What is a PARAGRAPH? A paragraph is a short piece of writing, often six to eight sentences long, that has: A beginning A middle An end and A paragraph includes a series of sentences designed to develop topic.

Why do we write in paragraphs? Paragraphs help us: organize our ideas express our ideas more clearly be better communicators

There are many different The narrative paragraph TYPES OF PARAGRAPHS tells a story The persuasive paragraph. tries to convince the audience The descriptive paragraph describes something gives information or explains something The expository or informational paragraph

Even though each paragraph’s goal is different, they each contain similar qualities to convey their message. Hmmmmm …..

We know these qualities as … TOPIC SENTENCE MAIN IDEA SUPPORTING DETAILS

The Ins and Outs of …. Power Writing In Room 212 we put some new labels on those already familiar terms!

THE BEGINNING (Topic Sentence) It tells what the paragraph is about. KEY POINTS to a good POWER 1 Make the power 1 interesting – its job to catch the reader’s attention Never ever use BECAUSE State what the rest of the paragraph is about INDENT Power 1 Its main job is to focus the paragraph.

If paragraphs help us organize our ideas and express them more clearly then we must have UNITY in the paragraph Every sentence in a paragraph should support the topic expressed in the Power 1. Topic (power 1) sentence

A power 1 may be developed by explaining the topic. A power 1 may be developed by explaining the topic. Developing a Paragraph A power 1 may be developed by giving examples. A power 1 may be developed by giving examples. A power 1 may be developed by giving details.

We do this with … These sentences Their main job is to: Every paragraph must have at least 4 POWER 2s. add specific detail about the topic. make your writing more interesting tell more about the power 1. “talk” about the power 1 The rest of the paragraph consists of sentences that develop or explain the Power 1. Power 2s

Stick to the point: The ideas have to have a clear and logical relation to each other chronological in relation to each other in order of importance To create unity, your power 2s must… be in a Logical order

THE END (Clincher Sentence) Power 3 Its job is to: The clincher sentence is the last sentence in the paragraph. restate the power 1 in a new and interesting way  DIFFERENT WORDS. clinch the point made in the paragraph. summarize the paragraph.

In the paragraph below, underline the power 1 (topic sentence), number the power 2s (supporting details), and circle the power 3 (concluding sentence). Through the centuries rats have managed to survive all our efforts to destroy them. We have poisoned them and trapped them. We have fumigated, flooded, and burned them. We have tried germ warfare. Some rats even survived atomic bomb tests conducted on Entwetok atoll in the Pacific after World War II. In spite of all our efforts, these enemies of ours continue to prove that they are the most indestructible of pests.

Through the centuries rats have managed to survive all our efforts to destroy them. (1) We have poisoned them and trapped them. (2) We have fumigated, flooded, and burned them. (3) We have tried germ warfare. (4) Some rats even survived atomic bomb tests conducted on Entwetok atoll in the Pacific after World War II. In spite of all our efforts, these enemies of ours continue to prove that they are the most indestructible of pests.

Through the centuries rats have managed to survive all our efforts to destroy them. We have poisoned them and trapped them. We have fumigated, flooded, and burned them. We have tried germ warfare. Some rats even survived atomic bomb tests conducted on Entwetok atoll in the Pacific after World War II. In spite of all our efforts, these enemies of ours continue to prove that they are the most indestructible of pests.

Can you put it into your own words? The purpose of the topic sentence (Power 1) is The purpose of the body sentences (Power 2s) are The purpose of the clincher sentence (Power 3) is

Connecting Sentences Within the Paragraph chronological order first meanwhile later afterwards finally objects in relation to one another next to in front of beside between behind in order of importance however furthermore as a result in fact yet Transition words