PARAST

PARAST is a paragraph writing strategy.

P   Preview ideas

• If the learner has difficulty coming up with an idea, ask questions about daily life, work, family, relationships, upcoming events, current events, etc. The learner should choose the idea.

A   Assemble ideas

• Use mind-maps to find related ideas and details to fill out the paragraph.

R   Reveal main idea

• Ask the learner to write a sentence that states the main idea (or thought) of her paragraph. (The main body of the mind-map may show her the main idea.) Work on writing a clear sentence with only one main idea.

A   Add detail sentences

• If the paragraph is descriptive, add details that describe the main thought. If the paragraph is based on an opinion, add details to support the argument.

S   Summarize with clincher

• The final sentence of the paragraph should summarize the main idea.

T   Trash errors, using the COPS strategy

Saskatchewan level 1 tutor training kit: Tutor manual. (2000). Saskatoon, Saskatchewan: Saskatchewan Literacy Network. Used with permission. Contact the Network at www.sk.literacy.ca or 1-888-511-2111.

Handout 7.12