1. Informative Paragraph Writing 101

2. As you improve your English writing skills, your teachers will begin asking you to write informative paragraphs.
A paragraph is a unit of information. Paragraphs usually contain several sentences grouped together around a main idea. Learning how to write an organized paragraph will improve your essays and demonstrate your thinking skills.
Basic paragraphs include three elements:
• The topic sentence, often found at the beginning of the paragraph, tells the reader the main idea, or topic, of the paragraph.
• The sentences following the topic sentence contain supporting details that develop the main idea of the paragraph. Supporting details may include facts or quotes from your research, or other information.
• At the end of the sentence is a concluding sentence that summarizes the main. point of the paragraph.

3. Here is a simple example paragraph
Roasting a chicken is very simple. The only ingredients you need for a perfect roasted chicken are the chicken, some salt, and an onion or lemon to stuff in the chicken. Once you have your ingredients, rub salt on the outside of the chicken and let it sit at room temperature for one hour. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. After the chicken has been salted for one hour, stuff it with the onion or lemon and put it in the oven. Roast it for 15 minutes per pound. Once the chicken is done, pull it out of the oven and let it rest for at least 10 minutes. After that, you will have a perfect roasted chicken for you and your family to enjoy. Roasted chicken is an easy recipe to try at your next meal. In this example, “Roasting a chicken is very simple” is the topic sentence. The sentences that follow provide supporting details. The last sentence sums up the point of the paragraph with a conclusion.

4. TOPIC SENTENCE
The first sentence in your informative paragraph is the topic sentence. It tells the reader what your paragraph will be about. The reader should understand the topic with no further explanation, so keep it simple and easy to understand. After reading the topic sentence, any student should know what your paragraph is going to be about without reading the question on the test or the rest of the essay. A topic sentence can sometimes be a question.
If the writing topic/ test question asks you for your OPINION, you should only pick ONE side to write about.

5. TOPIC SENTENCE PITFALLS
A topic sentence should NOT begin with:
You asked me if….
I think that…..
I believe/feel that…..
My answer is….
In this paragraph I will talk/ write about/ explain…..
In my essay I will talk/ write about/ explain….
The reason why….
ONLY IF THE ESSAY ASKS FOR YOUR OPINION YOU MAY INCLUDE:
I agree/ disagree…
In my opinion……
I believe/ think/ feel

6. Good Topic Sentences From Our Last Essay.
The motherboard of the computer is a very important part of the computer for many reasons.
The motherboard is a crucial part in everyone's computer.
The motherboard is important to the function of a computer.

7. SUPPORTING SENTENCES Supporting sentences should:
Back up the topic sentence with as many facts as possible.
Stay on topic- do not add in unnecessary information that does not relate to the topic.
Be written as facts, not opinions.
Use a variety of sentence structure and vary in length. They do not all start the same way.
Be statements, not questions.
Be written in 3rd Person. (Uses pronouns like he, she, it, or they. Not pronouns like I, me, or you)

8. SUPPORTING SENTENCE PITFALLS
Supporting sentences should:
NOT Restate a previously used idea in a new way. Two supporting sentences with the same idea will only be counted as one supporting sentence.
NOT Use 1st or 2nd Person pronouns like I, me, or you.
NOT Include opinions or feeling about the topic unless your teacher has asked you to write an opinion essay.

9. Good Supporting Sentences From Our Last Essay.
The motherboard is a large circuit board that connects input, output and processing devices.
Even though the motherboard isn’t the only important part, a computer is useless without it.
The motherboard powers almost everything that it in a computer.
Everything in a computer is connected to the motherboard.
The motherboard is like the heart of the computer, it keeps information flowing to the separate parts .
The motherboard is important because it puts all the other parts to work.
Without the motherboard, the CPU can’t do anything and without the CPU, the motherboard can’t do anything.
The motherboard contains important parts like the video card, internet and USB ports and sound card. Without these parts, the computer is useless.
If the motherboard doesn’t work, neither does the rest of the computer.
The rest of the computer parts can’t work together without the motherboards help.

10. CONCLUDING SENTENCES
The last sentence in your informative paragraph is the concluding sentence. It should restate the Topic Sentence and main idea in a new way. Sometimes a question can be used as a conclusion, but not often. Many writers include the words “In conclusion” to begin their final sentence.

11. CONCLUDING SENTENCE PITFALLS
Concluding sentences should NOT include:
The end.
Thanks for reading my essay….
I hope you liked my essay….
EVEN IF THE ESSAY WAS AN OPINION IT STILL SHOULD NOT INCLUDE
You may not agree with me, but that’s how I think….
It is for these reasons that I feel….

12. Good Concluding Sentences From Our Last Essay.
These are some reasons why the motherboard is so important to the function of a computer.
In conclusion, the motherboard is important to the computer for many reasons.
As you can see, the motherboard is crucial in every way for a computer to function properly.

13. AVOID NONSPECIFIC WORDS
What is IT? You do not have to repeat the same noun over and over, but you must also be cautious when using the word IT. If there are two pronouns in the same sentence, the reader can become confused. Use synonyms to add a variety of words and only use the pronoun IT, THEY, THEM every other time you would use a noun after you have established what you are writing about.
Ex- The computer is a helpful too. Computers save us time, effort and money. Using computers at school help us learn in more creative ways.
Better: The computer is a helpful tool. It saves us time, effort and money. Using these machines at school help us learn in more creative ways.
Bad: It is a helpful too. They save us time, effort and money. Using them at school help us learn in more creative ways.

14. TRANSITION WORDS IN INFORMATIVE TOPICS
Use transition words to help move the reader from one supporting idea to the next. They also add variety to your writing and change up your sentence structure.
Most informative essays do not follow time. Do not use First, Second, Last, Then, After, Finally. …..
You may ONLY use time transition words if you are:
Explaining the steps in a process (Science or Math)
Explaining how a series of events led up to another event. (History)
Storytelling (Fiction)
Writing about the events in a person’s life (Biography) or a book (Summary).

15. TRANSITION WORDS To Show Agreement or Similarity Between Two Ideas

16. TRANSITION WORDS To Show Disagreement or Contrast Between Two Ideas

17. TRANSITION WORDS To Show Cause Between Two Ideas

18. TRANSITION WORDS To Show An Example or Support Between Two Ideas

19. TRANSITION WORDS To Show the Effect or Consequence Between Two Ideas

20. TRANSITION WORDS To Show the Conclusion of Ideas

21. TRANSITION WORDS To Show Sequence of Time

22. TRANSITION WORDS To Show Space or Location