The document provides guidance on writing effective paragraphs, which should have three parts: a beginning (claim), middle (evidence), and end (tie-back). It uses a stoplight analogy and provides examples to illustrate how to structure paragraphs with a topic sentence, supporting details, and concluding sentence. It then walks through writing two sample paragraphs on the topics of dogs making great pets and having to attend school.

1. How to Write Paragraphs!
A quick primer.
Paragraphs need 3 parts:
•A beginning (claim)
•A middle (evidence)
•An end (tie-back)

2. Think of a stoplight
(Yes, it’s flipped.
You’re very
sharp.)

3. Topic Sentence (Claim)
Supporting details
(Your evidence)
Ending Sentence (Tie-back
to the claim)

4. Topic Sentence

5. Topic Sentences
• Introduce the topic; make a
general
statement about the topic
• Give an opinion
• Introduce a list

6. Supporting
details

7. Supporting Details
• Give more information about the
topic
• Give reasons
• Give details
• Give facts
• Give a list

8. Ending Sentence

9. Ending Sentence
• This closes the paragraph
• It can restate the topic sentence
• This says “I’m done with the
paragraph”

10. Now let’s write a paragraph
• We have to start with a topic
• How about…

11. Dogs make great pets.
This is a general statement that
gives an opinion:
“I think dogs are great
pets”.

12. Now you need some details:
Give some reasons dogs are good
pets.

13. hey are smart, friendly, and loyal.
hese animals also make good companion
hey can also be trained to do many thing

14. Now end it
Restate your topic sentence in a
Different way

15. Dogs make great pets.
Dogs are really the perfect pet.

16. Now put it all together:
Dogs make great pets.
They are smart, friendly, and loyal.
These animals also make good companions.
They can also be trained to do many things.
Dogs are really the perfect pet.

17. Let’s practice
• Here’s another topic:

18. Whether you like it or not,
you have to go to school.

19. Think of some details,
reasons, or facts about
why you have to go to school

20. he law says that you must attend school until
ou are 16.
Most jobs require a high school diploma.
olleges only admit high school graduates.
he military won’t take drop outs.

21. Now restate the topic
Whether you like it or not,
you have to go to school.
It seems that school is a necessity.

22. Now put it all together:

23. Whether you like it or not, you have to go to school.
he law says that you must attend school until you are
ost jobs require a high school diploma.
lleges only admit high school graduates.
he military won’t take drop outs.
t seems that school is a necessity.

24. Let’s try one more
• Here’s another topic:

25. ere are several steps in learning to snowboar
irst, you have to learn to balance on a board.
ext, you have to get used to going down slope
ast, you need to learn to turn and stop.
hese are just a few of the beginning steps
n snowboarding.

26. You are now Zen masters of
the paragraph. So go write
your Harrison Bergeron vs.
2081 versions!