Cheryl, her jokes had never been directed towards her. Cassie went home and stayed in her room for the entire evening, and went over the events of that day. Cassie’s mom was worried about her but Cassie would not tell her anything.

The next day, Cheryl found Cassie sitting alone in the hallway at school. She approached her and gave a sincere apology for what she had said. Cheryl told Cassie that she did not mean to make her so upset and felt terrible for hurting her feelings, especially in front of other people. Cassie’s heart loosened a little and she started to forgive her.

It took a little time for Cassie to trust Cheryl, but over time they became best friends again. They kept their friendship going throughout high school and shared many more moments of laughter and excitement. After all, they were two peas in a pod.

Connecting to Friend Writing

5 paragraphs

1. Fill out the initial planning sheet

2. Fill out notes on the 5 quadrant sheet

  • Centre square – introduction of friend, how you met, why he or she is your friend. Describe things you like to do with your friend.
  • Square 1 – Explain a special memory you had with your friend.
  • Square 2 – Explain a problem you once had with your friend.
  • Square 3 – Explain how the problem was solved.
  • Conclusion – summarize what your friend means to you.

3. Writing assignment

  • Take your information from the quadrant sheet and write a 5 paragraph CLIMBING STORY in THIRD PERSON, about you and your friend.
  • Things to think about:
  • Triple-scoop words
  • Feeling words
  • Use detail
  • Use third person pronouns (They, she/her, he/him, etc)
  • Verb tense (past tense –‘ed’ endings not ‘ing’, ‘were’ not ‘are’, etc)