The paragraph is a series of sentences developing one topic.

The Paragraph The paragraph is a series of sentences developing one topic.

The Topic Sentence • The topic of a paragraph is stated in one sentence. This is called thetopic sentence. • A topic sentence is a sentence whose main idea or claim controls the rest of the paragraph; the body of a paragraph explains, develops or supports with evidence the topic sentence's main idea or claim. The topic sentence is usually the first sentence of a paragraph, but not necessarily. It may come, for example, after a transition sentence; it may even come at the end of a paragraph.

The rest of the paragraph consists of sentences that develop or explain the main idea. main idea Through the centuries rats have managed to survive all our efforts to destroy them. We have poisonedthem andtrappedthem. We have fumigated, flooded, andburned them. We have tried germ warfare. Some rats even survived atomic bombtests 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. concluding sentence

Developing a Paragraph A topic sentence may be developed by giving examples. • A topic sentence may be developed by giving details. A topic sentence may be developed by telling an incident

Unity in the Paragraph Every sentence in a paragraph should support the main idea expressed in the topic sentence. mainidea sentence sentence sentence sentence

The concluding or clincher sentence • Restate the topic sentence in different words. • A clincher sentence or concluding sentenceclinches the point made in the paragraph. • It summarizes the paragraph.

Coherence in a Paragraph • Stick to the point: The ideas have a clear and logical relation to each other. • Put details or examples or incidents in logical order. 4 3 2 1 chronological in relation to each other in order of importance

Connecting Sentences Within the Paragraph Transition words 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

Types of Paragraphs • The narrative paragraph • tells a story • The persuasive paragraph. • tries to convince the audience • The descriptive paragraph • describes something • The expository or explanatory paragraph • gives information or explains something

Do you ever feel like you are going to explode when the teacher asks you to write a paragraph. Do you feel your heart pounding or your face getting red if your teacher tells you to write a GOOD paragraph? Don't despair...here is a way to do it painlessly and with excellent results.

Now, let's write a paragraph: How to write an Apple (paragraph) To begin...consider the apple....

Write down these "short" words of at least five things we know about the apple: Apples • eat them • different colors • grow on trees • great in a pie • some have worms

Now S T R E T C H the words on your list into at least five sentences. • You can eat an apple. • Apples come in different colors. • Apples grow on trees. • I ate an apple pie once. • Sometimes an apple has a worm in it.

Now let's put the sentences in a paragraph!First, think about which sentence you want to come first, second, third etc...How about this order?

Apples come in different colors. Apples grow on trees. You can eat an apple. I ate an apple pie. Sometimes an apple has a worm in it.

Ok, let's try it out! Let's connect the sentences into a paragraph with indention, capital letters at the beginning of each sentence and a punctuation mark at the end of each sentence.

Apples come in different colors. Apples grow on trees. You can eat an apple. I ate an apple pie. Sometimes an apple has a worm in it.

Well, our sentences are in a paragraph form. We have indented and remembered to use punctuation, but it isn't a good paragraph yet.

Consider what you remember about paragraphs!Paragraphs have three parts: like a presentThe box is like a topic sentence. The topic sentence "holds" the detail sentencesthat tell the reader information about the topic. Our topic is "apples" so each detail sentence should tell the reader more information about apples.1.Detail sentence2.Detail Sentence3.Detail SentenceAdd more detail sentences as neededI don't think we have a topic sentence yet, do you? "Apples come in different colors." seems more like a detail sentence to me. A topic sentence should introduce the entire paragraph to the reader.

1. Apples come in different colors. 2. Apples grow on trees. 3. You can eat an apple. 4. I ate an apple pie. 5. Sometimes an apple has a worm in it.

How about this:Let me tell you what I know about apples.That seems like a better topic sentence, doesn't it?Topic Sentence Let me tell you what I know about apples.Detail Sentence Apples come in different colors.Detail Sentence Apples grow on trees.Detail Sentence You can eat an apple.Detail Sentence I ate an apple pie.Detail Sentence Sometimes an apple has a worm in it.Conclusion or Closing Sentence

I noticed that two of the detail sentences start with the same word. I think we can change them into something more interesting by combining the two simple sentences into one compound sentence using the conjunction "and" like this: Apples come in different colors. Apples grow on trees. Apples come in different colors and they grow on trees.

Now look at detail sentences #2 You can eat an apple.and #3 I ate an apple pie. Did you notice that the verb "eat" is used in a present tense (eat) in #2 sentence and past tense "ate" in #3? As a good paragraph writer you have to be careful to make sure that you always have "verb agreement" throughout your paragraph. In other words, you have to make sure that everything in the paragraph takes place in the same time zone: past, present or future. I think we will choose to make our paragraph in the present tense, so that means we have to make a small change to detail sentence #3.

Topic Sentence Let me tell you what I know about apples. Detail Sentence Apples come in different colors and they grow on trees. Detail Sentence You can eat an apple. Detail Sentence I ate an apple pie. Detail Sentence Sometimes an apple has a worm in it. Conclusion or Closing SentenceI ate an apple pie + present tense = I like to eat apple pie.Topic Sentence Let me tell you what I know about apples. Detail Sentence Apples come in different colors and they grow on trees. Detail Sentence You can eat an apple. Detail Sentence I like to eat apple pie. Detail Sentence Sometimes an apple has a worm in it. Conclusion or Closing SentenceI think we can combine those two small sentences into a nice complex sentence now with just a little thought.You can eat an apple.I like to eat apple pie. becomes:You can eat an fresh apple, but I like to eat them in apple pie.

Think: What kind of apple pie? • Dutch? • hot? • homemade? These are adjectives that will make our sentence SHOW not TELL the reader what we want to say! You can eat an fresh apple, but I like to eat them in homemade apple pie.

You can eat an fresh apple... Wait a minute... what is wrong with that? It sounds funny. Did you remember the article rule for "an"? An is an article (part of speech). You use "an" in front of words which begin with a vowel. Use the article "a" in front of words that begin with a consonant like "fresh". so..... You can eat a fresh apple, but I like to eat them in apple pie.

Now, let's have a look at sentence #4: Sometimes an apple has a worm in it. We need to do a little work on it too. Let's rework the verb "has" to make it an action verb instead of a being verb. Sometimes a worm is living in the apple. Good job! The words "is living" are present tense, just like the rest of the sentences in our paragraph!

CHECK IT OUT! • Topic Sentence Let me tell you what I know about apples. • Detail Sentence Apples come in different colors and they grow on trees. • Detail Sentence You can eat a fresh apple, but I like to eat them in homemade apple pie. • Detail Sentence Sometimes a worm is living in the apple. • Conclusion or Closing Sentence

Finally, we are ready for the Conclusion or Closing Sentence. It doesn't matter whether you call the last sentence of a paragraph a "conclusion" or "closing" sentence. they both mean the same thing. This is the end of your paragraph and you are letting the reader know it is the end.

Paragraphs are like presents. They have three parts: a topic sentence (which is like the box), detail sentences (which are the present inside the box), and the conclusion or closing sentence (which is like a bow that ties the whole thing together).

Our paragraph has a great "box" or topic sentence: Let me tell you what I know about apples. Our paragraph has a great set of "presents" or detail sentences inside the box: Apples come in different colors and they grow on trees. You can eat a fresh apple, but I like to eat them in a homemade apple pie. Sometimes a worm is living in the apple. We need a great conclusion sentence: here is a good clue...look at the topic sentence and think about how to "tie" it to the conclusion sentence.

Let me tell you what I know about apples. (topic sentence)These are just a few things you should know about apples. (conclusion sentence)Topic SentenceLet me tell you what I know about apples.Detail Sentence Apples come in different colors and they grow on trees.Detail Sentence You can eat a fresh apple, but I like to eat them in homemade apple pie.Detail Sentence Sometimes a worm is living in the apple. Conclusion or Closing SentenceThese are just a few things you should know about apples.

WE DID IT! We created a paragraph with good sentences from ideas that we thought about in our own head! The last part of writing our sentence is easy. *Remember to indent the paragraph. *Remember to capitalize each new sentence. *Remember to end each sentence with the proper punctuation symbol.

Final Product: Let me tell you what I know about apples. Apples come in different colors and they grow on trees. You can eat a fresh apple, but I like to eat them in homemade apple pie. Sometimes a worm is living in the apple. These are just a few things you should know about apples. red = topic sentence it is like a box which holds the details blue = detail sentences, they are like the present inside the box. Help the reader by SHOWING not TELLING with good adjectives. purple = conclusion or closing sentence which is like a bow holding the details and topic sentence together. It "ties" the paragraph together!

Here are our original ideas: eat them different colors grow on trees great in a pie some have worms

Look what we created! Let me tell you what I know about apples. Apples come in different colors and they grow on trees. You can eat a fresh apple, but I like to eat them in homemade apple pie. Sometimes a worm is living in the apple. These are just a few things you should know about apples.

Remember these simple steps to help you write a good paragraph! • Decide on a topic • List things you know--use short words • Use your list of short words to create sentences • Put the sentences in order • Create a good topic sentence • See what you can do to make your detail sentences SHOW not TELL the reader about your topic by combining sentences into complex or compound sentences, adding interesting adjectives and creating "mind pictures" for the reader. • Always make sure that spelling and especially verb agreement are in order. • Write a great conclusion or closing sentence by looking at the topic sentence and tying the detail sentences up in a neat box. • Don't forget to indent, capitalize beginning sentence words and always punctuate correctly. • Read your paragraph and be proud!

The paragraph is a series of sentences developing one topic.