Paragraph development workshop

Paragraph Development
Not as hard as this

After this workshop, you should be able to . . .
Define what a paragraph is
Enumerate the elements of a paragraph
Choose an appropriate topic sentence then come up with supporting details
Arrange details according to proper order of ideas
Come up with a paragraph concluding sentence

What is a paragraph?
Group of sentences that develop an idea
It has 5-12 sentences

What’s in a paragraph?
Topic Sentence
The main idea
located at the beginning of the paragraph
Body
supporting details
Must relate to the sentence before
Conclusion
Summary of information or
Conclusion of the information given

Steps in producing a paragraph
Choose the topic
Narrow down the topic
Write down the topic sentence
Generate ideas/details for the body
Choose appropriate ideas
Arrange the ideas in order
Write the draft
Revise the draft

Choosing a topic
Topic is assigned
If not, then choose something you know
Too broad: cannot be contained in one paragraph
Too narrow: hard to come up with ideas that support TS

Narrowing down the topic
Not too general and not too specific
Example (too general): What is life?
can write a whole book about this
must be explained in 5-12 sentences

Narrowing down the topic
Example (too specific): We breathe in oxygen.
hard to come up with supporting details about this
Example (suitable enough): Why I love to go hiking?

Writing the topic sentence
Must be written in a complete sentence
Must be written as a statement:
Why do I love to go hiking?
I love to go hiking because I love being outdoors.

Body: Generating ideas/details
Brainstorming: Technique that helps generate ideas.
Think about the TS and write down all relating things that come to mind

Ideas for the Topic Sentence
When I hike, I see beautiful sights
When I hike, I get tired and faint.
When I hike, I get a good exercise
I have a good time with friends I hike with.
I feel accomplished after each hike.

Choosing Appropriate Ideas
Pick ideas that are most relevant to the TS
Not contradict, but support instead
Example: When I hike, I get tired and faint.
This contradicts why I love hiking.

Arranging ideas in order
Must arrange ideas in an order that make sense
Use one important idea after the TS
Use the less important ones in the middle of the paragraph
End with another important idea

Example of arranging ideas:
When I hike, I see beautiful sights 1
When I hike, I get a good exercise 3
I have a good time with friends I hike with. 2
I feel accomplished after each hike. 4

Draft: Write it
I love to go hiking because I love being outdoors. When I am outdoors, I see beautiful sights. Seeing beautiful sceneries with a friend whom I hike with is amazing. Not only that hiking gives us a good time together, we also get a good exercise as we do it. And so, I feel accomplished after each hike.

Revise
After composing the paragraph, look it over and over
Make changes to make it more interesting and understandable

Proofread and Edit
Check for spelling and grammar mistakes

Now it’s your turn to construct a paragraph
Subject: ___________________
Topic:______________________
Topic Sentence:__________________
Supporting Ideas:
_______________
_______________

Paragraph development workshop

by weigansm

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