{"id":5531,"date":"2026-04-10T19:09:20","date_gmt":"2026-04-11T02:09:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/patternbasedwriting.com\/elementary_writing_success\/?p=5531"},"modified":"2026-04-10T19:09:20","modified_gmt":"2026-04-11T02:09:20","slug":"tell-them-model-writing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/patternbasedwriting.com\/elementary_writing_success\/tell-them-model-writing\/","title":{"rendered":"The Tell Them Model: The Fastest Way to Teach Clear, Organized Writing (Beginning, Middle, End)"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3>Want Students to Write Clear Essays\u2014Fast?<\/h3>\n<p>Most students struggle with writing for one simple reason: They don\u2019t understand structure.\u00a0Give them the right structure, however, and everything changes\u2014quickly.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s where the <strong>Tell Them Model<\/strong> comes in. It\u2019s simple, powerful, and\u2014when taught correctly\u2014transformational.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>What Is the Tell Them Model in Writing?<\/h3>\n<p>The Tell Them Model is a writing structure where the introduction previews the main points, the body explains them, and the conclusion summarizes them. It helps students write clear, organized essays.<\/p>\n<p><strong>In short:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Tell them what you are going to tell them.<\/li>\n<li>Tell them.<\/li>\n<li>Finally, tell them what you told them.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Why This Model Works So Well<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>The <strong>introduction<\/strong> previews what\u2019s coming<\/li>\n<li>The <strong>body<\/strong> delivers the content<\/li>\n<li>The <strong>conclusion<\/strong> reinforces the message<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The conclusion connects it all and brings the writing full circle.\u00a0In <span style=\"font-family: 'arial black', sans-serif; color: #1258cd;\"><a style=\"color: #1258cd;\" href=\"https:\/\/patternbasedwriting.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pattern Based Writing: Quick &amp; Easy Essay<\/a><\/span>, I call this <strong>ROC-It! (Repeat or Connect). <\/strong>It&#8217;s a simple and highly effective strategy and technique to help students connect endings back to beginnings and bring their writing full circle to effectively conclude.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>The Backbone of the Five-Paragraph Essay<\/h3>\n<p>Have you ever taught any of these?<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Five-paragraph essays<\/li>\n<li>Hamburger paragraphs<\/li>\n<li>Sandwich essays<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If so, then you\u2019ve already taught the Tell Them Model.\u00a0Put simply, the TELL THEM MODEL is the organizational backbone of expository writing and much of persuasive writing.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>The Real Challenge: Introductions That Actually Work<\/h3>\n<p>The middle is easy\u2014students can usually \u201ctell them.\u201d\u00a0But introductions?\u00a0That\u2019s where many struggle or simply fail.<\/p>\n<p>In short, how do you preview what\u2019s coming\u2014and still make the reader want to keep reading?<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Two Powerful Types of Introductions<\/h3>\n<h4>1. The Blatant \u201cTell Them\u201d Introduction<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Clear and direct<\/li>\n<li>Outlines the essay<\/li>\n<li>Ideal for academic writing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4>2. The Attention-Grabbing Tell Them Introduction<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Builds curiosity<\/li>\n<li>Hints at what\u2019s coming<\/li>\n<li>Increases engagement<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Best practice:<\/strong> Teach both. Start with clarity, then build creativity.<\/p>\n<h4>Example Topic: Why School Is Fun<\/h4>\n<h4>1. The Blatant \u201cTell Them\u201d Introduction (Outline Style)<\/h4>\n<p>School can be a fun and exciting place for many reasons. In this essay, I will explain why school is fun by looking at three main ideas: learning new and interesting things, spending time with friends, and participating in enjoyable activities.<\/p>\n<h4>2. The Attention-Grabbing Tell Them Introduction<\/h4>\n<p>The bell rings, and instead of feeling bored, you feel excited. Why? Because school is not just about sitting at a desk\u2014it\u2019s a place where you discover new ideas, laugh with friends, and take part in activities you actually enjoy.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>\u201cTell Them\u201d Is Everywhere<\/h3>\n<p>Have you ever noticed any of these when reading a book, magazine, blog, or newspaper?<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Titles and subtitles<\/li>\n<li>Headings and subheadings<\/li>\n<li>Topic sentences<\/li>\n<li>Thesis statements<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>All of these help readers <strong>preview, navigate, and understand<\/strong> writing. In short, these structures all TELL!<\/p>\n<p>The Tell Them Model is not just for essays\u2014it\u2019s built into almost every form of communication. Titles, headings, topic sentences, and even book covers all \u201ctell\u201d the reader what\u2019s coming next.<\/p>\n<p>This helps readers quickly understand, navigate, and decide if they want to keep reading. Strong writers use these elements intentionally to guide their audience and create interest before the reader even reaches the main content.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Teach This Faster and Better<\/h3>\n<p>If your goal is to help students quickly master:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Paragraph structure<\/li>\n<li>Essay organization<\/li>\n<li>Clear thinking<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: 'arial black', sans-serif; color: #1258cd;\"><a style=\"color: #1258cd;\" href=\"https:\/\/patternbasedwriting.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pattern Based Writing: Quick &amp; Easy Essay<\/a><\/span> is the fastest, most effective way to get there.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>When Should You Not Use the Tell Them Model?<\/h3>\n<p>Avoid the Tell Them Model in narrative and descriptive writing, where suspense and imagery are important, and in persuasive writing with hostile audiences.<\/p>\n<h4>Example: Spoiling the Surprise<\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"color: #1258cd;\"><strong>Narrative (Spoiled):<\/strong> <\/span>Jake was going to win the race, even though he didn\u2019t know it yet. As he ran, his legs burned and his lungs ached.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #1258cd;\"><strong>Narrative (Better):<\/strong><\/span> Jake\u2019s legs burned and his lungs ached as he pushed forward. One runner after another faded behind him. The finish line drew closer\u2026 and suddenly, the crowd erupted.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #1258cd;\"><strong>Effect:<\/strong><\/span> In the first version, the outcome is revealed too early, removing suspense. In the second, the reader experiences the moment as it unfolds.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"color: #1258cd;\"><strong>Descriptive (Spoiled):<\/strong><\/span> The old house was scary and abandoned. Broken windows and creaky floors made it feel eerie.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #1258cd;\"><strong>Descriptive (Better):<\/strong><\/span> Wind whispered through shattered windows as the floorboards groaned beneath each step. A loose door creaked slowly open, as if something inside had been waiting.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #1258cd;\"><strong>Effect:<\/strong><\/span> In the first version, the description is told directly. In the second, the reader sees and feels the scene, creating a stronger image.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>When the Tell Them Model Doesn\u2019t Work<\/h3>\n<p>Here\u2019s something most writing instruction leaves out:\u00a0The Tell Them Model is not always the best choice. It can be highly problematic in these types of writing.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Narrative writing<\/li>\n<li>Descriptive writing<\/li>\n<li>Some persuasive situations<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Before you teach this model as a one-size-fits-all solution, it\u2019s essential to understand its limits.\u00a0<strong>Read this next:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><a href=\"https:\/\/patternbasedwriting.com\/elementary_writing_success\/four-modes-of-discourse\/\"><span style=\"font-family: 'arial black', sans-serif; color: #1258cd;\">The Four Modes of Discourse: When the Tell Them Model Works\u2014and When It Fails<\/span><br \/>\n<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Final Takeaway<\/h3>\n<p>The Tell Them Model is the <strong>foundation of clear writing<\/strong>.\u00a0Once students understand it, they can:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Organize ideas<\/li>\n<li>Communicate clearly<\/li>\n<li>Build strong essays<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>But skill and mastery comes from knowing when and how to go beyond it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Want Students to Write Clear Essays\u2014Fast? Most students struggle with writing for one simple reason: They don\u2019t understand structure.\u00a0Give them the right structure, however, and everything changes\u2014quickly. That\u2019s where the Tell Them Model comes in. It\u2019s simple, powerful, and\u2014when taught correctly\u2014transformational. What Is the Tell Them Model in Writing? The Tell Them Model is a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[70,380,520],"tags":[654,657,655,648,651,31,653,656],"class_list":["post-5531","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-remedial-writing-instruction","category-teaching-elementary-writing","category-teaching-middle-school-writing","tag-beginning-middle-end-writing-structure","tag-expository-writing-structure","tag-five-paragraph-essay-structure","tag-how-to-teach-essay-writing","tag-paragraph-writing-strategies","tag-teaching-writing-organization","tag-tell-them-model-writing","tag-writing-instruction-for-teachers"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/patternbasedwriting.com\/elementary_writing_success\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5531","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/patternbasedwriting.com\/elementary_writing_success\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/patternbasedwriting.com\/elementary_writing_success\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/patternbasedwriting.com\/elementary_writing_success\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/patternbasedwriting.com\/elementary_writing_success\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5531"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"https:\/\/patternbasedwriting.com\/elementary_writing_success\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5531\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5574,"href":"https:\/\/patternbasedwriting.com\/elementary_writing_success\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5531\/revisions\/5574"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/patternbasedwriting.com\/elementary_writing_success\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5531"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/patternbasedwriting.com\/elementary_writing_success\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5531"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/patternbasedwriting.com\/elementary_writing_success\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5531"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}