The document provides instructions on how to write effective paragraphs by including three key elements: a topic sentence, supporting details or evidence, and a concluding sentence. It demonstrates this structure through examples of writing paragraphs about dogs making good pets and having to attend school. The document encourages readers to practice writing their own paragraphs and provides a topic to get started.

1. How to Write Paragraphs!
By Randa Jobe
Paragraphs need 3 parts:
•A beginning (claim)
•A middle (evid
•An end (tie-bac
ence)
k)

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.”
pets”.

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

13. They are smart, friendly, and loyal.
These animals also make good
companions.
They can also be trained to do
many things.

14. Now End It
Restate your topic sentence in a
different way.

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

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 pets.

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

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

22. Now put it all together:

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

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

25. There are several steps in learning to
snowboard.
First, you have to learn to balance on a
board. next, you have to get used to
going down slope fast, and you need to
learn to turn and stop.
These are just a few of thebeginning
steps to snowboarding.

26. You are now masters of the
paragraph, so try to write
you own!

27. All images taken from microsoft powerpoint clipart and free to use per terms.