This document provides information about writing paragraphs, including the key elements. It defines a paragraph as a series of coherent, related sentences on a single topic. The three main elements are the topic sentence, supporting sentences, and concluding sentence. Topic sentences introduce the main idea. Supporting sentences provide details and examples to develop the main idea. Concluding sentences summarize the paragraph's point. Transitional words like "moreover" and "furthermore" help sentences flow together logically. Two examples demonstrate how to incorporate these elements effectively. The document concludes by linking to a video further explaining paragraphs and their structure.

1. World Celebrations in Letters:
A Writing Experience

2. What is a paragraph?
It is a series of sentences that are organized and
coherent, and are all related to a single topic. It includes
the topic sentence, supporting sentences as well as
concluding sentences that refer to an overall structure.

3. Elements of a Paragraph

4. Topic Sentence
What is a topic sentence?
The topic sentence is the first sentence in a paragraph. It tells the reader what
the paragraph is about.
What does it do?
It introduces the main idea of the paragraph. It also needs to grab the readers’
attention in order to make them want to continue reading.
How do you write one?
Summarize the main idea of your paragraph. Make clear what your paragraph
will be about.

5. Supporting Sentences
What are the supporting sentences?
They can come after the Topic Sentence making up the body of the paragraph.
What do they do?
They give details to develop and support the main idea of the paragraph. They always
follow a logical and chronological flow.
How do you write them?
You should give important facts, details and examples. Try to separate them into
three or four details, and then take one or two lines to discuss each one.

6. Concluding sentence
What is a concluding sentence?
The concluding sentence is the last sentence in a paragraph.
What does it do?
It summarizes the main idea of a paragraph.
How do you write one?
Summarize the main idea of the paragraph using different words. You can end a
paragraph with a personal connection like your opinion, views or feelings about the
topic.

7. Some useful transitional words to write a good paragraph
Using transitional words between sentences builds the unity and coherence of
paragraphs. Transitional words like next, similarly, or for instance make sentences
flow together, showing how supporting details build on each other and relate to the
topic. Some of them are:
 To show addition: again, and, also, besides, equally important, first, second…,in
addition, furthermore, moreover, next, too.
 To give example: for example, for instance, in fact, to illustrate.
 To conclude: in conclusion, all in all, in other words, in short, in summary, on the
whole, therefore, to sum up.

8. Examples

9. Example 1
My Experience in the Access program
Written by Mariangela Rosario and adapted by professors Rodriguez and Tineo.
Being part of the Access program has been the most wonderful experience in my life.
First, I feel I belong to a great family of young talented people who are always willing to
learn new things. Second, I have never had teachers with such enthusiasm for teaching.
Third, all the activities we do have enriched us, not only as students learning a foreign
language, but also to be good citizens. We have shared so many good moments as a
group. In addition, we have had the opportunity to contact our peers in Haiti, and it has
made me realize how much I have progressed learning English. All in all, I am an Access
member and I will always be one no matter what.
Topic SentenceSupporting SentencesConcluding SentenceTransition Words

10. Example 2
Video Games and Violence
Violent video games are harmful to young people. First, playing
these games can cause changes in the behavior of young people.
Frequent players have poorer grades in school, according to
psychologists. Second, violent video games make young people less
sensitive to violence in the real world. The games are toxic to children
because it looks fun to shoot and kill. In short, I feel that violent video
games are harmful to young people and should be controlled or
banned.

11. Video about what a paragraph is and what its parts are
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQRoAiVyR0k

12. Activity: Writing a paragraph
Objectives:
To introduce students to formal writing.
To build awareness on students about important dates in the US.

13. Steps
1)Read all the information given in the Power Point Presentation.
2) Watch the video and take personal notes on your notebook.
3) Write a formal paragraph. No more than 10 sentences, and remember it
must contain all its parts. Pay attention to punctuation, capitalization and
spelling.

14. 4) Select one of the following topics to write your paragraph:
 Democracy Day
 Citizenship Day
 World Peace Day
5) Before writing your paragraph, do some research about the selected topic, so you can get
ideas, facts and important dates related to it. Make sure you do not copy and paste the
information you may find. You must use your own words.
6) Upload your paragraph to the Schoology platform.