Guided Composition (My Family) – Basic 4 English Lesson Note (First Term)

A guided composition is a short piece of writing in which the teacher gives a topic, a plan and helpful words to follow.

Behavioural objectives

1. State what a guided composition is.
2. Name the members of their family and describe each one.
3. List special characters (qualities) of a family member.
4. Use a plan of introduction, body and conclusion to organise a composition.
5. Write a short composition on “My Family” using correct sentences.

What is a guided composition?

A guided composition is writing that follows a plan, a set of points or a model given by the teacher.

• Topic: the title given, such as “My Family”.
• Guide: the points or questions that tell you what to write.
• Model: a sample composition you read before writing your own.
• Purpose: to help pupils write clear, correct and well-arranged sentences.

What should we write about in “My Family”?

A composition on “My Family” tells the reader who is in your family and what each person is like.

• Family name and address: the surname and where you live.
• Number of members: how many people live together in your home.
• Father: his name, his work and what he enjoys doing.
• Mother: her name, her work and what she does for the family.
• Brothers and sisters: their names, ages and classes.
• Activities together: what the family likes doing.
• Feelings: how you feel about your family.

How do we plan a composition?

A good composition has three parts: an introduction, a body and a conclusion.

What are the steps for writing a guided composition?

1. Read the topic and the guide carefully.
2. List the points you will write about.
3. Write the introduction in two or three sentences.
4. Write about each family member in the body.
5. Write a short conclusion.
6. Read your work again and correct spelling, capital letters and full stops.

What is the model composition on “My Family”?

Read the model below and notice how it follows the plan.

My Family

Introduction

Samson is my family’s name. We live in Lagos at No. 9, Estate Road, Igando. There are five members in my family. They are my parents, my two younger brothers and myself, living together under the same roof.

Body

The name of my father is Mr. Samson Omotayo. He is a trader. He enjoys reading and listening to music when he is free. My mother’s name is Mrs. Ruth Samson. She is a fashion designer.

She looks after the family. Every day she cooks meals for us. She teaches my brothers and me at home. My brothers and I are pupils. I am 12 years old and I am in primary six. Stephen is eight years old and he is in primary four. Nathaniel is six years old and he is in primary two. We enjoy playing together. We like watching cartoons on Cartoon Network.

Conclusion

I love my family and my family loves me. I am very proud of my family.

What are special characters of a family member?

Special characters are the good qualities or habits that make a person different from others.

• Kind: she helps people and shares what she has.
• Hardworking: he works well to take care of the family.
• Honest: he always tells the truth.
• Caring: she looks after the children and cooks for them.
• Funny: he makes the family laugh.
• Neat: she keeps her room and clothes clean.

Which words and sentence starters help us write?

Sentence starters and describing words make your composition clear and easy to read.

• Family words: father, mother, brother, sister, grandfather, grandmother, uncle, aunt, cousin.
• Job words: trader, teacher, nurse, driver, farmer, fashion designer.

What mistakes should we avoid?

• No capital letters: begin each sentence and every name with a capital letter.
• Missing full stops: end every sentence with a full stop.
• Wrong tense: use the present tense, for example “He is a trader”.
• Wrong spelling: check the spelling of names and family words.
• One long sentence: write short sentences, one idea in each.

Evaluation

The teacher asks pupils to:

1. Describe members of their family, noting their special characters.
2. List two special characters of a member of their family.
3. Write a composition on “My Family”.
4. Name the three parts of a composition.

Assignment

Write a composition of eight to ten sentences on “My Best Friend”. Use an introduction, a body and a conclusion.