Multi-paragraph essays worksheets
Aligned with Common Core W.4.1
Printable fourth-grade essay writing worksheets: an essay structure chart, writing hooks, finding topic sentences, transitions between paragraphs, opinion, informative and story planners, and a revise-and-edit checklist.
The worksheets
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Essay Structure Chart
The parts of a multi-paragraph essay, with an example of each, transition words for starting a new paragraph, and how to indent.
Hook Your Reader
Four kinds of hooks (a question, a surprising fact, a sound or action, and a short scene), each with an example, then three essay topics to write your own hooks for.
Find the Topic Sentence
Short paragraphs with their sentences mixed up, to find the topic sentence and put the rest in order. Fewer, Standard or More give 2, 3 or 4 paragraphs. Includes an answer key.
Transitions Between Paragraphs
Four short essays, two opinion, one informative and one story, with a blank at the start of each paragraph and a word bank of transitions. Includes an answer key.
Opinion Essay Planner
A five-paragraph planner for an opinion essay, with a prompt like "Should the school day start later in the morning?" Each new sheet shows a different prompt.
Informative Essay Planner
A five-paragraph planner for an informative essay, with a prompt like "Explain how a plant grows from a seed." Each new sheet shows a different prompt.
Story Planner
A five-paragraph story planner with a story idea like "You wake up and your dog can talk." Each new sheet shows a different idea.
Revise and Edit Checklist
A checklist for a multi-paragraph essay, with revising checks like hooks, topic sentences and transitions, editing checks like indents, capitals and spelling, and boxes for you and a partner.
Print the whole packet
One copy of every sheet above, in order. Tap + for more copies (up to 10).
For the parent or teacher
What it is
In 4th grade, students move from writing one paragraph to writing several. An essay has an introduction that hooks the reader and gives the main idea, body paragraphs that each cover one point with a topic sentence and details, and a conclusion that sums it up. Transitions link the paragraphs. The same structure works for opinion essays, informative essays and stories.
What comes next
The 3rd grade Opinion, informative and story writing topic covers planning a single paragraph, if your student needs a refresher.
How to teach it
- Teach in order or jump to whatever your student needs. A student may write strong paragraphs and still be learning to connect them.
- Plan before writing. A planner keeps each paragraph to one main idea.
- Start every body paragraph with a topic sentence that tells what it's about.
- Use transitions like first of all, in addition and in conclusion to move between paragraphs.
- Read the finished essay out loud and use the checklist to revise and edit.
Common mistakes
- Writing one long paragraph instead of breaking it into several.
- Mixing two main ideas in one paragraph.
- Starting the essay with "This essay is about..." instead of a hook.
- Ending without a conclusion, or adding a brand-new idea at the end.