English // Writing Composition
Organising Writing into Paragraphs
Organise writing into paragraphs, grouping related material around a theme, and use simple organisational devices such as headings and sub-headings in non-narrative writing
Quick check
When the learner writes a longer piece — like a report or a story — do they organise it into paragraphs, with related ideas grouped together and, where appropriate, headings to help the reader navigate?
Ask this to see whether the topic is secure.
Topic // Mastery
What mastery looks like
- Divide a piece of writing into paragraphs, each focused on one main idea or aspect of the topic
- Use headings and sub-headings to organise a non-fiction text (e.g., a report about animals with sections 'Habitat', 'Diet', 'Appearance')
- Identify where a new paragraph should begin in a given text and explain why (e.g., 'A new paragraph starts here because the topic changes from appearance to diet')
Topic // Map
Where this fits
- RequiredMust come first
- HelpfulHelps, but not essential
Before this
3 topicsWriting Composition // Ages 5 to 7
Organising paragraphs requires narrative writing ability
- Writing Process VocabularyRequired
Writing Composition // Ages 5 to 8
Organising into paragraphs requires 'paragraph', 'heading', 'theme', and 'organisation' as named concepts
- Building Writing StaminaRequired
Writing Composition // Ages 6 to 7
Paragraph organisation requires writing for different purposes
You are here
Organising Writing into Paragraphs
Ages 7 to 10 // Method
Leads to
4 topics- Cohesion within paragraphsRequired
Grammar & Punctuation // Ages 9 to 11
Cohesion within paragraphs requires paragraphing knowledge; learners must organise text into paragraphs before learning to build cohesion within them
Writing Composition // Ages 10 to 11
Layout devices build on paragraph organisation
Writing Composition // Ages 6 to 10
Planning skills build on earlier oral skills
- Writing for an audienceHelpful
Writing Composition // Ages 9 to 11
Coherent organisation requires facility with paragraphs and structural devices like headings
Topic // Standards
Curriculum standards
- The national curriculum in England: Key stages 1 and 2 framework document
- Eng.App2.Y3.Text.1Eng.App2.Y3.Text.2Eng.App2.Y4.Text.1Eng.UKS2.Write.Comp.2dEng.UKS2.Write.Comp.2eEng_LKS2_Write_Comp_4Eng_LKS2_Write_Comp_6
English // Writing Composition
More in Writing Composition
- Revising and editing (age 7+)Ages 7 to 11MethodEvaluate and edit writing by assessing effectiveness, proposing changes to grammar and vocabulary for consistency, and proof-reading for spelling, grammar and…
- Narrative WritingAges 7 to 11MethodWrite narratives with developed settings, characters and plot, using dialogue and description to develop experiences and show character responses to situations
- Vivid Word ChoicesAges 8 to 10MethodChoose precise and vivid words and phrases to create specific effects in writing
- Short Research ProjectsAges 8 to 11MethodConduct short research projects that build knowledge about a topic, gather information from print and digital sources, and take brief organised notes
- Choosing Form and Tone for Your AudienceAges 9 to 10Thinking skillIdentify the audience for and purpose of writing before beginning, selecting the appropriate form, tone, and register to match the intended reader and…
- Revising and editing (age 8+)Ages 8 to 9Thinking skillRead back your own writing critically and independently — notice where meaning is unclear, where a word could be stronger, or where the reader might be…
- Writing Craft VocabularyAges 8 to 11LanguageKnow and use the vocabulary of writing craft and effect — form, structure, register, tone, voice, coherence, cohesion, argument, evidence, perspective…
- Rehearsing and Varying SentencesAges 7 to 8MethodCompose and rehearse sentences orally before writing, progressively building varied and rich vocabulary and an increasing range of sentence structures including…