Writing Paragraphs How to write a SUCCESSFUL PARAGRAPH!

Writing GREAT Paragraphs  What is a great paragraph?  Clearly Focused  Well Supported  Effectively Written  Well organized

Writing GREAT Paragraphs  The steps to GREAT paragraphs! 1. Paragraph Structure 2. Writing a Topic Sentence 3. Improving a Topic Sentence 4. Supporting Details 5. Developing Supporting Details 6. Organizing Paragraphs 7. Writing a Concluding Sentence

STEP ONE! – Paragraph Structure  Paragraph  A series of related sentences that make a SINGLE point about ONE subject  Choose one subject  Too brief to discuss more than one subject  Make a single point  Tell readers something you want them to know  Stated in your Topic Sentence

STEP ONE! – Paragraph Structure  Relate other sentences to the Topic Sentence  State your point in Topic Sentence  Make your point in supporting details  Examples, reasons, testimony, observations, etc.  Other sentences provide information and evidence  A concluding sentence can bring paragraph to a close  Can also lead into next paragraph, if appropriate  Not having this leaves the reader wondering

STEP ONE!  Paragraph Structure TOPIC SENTENCE CONCLUDING SENTENCE

STEP ONE! – Paragraph Structure  All of the sentences make a paragraph, but they may not be in order. For each sentence write T for topic sentence, S if the sentence supports the topic sentence, and C if the sentence concludes the paragraph.  As she climbed the stairs, her nose was filled with the musty smell of old things.  She walked to the door of her old refuge: the attic.  Times at home had always been happy, but now Sheila needed a break.  The memories of good times made the present situation seem bearable.  Sheila dusted off an old picture frame and found a picture of her mother, smiling.

STEP ONE! – Paragraph Structure  REVIEW FROM YESTERDAY!  What does a paragraph need to be?  What is a paragraph? How many subjects and details? Why?  How do you build a Topic Sentence?

STEP ONE!  Paragraph Structure TOPIC SENTENCE CONCLUDING SENTENCE

STEP TWO! – Writing a Topic Sentence  The TOPIC SENTENCE tells the reader two important things;  The subject of the paragraph  What the author wants the reader to know about that subject THE TOPIC SENTENCE STATES THE SUBJECT OF THE PARAGRAPH AND WHAT THE AUTHOR WANTS THE READER TO KNOW ABOUT THE SUBJECT!

STEP TWO! – Writing a Topic Sentence  Begin by asking yourself the following questions;  What is the subject of the paragraph?  What do I want the reader to know about the subject?  Use answers to form a topic sentence. For example,  Subject:fuel-efficient cars  Want reader to know:help the environment  Sentence:Buying a fuel-efficient car is one way you can help the environment.

STEP THREE! – Improving Topic Sentence  The previous exercise makes writing a Topic Sentence look really easy, but writing a GOOD Topic Sentence is more challenging.  Look at the Topic sentence as starting a conversation of a dialogue.  The Topic Sentence provides the basis for the conversation.  A good Topic Sentence should present a single idea that is broad enough to invite discussion.

STEP THREE! – Improving Topic Sentence  Single Idea. A paragraph is focused on ONE IDEA! The sentence should have one subject and one verb!  A. Incorrect – Baseball players and lawyers get paid too much money for the work they do.  This sentence has two subjects: baseball players and lawyers. The support needed for this sentence requires more than a paragraph.

STEP THREE! – Improving Topic Sentence  Single Idea. A paragraph is focused on ONE IDEA!  A. Correct – Professional baseball players get paid too much for the work they do.  B. Correct – Lawyers get paid too much for the work they do.  Invites Discussion. Makes reader want to read more!  Weak:I went to Florida last year.  Good:Florida is the ideal place to go for a winter vacation

STEP THREE! – Improving Topic Sentence  IN CLASS PRACTICE

STEP ONE! – Paragraph Structure  All of the sentences make a paragraph. For each sentence write T for topic sentence, S if the sentence supports the topic sentence, and C if the sentence concludes the paragraph.  Training involves many hours of lifting weights and running sprints.  Without this preparation, performance will drop and injuries are more of a risk.  Like the other athletes you see at the Olympics, javelin throwers deserve respect.  The javelin is not a very heavy object, but throwing it long distances requires great arm and leg strength.  Javelin throwing may look easy on TV, but in reality, it is a very demanding sport.

STEP TWO! – Writing a Topic Sentence  For each of the following sentences, write a Topic Sentence based on the subject and what you want the reader to know.  Subject:baseball cards  Want reader to now:it’s an interesting hobby  Subject:school uniforms  Want reader to know:decrease learning distractions

STEP THREE! – Improving Topic Sentence  For each group of sentences, decide which is a good topic sentence. Then, describe why the others are not effective.  A. I had never seen so much trash in all my life!  B. The trash bag piling up.  C. Last summer, I worked for a trash collection company.  A. Modern rap is rooted in traditional African music.  B. Modern rap has led to creative innovations in music.  C. My brother listens to rap music all the time.

STEP FOUR! – Supporting Details  What is supporting details?  Supporting Details do more than restate the topic sentence.  They provide reasons and examples that show why the main idea is true.  Supporting Details are related to the topic.  If ideas stray from the topic, this weakens the paragraph.  Supporting Details are SPECIFIC, not general, statements.

STEP FOUR! – Supporting Details  EXAMPLE 1  Researchers have proven that smoking is a bad habit for your health. Many researchers have determined smoking is unhealthy. In addition, researchers have publicized smoking’s harmful components.  Is this CORRECT of INCORRECT?

STEP FOUR! – Supporting Details  EXAMPLE 2  Researchers have proven that smoking is a bad habit for your health. American Medical Association has issued several warnings about the increased risk of lung cancer linked to smoking. In addition, the New England Journal of Medicine has issued its own separate findings verifying this same link between smoking and cancer.  Is this CORRECT of INCORRECT?

STEP FOUR! – Supporting Details  EXAMPLE 3  It is easier than ever to learn a new language. Sometimes it’s hard to find someone who speaks another language. It’s also fun to learn martial arts. Sometimes I just can’t learn how to memorize things.  Is this CORRECT of INCORRECT?

STEP FOUR! – Supporting Details  EXAMPLE 4  It is easier than ever to learn a new language. Right now, you can learn a language by taking an elective course in high school. Then, if you go to college you may have the opportunity to live in a foreign country as an exchange student. All along, you can join chat rooms on the Internet or conversation meetings in your area that will help you practice speaking your new language.  Is this CORRECT of INCORRECT?

Step FIVE! Developing Supporting Details  A good way develop supporting details is to;  Consider what questions a reader might ask  Supporting Details provide answers to questions the reader may have about the topic sentence.  Topic Sentence: Florida is the ideal place for a winter vacation  Reader might ask:  Where is Florida?What can you do there?  How do you know its ideal?What if I like the cold?  What makes it ideal?

STEP SIX! Organizing Paragraphs  There are different ways to order your paragraphs;  Time order  Especially important when writing a narrative  Spatial order  When you describe a scene or location  Arrange your ideas (top to bottom/left to right, etc.)

STEP SIX! Organizing Paragraphs  There are different ways to order your paragraphs  Order of importance  The most common way  All ideas should be relevant to topic  Contrasting Ideas  When an assignments ask you to choose one side

STEP SEVEN! Writing a Concluding Sentence  The beginning and end of each paragraph is important  Topic Sentence – beginning  Concluding Sentence – end  Concluding Sentence does one or more;  Emphasizes an important point  Provides a summary of the topic and details  Suggest a response to the reader  Link one paragraph to another