SPOKEN 3.3
Proof: Using an Example
Grades 1-3
Writing’s most important words are “For example” and “For instance.”
They help you communicate with your readers or listeners.
Task 3.3.1 – Tandem
If you use “For example” or “For instance,”then you must follow them with a sentence.
Pick out the examples below in which the “most important words” are followed by a sentence.
Remember: If it sounds like a sentence, then it’s usually a sentence.
- For example, Lewis and Clark explored Western America.
- For example, crows, ravens, and owls.
- For instance, Alfie got a chemistry set, and Regina got 10 valuable comic books.
- For instance, Barton likes pickles, and Marilda loves olives.
- For instance, the house on 54th street, the one on 11th avenue, and the mobile home park over on 1st and Walbee.
Other Types of Examples
You don’t have to say “For example” or “For instance” to have an example. You can just start saying the example.
For instance, pretend your first sentence and your Describe section looked like this:
Dogs make me sad. When I’m sad I sit by a tree by the playground. I don’t want to play or talk to anybody.
The example begins:
I used to have a golden retriever named Rusty. He loved to chase the Frisbee I would throw in the clover field behind our house….
Using an Example
You might say, “Remember last Christmas?”
Then you tell all about it. That’s using an example.
Every great writer and speaker uses examples.
For example, Jesus told short stories called parables to explain things.
The parables were examples of things everyone should know.
The Importance of Examples
Before writing was invented, ancient peoples used examples to explain important things.
And examples are still important today.
For example, when you and your friends are talking, Billy starts talking about something that happened to him.
The example he uses makes Marista remember something that happened to her, too.
Examples are so important that, if writing or giving a speech, if you can’t think of something to say, just use “For example,” and give the example.
Good Examples
The best examples keep things short, like focusing on just one special day. Don’t try to tell about a whole week. Talking about ONE day makes your listeners feel like they’re right there with you.
Task 3.3.2 – Individual
I loved Jackson, my golden retriever. One day, he…
OR
For example, I had to give a speech in Mr. Wyrick’s class.
He teaches second grade here in Rawlings, Wyoming.
Task 3.3.3 – Class
Close your eyes. Think of something that happened to you. It doesn’t have to be something important.
When you open your eyes, your teacher will ask you questions, such as
- What happened?
- Where were you exactly?
- What kind of weather was it?
- How did you feel about what happened?
- What did the people or animals look like exactly?
The Grocery List
Does your mother keep a grocery list of things she needs to buy at the supermarket? She adds things as she thinks of them. There is no order to them.
Task 3.3.4 – Class
Close your eyes. This time, think of something that happened to you that involves whatever the class chose for the blank in “I + __________.” What you think of–
- does not have to be important.
- does not have to be real. (But it must be something that could have happened to you.)
Your teacher will write down what you say. There won’t be any order to the information you give.
For example:
1st sentence: Dogs make me sad.
Describe: When I’m sad I want to be alone. I sit by a tree by the playground and don’t play with the other kids.
Example:
I loved Jackson, my golden retriever.
He was crazy about catching Frisbees.
One day, it was a sunny, humid day
Field beside a farm.
Old barn in the distance.
Guy up on a ladder.
Blue coveralls.
Windvane that looked like a rooster
Weathered wood
A neon sign on the barn said Holly’s Greenery. In green.
Frisbee hit the windvane.
Guy grabbed it.
Guy must have been a professional Frisbee player or something.
He threw it.
Went over the trees.
Jackson went chasing after it.
Evergreens.
I chased after Jackson.
Freeway beyond the trees.
The Frisbee landed on top of a semi.
The truck was driving off with Jackson’s favorite toy!
Screeching brakes.
A cement truck hit Jackson.
I cried and cried.
We buried him in the backyard.
My dad made a cross.
We had a little funeral.
I told myself I would never own another dog.
Organizing Information
We cannot say things in any order we want. The reader or listener will be confused.
One way to organize information is–
First to Last
Here, you put the information by what happened first, then next, and so on.
Using Numbers and Letters
Use numbers to put the information in order.
If you make a mistake then use a number and letter.
For example, let’s say you were organizing the information below.
14 Honking
15 Screeching tires
I YELLED at Jackson
Let’s say that the yelling came after the honking but before the screeching of tires. Instead of erasing, use a letter:
14 Honking
15 Screeching tires
14a I YELLED at Jackson
APPLICATION – Class
Gathering information
As a class, come up with an example.
The teacher will ask you questions and write the information on the board.
Then you and your classmates will put the information in order.
APPLICATION – Tandem
Tell the story to a classmate. Put the information in a First to Last order.
Summary Statement (don’t say the headings)
I had a problem with a talking dog because it made prank phone calls in Athabascan.
Old Section
1st sentence: Dogs used to make me sad.
Discuss: I would sit and watch TV all day. But I wasn’t really watching.
I would just stare at the TV.
Example Information
- Jackson
- Frisbee
- Golden retriever
- Hit by cement truck
- Funeral
- Man on a barn
- Honking
- Screeching tires
- I YELLED at Jackson
- Dad put a cross on his grave.
- It landed on top of a truck.
- 18-wheeler
- I remember it said Fritos on its side
- I would never own another dog!
- I cried all night.