Virginia SOL 3.W.2

3.W.2 is a Standards of Learning standard. These are the knowledge and skills expectations under it.

• 3.W.2.A.i

  Writing a clear topic sentence focusing on a main idea.

• 3.W.2.A.ii

  Developing, selecting, and organizing ideas relevant to topic, audience,purpose, and genre.

• 3.W.2.A.iii

  Elaborating writing by including supporting details.

• 3.W.2.A.iv

  Using transition words to vary sentence structure.

• 3.W.2.A.v

  Providing a concluding statement.

01

What Students Need to Do

Students choose one main point and plan details that fit their audience and purpose. They draft a focused paragraph, connect ideas with transitions, and revise it for order and clarity. They finish with a sentence that closes the idea.

02

What Mastery Looks Like

A strong paragraph stays focused and follows a logical order. The student uses specific details, helpful transitions, varied sentences, and an ending that wraps up the main point.

03

Common Misconceptions

Students may list facts without connecting them to one main point. They may add unrelated details, confuse transitions with conclusions, or end by introducing a new idea.

04

How to Assess It

Exit ticket: Write one paragraph explaining the best classroom job. Include an opening sentence, three related details, two transitions, and a closing sentence.

1. 01

   Give pairs mixed sentence strips from one paragraph, then have them arrange the opening, details, transitions, and ending and explain their choices.

2. 02

   Use the prompt “Should recess be longer?” and have students state one main point, list three reasons, and draft a closing sentence.

3. 03

   Play Paragraph Builder: teams draw topic, detail, transition, and conclusion cards, then assemble a logical paragraph and remove any unrelated card.

4. 04

   Have students write a paragraph to the librarian recommending a new book, using specific reasons and a clear final recommendation.

• 5.W.2

  The 5th Grade version of this standard.

• 4.W.2

  The 4th Grade version of this standard.

• 1.W.2

  The 1st Grade version of this standard.

• 11.W.2

  The 11th Grade version of this standard.