Paragraph Writing

A Guide to Good Paragraph Writing Ms. Ratliff English and Literature

Author’s Purpose
Before you begin writing, you must figure out what the purpose of the paragraph is.
Are you writing to
Persuade?
Inform?
Entertain?
Share Feelings?

Writing to Persuade…
Persuade means to try to convince someone to think the same way you do.
Examples:
Advertisements
Newspaper editorials
Posters
Junk mail

Writing to Inform…
Inform means to give someone information about something.
Examples:
News reports
Research papers
School Newsletters
Instructions
Maps
Graphs

Writing to Entertain…
Entertain means to amuse someone.
Examples:
Fictional stories
Comics
Poems
Jokes
Riddles

Writing to Share Feelings…
Sharing feelings means to tell the reader what you are thinking.
Examples:
Journals
Diaries
Letters

Types of Paragraphs
Descriptive
A descriptive paragraph is meant to entertain .
It tells what the subject looks, sounds, feels, tastes, and/or smells like by using vivid imagery.
Narrative
A narrative paragraph is meant to entertain .
It tells a story.

Types of Paragraphs
Expository
An expository paragraph is meant to inform .
It provides information or explains a subject. Or, it gives steps and shows how to do something.
Persuasive
A persuasive paragraph is meant to persuade .
It proves your belief or feeling about something.

What is a Paragraph?
A paragraph consists of one or more sentences discussing a single thought.
For English and literature classes, your paragraphs must ALWAYS be 5-7 sentences .
A paragraph should never have more than one idea. The sentences must be related to the main idea.

Structure of a Paragraph
First Sentence: Topic Sentence
Purpose of a topic sentence?
To generate interest
To state the main idea

Second Sentence: Support Sentence (1)
Purpose of a Support Sentence?
Introduces the main point # 1
Gives information or examples
Third Sentence: Support Sentence (2)

Fourth Sentence: Support Sentence (3)
Fifth Sentence: Concluding Sentence
Purpose of a Concluding Sentence?
Restates the topic sentence in new way.
Leaves the reader with something to think about or wanting more.

How do I make it interesting?
Topic Sentences and Concluding Sentences
You must hook the reader with a topic sentence and leave the reader thinking and wanting more with a concluding sentence!
Examples:
Rhetorical question- A question that makes someone think, rather than respond.
Imagery- Creating a picture in the reader’s mind by making the reader see, hear, taste, smell, or touch what is being described.

How do I know when to start a new paragraph?
Start a new paragraph when
You begin a new idea.
Your reader needs a pause (try not to have paragraphs over seven sentences).

How do I transition ideas within a paragraph or among paragraphs?
Use transition words!
Examples:
First, second, third, etc.
Last, finally, most of all
Overall, in conclusion
For that reason, therefore
Additionally, also
Can you think of any other transition words???

What should I avoid?
Try not to use the same word at the start of a sentence more than twice in one paragraph!
Reading the same word over and over is distracting.
Do not change verb tenses!
Write all sentences in either present tense or past tense, not both.
Never start or end a paragraph with the following:
This is how I feel about …. OR I will tell you about ….
Now you know about … OR This was the story of …
These types of sentences are known as “filler” sentences. They serve no purpose but to take up space. They are not interesting, and they do not provide any information.

Sample Paragraph
St. Therese was many things, but most of all, she was a caring sister and daughter. Therese did little deeds to help her sisters and father. She put her family first by helping out with chores. Therese would clean for her family, and she would never complain. How many sisters and daughters can say that they lived their lives like St. Therese lived hers?

Judge the Paragraph
1. What is the main idea of this paragraph?
2. What is the concluding sentence?
3. What do you notice about the first line of the
paragraph?
4. Do all the sentences in the paragraph
support the main idea?
5. What is the first main point? Second main
point? Third main point?
6. What transition words are used?
7. Does the starting word of a sentence repeat more
than twice?

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Paragraph Writing

by Little Flower Catholic School on Oct 07, 2009

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