The document discusses the essential components of effective paragraph writing, emphasizing the structure of paragraphs which typically consists of a topic sentence, supporting sentences, and a concluding sentence. It highlights common issues students face, such as mixing major ideas and lacking coherence between paragraphs. The document also provides guidance on when to start new paragraphs based on changes in time, person, topic, or place.

1. Paragraphs
One of the most important aspects of
producing effective writing is knowing
how to:
•create a paragraph
•organise individual paragraphs
into meaningful and logical
sequences to create a coherent
piece of writing
Paragraphs

2. All paragraphs have similar features, though there are some
exceptions. Paragraphs usually consist of three parts:
•a topic sentence
•2-3 supporting sentences
•a concluding sentence
Most of the problems students have with paragraphing arise because:
•more than one major idea is being presented within the
paragraph
•the supporting sentences do not relate to and hence do not
support the topic sentence
•paragraphs do not relate to each other
Paragraphs

3. •a topic sentence
•2-3 supporting sentences
•a concluding sentence
WHEN YOU WRITE A NEW PARAGRAPH YOU
MUST CONSIDER…
The structure of
the paragraph:
The quality of
the paragraph:
P
E
E
•Correct punctuation
(full stops / capital letters /commas
/question marks)
•Correct grammar
(word order / choice of vocabulary)
•Correct style
(formal / serious / entertaining)
Paragraphs

4. TIme Person TOpic Place
Ti P To P
Paragraphs
START A NEW PARAGRAPH WHEN THERE’S A CHANGE IN…

5. TIme
Person
TOpic
Place
You move to a new period in time
AFTER THE PARTY / THAT EVENING
You move to a different place
THE ROAD WAS ICY / IN THE DISCO
You move to a new topic or point
ANOTHER REASON FOR MY VIEW IS…
You bring in a new person or change
from one person to another
(especially in conversations)
I HEARD A VOICE IN THE DISTANCE
START A NEW PARAGRAPH WHEN…
Paragraphs

6. Correction Exercise
We are going to look at an extract from The Iron
Man, by Ted Hughes.
Your task is to decide when a new paragraph must
begin.
•How many paragraphs does this extract need?
•Which word starts each paragraph?
•Which changes (TiPToP) show that we need a new
paragraph?

7. Hogarth joined the farmers. Slowly they drove
back down the lane, and slowly, with all his
cogs humming, the Iron Man stepped after
them. They led through the villages. Half the
people came out to stare, half ran to shut
themselves inside bedrooms and kitchens.
Nobody could believe their eyes when they saw
the Iron Man marching behind the farmers. At
last they came to the town, and there was a
great scrap-metal yard. Everything was there,
old cars by the hundred, old trucks, old railway
engines, old stoves, old refrigerators, old
springs, bedsteads, bicycles, girders, gates,
pans – all the scrap iron of the region was piled
up there, rusting away.
from The Iron Man, Ted Hughes, Faber, 2001