Year 8 Civics

Topic: Paragraph Writing

EQ: How do you write a
paragraph?
WALT and WILF
WALT
1. We will practise writing a paragraph using TEEC
1. What a paragraph is
2. What TEEC means and how to use it to answer a question

WILF
1. Students understand what a paragraph is
2. Students understand what TEEC stands for and how to use it
3. Students can answer a question in a paragraph form using TEEC
What is a Paragraph?
A paragraph is a unit of writing which expresses (usually)
ONE main idea.
It is written in a logical order, step by step. This helps to
express the main idea.
We use the formula TEEC to do this:
1. T=Topic
2. E=Explanation
3. E=Evidence/example
4. C=Conclusion
Checking for Understanding
What is a paragraph?
A paragraph is a unit of writing which expresses (usually)
ONE main idea.
How many main ideas does it usually contain?
ONE main idea.
How is it written? Hint: It isn’t random!
It is written in a logical order, step by step. This helps to
express the main idea.
What does TEEC stand for?
1. T=Topic
2. E=Explanation
3. E=Evidence/example
4. C=Conclusion
Problems with paragraph writing
What are the problems you have with paragraph
writing? Write the three worst problems or
challenges you have with paragraph writing.

Rank them from hardest/worst to easiest, 1 being

the worst, 2 being the second hardest, etc.
Number 1’s!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Common Problems
Here are some common problems with writing paragraphs:
 Bad spelling
 Bad grammar (capital letters, commas, full stops, etc.)
 Not enough knowledge to answer the question
 You find it hard to analyse or explain an idea
 You find it hard to justify your ideas
 You find it hard to write about one idea through four sections of
TEEC
 You find TEEC hard or one or more parts of TEEC
 You often don’t understand the question
 You don’t know how to apply feedback given to you by the
teacher
TEEC: What does it mean? Warning: if you go off topic
now, your whole paragraph
T= Topic sentence will go wrong!
The topic sentence tells the reader what the paragraph is
about.
It can sometimes be written in the form of a question, or in
answer to a question.
CFU:
Write a topic sentence in answer to this question:
“What is the best thing about a holiday?”.
A useful way to start is to use the question and turn it into
your topic sentence.
Read your sentences to your partner and ask if it makes
sense.
TEEC: What does it mean?
E = Explanation sentence
The explanation sentence explains the main point you are trying
to make.

CFU:
Write an explanation sentence which logically follows your topic
sentence.
This is where you explain you main idea: what the best thing
about a holiday is!

Read your sentences to your partner and ask if it makes sense and
logically supports and follows the topic sentence.
TEEC: What does it mean? I notice I can write a
E = Evidence/example sentence lot about a subject
The evidence sentence/s give the reasons, evidence or examples when…
which justify or further explain your main point.
CFU:
Write an evidence sentence which logically follows your
explanation sentence.
You should give one example for each of your “best things” about
a holiday. You need to convince the reader by justifying your
opinion with the best example you can think of.

Read your sentences to your partner and ask if it makes sense and
logically supports and follows the explanation sentence.
TEEC: What does it mean? End your paragraph:
do not include any
new ideas!
C = Conclusion sentence
The conclusion sentence ends your paragraph by
summarising (joining together) the topic and the main
idea.
CFU:
Write an a conclusion sentence which clearly
summarises your main idea and the topic.
This means:
1. The topic: the best thing about a holiday
2. The main idea: what you think is the best thing
about a holiday.
Exercises
Exercise 1: Explain what the purpose of each part of TEEC is
Exercise 2: Write T-E-E-C in the right part of the paragraph
Exercise 3: Answer the questions about the paragraph
Exercise 4: Rewrite the paragraph in your own words
Exercise 5: Put the mixed paragraphs in the right order
(TEEC)
Exercise 6: Choose one question to answer and write your
own TEEC paragraph
This is due by the end of the week!
Checking for Understanding
Let’s listen to some student paragraphs and see it they follow TEEC.

TEEC YOUR SENTENCE/S

TOPIC

EXPLANATION

EVIDENCE

CONCLUSION
Step 1: Understanding the Question
Question:
“Explain why rights and freedoms in Australia sometimes have to be limited by
government?
CFU:
What is this question about?
Rights and freedoms in Australia and the limits placed upon them by government.
What is this question asking you to do?
Explain why rights and freedoms are limited; give a reason why this happens.
What do you need to know to answer it?
What a right and freedom is; types of Australian rights and freedoms; examples of
government limits to them, and why they limited them.
What sort of evidence or examples would you use?
Actual examples (e.g. from your lessons or textbook) or the Australian government
limiting a specific right or freedom and the reason why they did this.
Step 2: Deciding your response
1. What is your view, opinion or main idea in response to
this question? Write down you opinion.
2. What arguments, reasons, evidence or examples will help
explain and justify your main idea? Write down what you
know or can remember.
3. Get specific: choose a specific right/freedom (or more
than one) from your text book and write down all the
details you can find which will help answer the question.
4. If you find out that you need to change your opinion or
main idea after this research and note taking, go back to
point 1 and rewrite it.
Step 3: Planning your TEEC
1. Now you have your main idea and
evidence/examples/reasons, you need to plan your TEEC
paragraph.
2. Write down separately each part of TEEC, starting with
the topic sentence if you can.
3. Read your TEEC sentences all together as one. See if it
makes sense and change it if it doesn’t.
4. Read your TEEC sentence to a partner and ask for
feedback, and then listen to their paragraph and give
them feedback to improve it.
Questions: 1 and then 2 or 3
You must answer question 1 and then either question 2 or 3
1. Which school rule needs to be changed in your opinion, and why?
2. Is it necessary to limit freedom of association in certain situations?
Explain why this might be the case with reference to terrorist
organisations.
3. Why is peaceful protest an important part of the democratic process?

Go through these steps again:

Step 1: Make sure you understand the question: what it is asking you to
do, explain or write?
Step 2: Decide your response and evidence/examples from the textbook:
what is your main idea and reasons, evidence and examples?
Step 3: Plan each of your TEEC sentences, and write and practise it with
a partner.