First Sentences

Model first on an overhead projector, then let students work in pairs or triads.

Offer the title. Ask for questions about the title. Answer the questions, and use one of them as a first sentence. It will usually be much stronger and detailed than the original.

Example title:  My Day In The Country

             Question:  What happened there? (saw my first horse)
             Question:  What did you see?  (animals, big buildings, lots of grass)
             Question:  What was the best thing about the country?  (the horses)

                   Possible first sentences:
                       I saw my first horse in the country.
                       There are lots of things to see in the country.
                       Horses are amazing.


Example title:  The Monster I Saw Yesterday

             Question:   What did it do? (it jumped out and asked me for money)
             Question:   What did it look like? (green, slimy, transparent, mean)
             Question:   What did you do? (ran, screamed, fell)
             Question:   Where was it? (in the park)

                    Possible first sentences:
                        A monster asked me for money yesterday.                        
                        It was green, slimy, transparent, and mean.
                        You should have seen me run!