7th Grade
What is a Four Square?
A "Four Square" is a graphic organizer used to help you write a strong analytical paragraph. It helps you to ensure that your ideas are clear by following these steps: First, you state the idea you will be writing about (inference). Then, you provide background information (context) for a piece of evidence (quote) that supports your idea. Lastly, you spend most of your space explaining WHY YOUR EVIDENCE SUPPORTS YOUR IDEA (commentary). This last part is often overlooked by young writers and requires some practice. As you work on a four square, you are paying focused attention to every sentence to ensure that everything you write supports your idea in some way. You are not using general (empty) ideas or repeating one or two ideas over and over. These techniques may give you a greater quantity of writing, but they detract from QUALITY. Quality is always our goal. As you become more comfortable with the technique, you will find yourself using it in all types of writing, as you should.
Directions
Follow these directions each time you complete a four-square. ALWAYS print a HARD copy of your four-square on a single side of paper with the paragraph on the back side. Have the assignment printed PRIOR to the beginning of class. You may NOT print assignments once class begins. If the assignment is not printed, it is considered late and is subject to late work penalties.
Rubric
Four Squares and their accompanying paragraph are always graded using this rubric. Review it frequently to make sure you are meeting your requirements.
Blending Quotations
Review this packet if you need a refresher for blending quotations.
Quarter 1
Your first quarter four square must discuss a character trait. Our examples from class are posted below. Note that they only include what we discussed in class; when you write yours independently, it should be a bit longer than these. The Sherlock Holmes example is a finished product.
The four square and accompanying paragraph are due Friday, October 14th. Be sure to review the requirements on the rubric above.
Period 3 "Sea Fever" Four Square
Period 9 "Sea Fever" Four Square
"The Adventure of the Speckled Band" Sherlock Holmes character trait four square
The four square and accompanying paragraph are due Friday, October 14th. Be sure to review the requirements on the rubric above.
Period 3 "Sea Fever" Four Square
Period 9 "Sea Fever" Four Square
"The Adventure of the Speckled Band" Sherlock Holmes character trait four square
Quarter 2
Your second quarter four square must discuss a theme. Note that a theme must be a complete statement, not just one word. A single word, such as "hope" is called a thematic concept. A full theme will be a statment about that concept. i.e. "Hope is a choice made by individuals."
The four square and accompanying paragraph are due Friday, December 23rd. Be sure to review the requirements on the rubric above.
Treasure Island Theme Example Four Square
The four square and accompanying paragraph are due Friday, December 23rd. Be sure to review the requirements on the rubric above.
Treasure Island Theme Example Four Square
Quarter 3
Your third quarter four square will discuss how a particular literary element creates a particular mood. Think about the activities we did in class about how Johnston McCulley uses tone and dramatic irony to create a humorous mood in The Mark of Zorro.
The four square and accompanying paragraph are due Friday, March 10th. Be sure to review the requirements on the rubric above.
Sample Mood Four Square on The Mark of Zorro.
The four square and accompanying paragraph are due Friday, March 10th. Be sure to review the requirements on the rubric above.
Sample Mood Four Square on The Mark of Zorro.
Quarter 4
Your fourth quarter four square will be on a classic novel; you will write about what you think makes it a classic. We'll discuss details later, but for now choose a book and get reading. Some examples of books that are always popular with my students are below. Final Four Squares are due Friday, May 19th.
Sample inferences for classic four square:
“Jane Austen’s characterization makes Pride and Prejudice an unforgettable depiction of life in rural England at the turn of the eighteenth century.”
“Alexander Dumas’s plot development in The Count of Monte Cristo has intrigued readers for more than a century.”
“Ernest Hemingway’s writing style in The Old Man and the Sea creates a lasting form of beauty.”
“The symbolism in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein makes it a captivating representation of the complexities of human nature.”
“Jane Austen’s characterization makes Pride and Prejudice an unforgettable depiction of life in rural England at the turn of the eighteenth century.”
“Alexander Dumas’s plot development in The Count of Monte Cristo has intrigued readers for more than a century.”
“Ernest Hemingway’s writing style in The Old Man and the Sea creates a lasting form of beauty.”
“The symbolism in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein makes it a captivating representation of the complexities of human nature.”