“What Makes a Good Paragraph?” “We have to be able to understand it!” “What can we do to make our reader understand our writing?”

“What do all of these mean?” 3 Things Make a Good Paragraph: Unity Coherence Elaboration “What do all of these mean?”

“What does unity mean to you?” Let’s Start with Unity… “What does unity mean to you?” When a paragraph has unity, all the sentences relate directly to the main idea. If there is a sentence off topic at all, this begins to create confusion for your reader. Use only the most important details!

LET’S SEE AN EXAMPLE… Find the sentence in the paragraph that destroys the unity and doesn’t belong. The disappearance of Amealia Earhart remains a mystery. Earhart, who was the first woman pilot to fly across the Atlantic Ocean, crashed into the Pacific Ocean while attempting to fly around the world. She was born in Atchison, Kansas, in 1897. Some researchers believe that she survived the crash into the Pacific, because radio distress calls were received. An intensive search for the source of the signals was made. Searchers were not able to find her, however. Finally, the distress signals ceased. In spite of continued searches by airplane and ship, no clue about what became of Amelia Earhart has yet been found. She was born in Atchison, Kansas in 1897. = Doesn’t relate directly to main idea.

#2: COHERENCE A coherent paragraph is one in which all of the sentences logically fit together. When a paragraph has coherence, your reader can easily see how all of the details are connected.

“How can we create coherence?” There are 2 ways! Order details in a way that makes sense. 2. Show a connection by using transitional words.

“Order Please!” “Look at the chart!” Not that kind of order! Organizing your details in a specific order is 1 way to make your paragraph clear and coherent. Coherence “Look at the chart!” Chronological Order Presents details in the order they occur Spatial Order Presents details according to location Order of Importance Details are least important to most or the reverse Logical Order Groups related details together Coherence

2nd Way to Create Coherence: Transitional Words “We want to see a connection!” Transitional words help the reader see a relationship between ideas. after finally soon later meanwhile first next before then They tie things together! across beyond under around inside down because therefore consequently

# 3: Elaboration “Give us more detail! Elaboration means: to add more detail, so your reader can get a clear picture of what you mean!

Here are are Nine Ways to Elaborate! Use Highly Descriptive Words: vivid adj.’s & adv.’s, precise V’s & N’s. 2. Give a detailed Definition of the subject or detail. 3. Provide an Example that shows your point. 4. Use Comparison: Similes and/or Metaphors. 5. Use Contrast to show how your idea is different from something else. 6. Include a Fact to support your main idea. 7. Use a Statistic (a fact in numerical form) to support your main idea. 8. Use Sensory Details that appeals to one or more of the 5 senses. 9. Use Cause & Effect to explain how 1 thing causes another.

SAMPLE PEEL PARAGRAPH The cause of trees turning colors is the substances chlorophyll and carotene. The cause of them falling is the layer of cells hardening. In the text it states, "the substance that allows trees to turn carbon dioxide into food( chlorophyll) is also the cause for the leaf's green sheen …the yellows and oranges that appear in fall have actually been there all year in a form of nutrients like carotene." The green that is seen all year long is from a substance that is called chlorophyll. When the colder months come, there is a lack of sun causing a lack of greenish hue. That is when other elements in the leaf are able to be seen. The orange elements that show through the leaf have been there all year and are carotene. Carotene is a form of nutrients. In the passage it states , "At the base of each leaf there is a layer of cells that carry food and water from the leaf to the tree... In the fall , that layer starts to harden, preventing the passage of nutrients." This means that the cause of leaves falling is that in the base of the leaf there is a layer of cells. These cells carry food and water from the leaf to the tree during summertime, but when winter begins the layer of cells harden and stop the nutrients flow. This causes it to turn brown and fall. To sum up, chlorophyll and carotene effect the color change while the layer of cells hardening effects the fall of the leaves and them turning brown.

Sample PEEL paragraph: Education and technology In today's society, more than ever, technology has greatly impacted the ways in which we learn and teach a multitude of topics. Among those making the most of e-learning platforms are topics which address employee performance. According to a list of the top ten most popular e-learning courses, project management, time management, and customer service skills were among the top three listed. This can tell us many things about what e-learning has to offer. One is that the convenience it provides is ideal for continuous learning, short term courses as well as self-paced classes. Similarly, this platform works very well when the education needs of many people must be met in a time efficient and orderly manner (as is required by many large corporations and businesses). With these and many other benefits, such as cost efficiency and time flexibility, we can expect to see many more courses presented in this manner as the advent of e-learning alters the way we learn; not only in the workforce, but also in academic and recreational pursuits.

Sample PEEL paragraph: Education and technology In today's society, more than ever, technology has greatly impacted the ways in which we learn and teach a multitude of topics. Among those making the most of e-learning platforms are topics which address employee performance. (POINT) According to a list of the top ten most popular e-learning courses, project management, time management, and customer service skills were among the top three listed.*(EVIDENCE) This can tell us many things about what e-learning has to offer. One is that the convenience it provides is ideal for continuous learning, short term courses as well as self-paced classes. Similarly, this platform works very well when the education needs of many people must be met in a time efficient and orderly manner (as is required by many large corporations and businesses). (EXPLANATION) With these and many other benefits, such as cost efficiency and time flexibility, we can expect to see many more courses presented in this manner as the advent of e-learning alters the way we learn; not only in the workforce, but also in academic and recreational pursuits. (LINK)

A breakdown of the above sample In this sample paragraph we can see the implementation of each aspect of the PEEL writing format. The point of the paragraph here is explained in two sentences and goes from the broad to the specific; by first starting off with the impact of technology overall and then mentioning its specific influence on employee training and performance. In today's society, more than ever, technology has greatly impacted the ways in which we learn and teach a multitude of topics. Among those making the most of e-learning platforms are topics which address employee performance.

EVIDENCE The evidence of the main topic is presented in the form of a statistical report that supports the point of employee performance courses being in the greatest demand as well as provide an example of how education has been greatly impacted by technology. According to a list of the top ten most popular e-learning courses, project management, time management, and customer service skills were among the top three listed.

EXPLANATION This can tell us many things about what e-learning has to offer. One is that the convenience it provides is ideal for continuous learning, short term courses as well as self-paced classes. Similarly, this platform works very well when the education needs of many people must be met in a time efficient and orderly manner (as is required by many large corporations and businesses). Afterwards an explanation is given that indicates exactly what can be deduced from the evidence provided. It incorporates interpretation by attempting to explain why e-learning is so popular with businesses. In the meantime it also evaluates it to be a positive means of educating others by highlighting its benefits.

Explain how and why by starting with a sentence starter Refer to the list Explain how and why the evidence proves your point Connect everything back to the point/thesis EXAMPLE: The author states this because……it proves that….

PLC AGENDA DATA CFA 2 RESOURCES CURRICULUM PLAN FOR INFORMATIVE WRITING

LINK With these and many other benefits, such as cost efficiency and time flexibility, we can expect to see many more courses presented in this manner as the advent of e-learning alters the way we learn; not only in the workforce, but also in academic and recreational pursuits. Lastly, the link sentence takes you back to the main point by reiterating that 'e-learning alters the way we learn' and it also summarizes and provides closure to the entirety of the paragraph. And though a second paragraph is not visible, this last link sentence also opens the door for a new paragraph that deals with e-learning's connection to 'academic and recreational pursuits.'

“Now we see what you’re talking about!”