HOW TO WRITE A PARAGRAPH

PARAGRAPH

• A paragraph has three major structural parts

• 1. a topic sentence

• 2. 5 or more sentences (supporting details)

• 3. a concluding sentence

HOW TO WRITE A PARAGRAPH

• Topic sentence

• 1. State your main idea for the paragraph.

• 2. Has to capture the reader’s interest

WHAT IS WRONG WITH THESE TOPIC SENTENCES?• 1. My hometown is famous because it is located by Wheaton River, which is very wide,

and because it is built near an unusually steep hill called Wheaton Hill.

• (too many details)

• Clouds are white.

• (boring because it is too general)

• There are two reasons why some people like to buy cars with automatic transmissions and two reasons for those who want cars with manual transmissions.

• (focus on one topic)

BETTER TOPIC SENTENCES

• 1. Wheaton River’s unique geographic landmarks sets it apart from other towns in this region.

• 2. There are two reasons why some people like to buy cars with automatic transmission.

• 3. Have you every wondered why clouds are white?

• POINT

• Topic sentences must:

• Let the reader know what the main point of your paragraph will be

• Capture the reader’s interest

• He collects books that were written over a hundred years ago. But he is also interested in the best sellers of today. If I ever need to get him a present, I know I can always please him by buying him a book.

• Which of the following topic sentences is the best one for the above paragraph?

• A. Reading is fun.

• B. Books are my father’s hobby.

• C. My father was a main influence in my life.

HOW TO WRITE A PARAGRAPH

• 2. Supporting sentences develop the topic sentence

• They do this by giving:

• reasons

• examples

• facts

• statistics

• quotations

•

MY HOMETOWN’S UNIQUE GEOGRAPHIC LANDMARKS SETS IT APART FROM OTHER TOWNS IN THIS REGION.• Example of supporting details

• First, it should be noted that Wheaton River is very wide and beautiful. Also, on the other side of town is Wheaton Hill, which is extremely steep. The third amazing feature is the Big Old Tree. This tree has been standing for over six hundred years and is approximately two hundred feet tall.

• THREE FACTS

• River is wide

• Hill is steep

• Tree- old

DETAILS IN PARAGRAPH• First, it should be noted that Wheaton River is very wide and beautiful. ON EITHER SIDE OF

THIS RIVER, WHICH IS 175 FEET WIDE, ARE MANY WILLOW TREES. THESE TREES HAVE LONG BRANCHES AND OFTEN MOVE GRACEFULLY IN THE WIND. IN THE FALL, THE LEAVES OF THESE TREES FALL AND COVER THE RIVERBANKS LIKE GOLDEN SNOW. Also, on the other side of town is Wheaton Hill, which is extremely steep. EVEN THOUGH IT IS STEEP, CLIMBING THIS HILL IS NOT DANGEROUS, BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME FIRM ROCKS ALONG THE SIDES THAT CAN BE USED AS STAIRS. THERE ARE NO TREES AROUND THE HILL, SO IT STANDS CLEARLY AGAINST THE SKY AND CAN BE SEEN FROM MANY MILES AWAY. The third amazing feature is the Big Old Tree. This tree has been standing for over six hundred years and is approximately two hundred feet tall.

• DETAILS MAKE YOUR PARAGRAPH INTERESTING

• DETAILS MUST BEST RELATE TO THE MAIN POINT THAT YOU WANT TO GET ACROSS IN YOUR PARAGRAPH

CONCLUDING SENTENCE• Concluding Sentence

• The concluding sentence marks the end of the paragraph and often summarizes or raises the key point of the paragraph.

• CONCLUDING SENTENCE

• First, it should be noted that Wheaton River is very wide and beautiful. ON EITHER SIDE OF THIS RIVER, WHICH IS 175 FEET WIDE, ARE MANY WILLOW TREES. THESE TREES HAVE LONG BRANCHES AND OFTEN MOVE GRACEFULLY IN THE WIND. IN THE FALL, THE LEAVES OF THESE TREES FALL AND COVER THE RIVERBANKS LIKE GOLDEN SNOW. Also, on the other side of town is Wheaton Hill, which is extremely steep. EVEN THOUGH IT IS STEEP, CLIMBING THIS HILL IS NOT DANGEROUS, BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME FIRM ROCKS ALONG THE SIDES THAT CAN BE USED AS STAIRS. THERE ARE NO TREES AROUND THE HILL, SO IT STANDS CLEARLY AGAINST THE SKY AND CAN BE SEEN FROM MANY MILES AWAY. The third amazing feature is the Big Old Tree. This tree has been standing for over six hundred years and is approximately two hundred feet tall. These three landmarks are truly amazing and they make my hometown a special place.

FINAL RESULT

Wheaton River’s unique geographic landmarks sets it apart from other towns in this region. First, it should be noted that Wheaton River is very wide and beautiful. ON EITHER SIDE OF THIS RIVER, WHICH IS 175 FEET WIDE, ARE MANY WILLOW TREES. THESE TREES HAVE LONG BRANCHES AND OFTEN MOVE GRACEFULLY IN THE WIND. IN THE FALL, THE LEAVES OF THESE TREES FALL AND COVER THE RIVERBANKS LIKE GOLDEN SNOW. Also, on the other side of town is Wheaton Hill, which is extremely steep. EVEN THOUGH IT IS STEEP, CLIMBING THIS HILL IS NOT DANGEROUS, BECAUSE THERE ARE SOME FIRM ROCKS ALONG THE SIDES THAT CAN BE USED AS STAIRS. THERE ARE NO TREES AROUND THE HILL, SO IT STANDS CLEARLY AGAINST THE SKY AND CAN BE SEEN FROM MANY MILES AWAY. The third amazing feature is the Big Old Tree. This tree has been standing for over six hundred years and is approximately two hundred feet tall. These three landmarks are truly amazing and they make my hometown a special place.

GOOD PARAGRAPH• 1. Topic Sentence

• (a. state the main point for your topic)

• (b. capture the reader’s interest)

• 2. 3 or more sentences supporting the topic sentence

• (Details- PICK THE MOST INTERESTING AND THE ONES THAT BEST RELATE)

• 3. Conclusion

• (summarizes the main point of your paragraph)

INTERVIEW WITH A PARTNER• Take the information that you collected from your partner the other day, and come up with

a paragraph that best describes that person.

• Remember the key points for a good paragraph