Introduction to Writing Effective Paragraphs Mrs. McGee

Important Elements Topic Sentence Explains the main idea of the paragraph Focus Any given paragraph centers on a single idea Every sentence should have a clear and logical connection to the topic sentence Coherence Must have “flow” Each sentence is logically connected to the ones before it and after it. Uses an organizational pattern

Organizational Patterns Example (describe a brief specific instance) Illustration ( describe a more detailed or complicated example) Cause and Effect (explain the reasons why and the results of) Comparison/Contrast (explain similarities or differences) Analogy (make a comparison between things that seem dissimilar) Classification (organize different things into categories) Division (describe and explain the parts of one thing) Definition (explain the meaning of a key concept) Narration (tell a story) Description (paint a word picture) Process (explain a sequence)

Five Steps to Good Paragraph Development Give the paragraph a topic sentence Give an explanation of the topic sentence; explain your overall thinking about the topic sentence. Give some specific support to your topic sentence in the form of examples or evidence. Explain each piece of support, including how it connects to your controlling idea. (repeat steps 3 and 4 as necessary) Explain the relevance of the ideas in this paragraph to the point in the section of the paper it appears in or to the paper as a whole. (Conclusion Statement)

Example This paragraph is well written because it includes an introductory topic sentence, supporting sentences, and a conclusion sentence. an introductory topic sentence   Listening with empathy means you listen from your heart, put yourself in that person's shoe. supporting sentences If you listen with empathy, you are not judging the person's way of expressing himself or herself. Listening with empathy means asking yourself, “Why is this person sounding so angry, upset?” “What is he or she asking for?” “What can I say or do to be supportive or helpful?” Listening with empathy is applied to problem situations, especially when anger is circulating between people talking. a conclusion sentence If you can figure out what makes this person behave and talk angry and understand this person's feeling of anger, then you must have listened this person with empathy.

Exercise 1 Answer the following questions What is the topic of the above paragraph? What ideas do you find in the supporting sentences? Do the supporting sentences explain the topic sentence? What is empathy according to the author?

References http://www.fscmedia.com/web-external/writing- guide/drafting_paragraphs.html http://www.onlinetutorforenglish.com/sat-preparation/examples-for-good- paragraph.php