Box and Circle Strategy

​SCR - Box and Circle Strategy

By ANGELA LOOMIS

TEACH BIG — Box and Circle Strategy

✏️ TEACH BIG: Box and Circle Strategy

Good writers know what the question is really asking!
We use Box and Circle to find out what to write about and what to do.

What is the Box and Circle Strategy?

Look for your nouns and verbs

🟦 Box the Noun/Topic – What the question is about
⚪ Circle the Verb/Charge – What you must do
What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
✅ Box = ice cream flavor
✅ Circle = is

Step 1: Box the Topic

The topic is the subject of the question — what it’s about.

Ask yourself:
👉 “What are they asking me to talk about?”

Example:

What is your favorite sport?
🟦 Box = sport

Step 2: Circle the Verb

The verb tells you what to do.

Ask yourself:
👉 “What action do I need to take?”

Example:

What is your favorite sport?
⚪ Circle = is (tells you to name it)

Multiple Choice

What is your favorite ice cream flavor?

Topic:
What word is the topic (what the question is about)?

• your

• favorite

• ice cream flavor

• is

Multiple Choice

What is your favorite ice cream flavor?

Verb:
What is the Verb/Charge (what the question asks you to do)?

• is

• ice cream

• favorite

• what

Multiple Choice

What is your favorite animal?

Topic:

What word is the topic (what the question is about)?

• animal

• favorite

• is

• your

Multiple Choice

What is your favorite animal?

Topic:

What is the Verb/Charge (what the question asks you to do)?

• is

• ice cream

• favorite

• what

Multiple Choice

What is your favorite season of the year?

Topic:

What word is the topic (what the question is about)?

• season

• year

• favorite

• is

Multiple Choice

What is your favorite season of the year?

Verb/Charge:

What is the verb/charge (what the question asks you to do)?

• is

• what

• of

• favorite

Multiple Choice

If you could have any animal as a pet, what would it be?

Topic:

What word is the topic (what the question is about)?

• If

• animal as a pet

• could

• it

Multiple Choice

If you could have any animal as a pet, what would it be?

Verb/Charge:

What is the verb/charge (what the question asks you to do)?

• have

• what

• is

• be

Multiple Choice

If you could visit anyplace in the world, where would you go?

Topic:

What word is the Topic (what the question is about)?

• anyplace in the world

• you

• visit

• where

Multiple Choice

If you could visit anyplace in the world, where would you go?

Verb/Charge

What word is the verb/charge (what the question asks you to do)?

• could

• visit

• would you go

• world

Multiple Choice

If you could have a superpower, what would it be?

Topic:

What is the topic (what the sentence is about)?

• superpower

• what

• could

• be

Multiple Choice

If you could have a superpower, what would it be?

Verb/Charge:

Which word is the verb/charge: (what it asks you to do)?

• could

• have

• would it be

• superpower

Multiple Choice

How did the setting influence the events?

Topic:

What is the topic (What the question is about)?

• How

• setting

• influence

• events

Multiple Choice

How did the setting influence the events?

verb/charge:

What is the verb/charge (What the questions asks you to do)?

• events

• How

• influence

• did

Open Ended

What is your favorite Thanksgiving food?
Flip the Script:

Open Ended

Who do you like to spend Thanksgiving with?
Flip the Script:

Open Ended

What are you thankful for this year?
Flip the Script:

Open Ended

Where do you celebrate Thanksgiving?
Flip the Script:

Open Ended

Why is Thanksgiving an important holiday?
Flip the Script:

Open Ended

How did the setting influence the events?

Flip the Script:

Open Ended

Would the conflict have been different in another setting?

flip the Script: