PARAGRAPH WRITING

MT 585 PPD KUALA PILAH

PARAGRAPH WRITING

30 APRIL 2020 (THURSDAY)
10.00 a.m.

PRESENTED BY:
ENCIK ANUAR BIN TAHAR
SENIOR ASSISTANT/ EX-MASTER TEACHER
SMK JUASSEH, JUASSEH, NEGERI SEMBILAN

Via Google meet

LESSON OBJECTIVES: At the end of the
session, students should be able to:

•1. understand the component of a
paragraph

•2. know how to write paragraphs
•3. identify the different types of paragraphs
•4. put together paragraphs to write an
• essay

WHAT IS A PARAGRAPH?

A paragraph is a group of sentences
organized around a central topic. In fact,
the cardinal rule of paragraph writing is to
focus on one idea. A good paragraph takes
its readers on a clear path, without detours.

PARAGRAPH PATTERN/ FORMULA

A paragraph is a group of sentences about the same topic
or main idea. • This main idea is expressed through three
sections of a paragraph: •
1. Beginning - Introduce your idea with a topic sentence. •
2. Middle - Explain your idea with details and supporting

evidence.
3. End - Make your point again and or transition to next

paragraph with a closing sentence.

COLOUR CODING FOR BETTER UNDERSTANDING

TOPIC SENTENCE AND CLOSING SENTENCE
SPECIFIC DETAIL AND SUPPORTING FACTS
YOUR THOUGHT(S) if any

EXAMPLE OF A PARAGRAPH

I like grasshoppers. They are a nice
green or brown colour. They eat only
leaves. They are small, but they can
jump high. Did you know that they can
also sing? I think grasshoppers are great

HOW TO WRITE A PARAGRAPH

•A basic paragraph structure usually
consists of five sentences: the topic
sentence, three supporting sentences,
and a concluding sentence. But the
secrets to paragraph writing lay in four
essential elements

THE 4 ELEMENTS OF PARAGRAPH WRITING

1. UNITY
2. ORDER
3. COHERENCE
4. COMPLETENESS

ELEMENT # 1 : UNITY

• begins with the topic sentence. Every paragraph has
one single, controlling idea (its topic sentence) which
is typically the first sentence of the paragraph.

• A paragraph is unified around this main idea, with
the supporting sentences providing detail and
discussion. A good topic sentence has a theme and all
the points you want to make.

ELEMENT # 2 : ORDER

• the way you organize your supporting sentences.
You can choose chronological order, order of
importance, or another logical presentation of
detail

• In a well-ordered paragraph, the reader follows
along easily, aided by the pattern you’ve
established. Order helps the reader grasp your
meaning and avoid confusion.

ELEMENT # 3 : COHERENCE

• the quality that makes your writing understandable.
Sentences within a paragraph need to connect to each other
and work together as a whole.

• One of the best ways to achieve coherency is to use
transition words. These words create bridges from one
sentence to the next.

• using a consistent verb tense and point of view are
important ingredients for coherency.

ELEMENT # 4 : COMPLETENESS

• a paragraph is well-developed. All sentences clearly and
sufficiently support the main idea. If there are not enough
sentences or enough information, then the paragraph is
incomplete.

• Usually three supporting sentences, in addition to a topic
sentence and concluding sentence, are needed for a
paragraph to be complete. The concluding sentence should
summarize your main idea by reinforcing your topic
sentence.

EXAMPLE OF A PARAGRAPH:
What do you think?

Sunday is my favourite day of the week. I like it because on Sunday, I
watch football. On other days, I also get to watch football but not all
day. There are other sports on other days to watch on TV. Sunday lunch
is a favourite of mine because I eat with my father in front of the TV.
All the other days, I have to eat at the table which is less fun. Some
days my dad doesn’t make it home from work until after I’m in
bed. Some weeks my dad travels, and I don’t see him for several days.
The highlight of the day is when we watch the Dolphins play. Dad and I
get so excited, we yell and cheer together. The thing that I like to do
best in the world is watch TV with my dad.

EXAMPLE OF A PARAGRAPH

Sunday is my favourite day because I spend the day watching
football with my dad. On Sunday, unlike the other days of the
week when he works, my dad spends the whole day with me
watching football on TV. We even eat lunch together while
watching TV. The highlight of the day is watching the
Liverpool game. Dad and I get so excited, we yell and cheer
together. On Sundays, I get to combine watching my favourite
sport and spending time with my mentor — what a great day!

TOPIC SENTENCE

•Normally, the statement is the first
sentence in a paragraph. • It introduces the
main idea (subject) of the paragraph. • It
indicates to or tells the reader what your
paragraph will be about.
•It should NOT be too broad or too narrow.

TOPIC SENTENCE

•The topic sentence contains the
central idea around which a paragraph
is developed. A good one has the
following six characteristics:

TOPIC SENTENCE

1. It introduces the topic of a paragraph without
announcing it.

2. It hooks the reader.
3. It plants questions in the readers' mind.
4. It uses thought-provoking words.
5. It is usually the first sentence; however, it can occur

anywhere in the paragraph or it can be implied.
6. It provides a transition from the previous paragraph.

EXAMPLE OF A TOPIC SENTENCE

Sunday is my favourite day.

SUBJECT WHAT IT WILL
BE ABOUT

SUPPORTING/ DETAIL SENTENCE

• are used to develop the topic sentence.
• they give more information about the

topic sentence.
• Supporting sentences can give facts,

statistics, details or examples,
anecdotes and quotes.

EXAMPLE OF SUPPORTING DETAIL SENTENCES

Sunday is my favourite day.
I spend the day watching football with my dad.
My dad spends the whole day with me watching
football on TV. We even eat lunch together while
watching TV. The highlight of the day is watching
the Liverpool game. Dad and I get so excited, we
yell and cheer together.

TIPS FOR WRITING A GOOD PARAGRAPH

USE CONNECTORS OR TRANSITIONS WORDS FOR COHERENCE

• TO INTRODUCE ADDITIONAL IDEAS - In addition/ Moreover / Furthermore
• TO INTRODUCE EXAMPLES – For example/ For instance/ Namely
• TO EXPRESS CONTRAST – In contrast/ However/ On the other hand
• TO LIST IN ORDER – First and foremost/ First/ Second/ Finally/ Lastly
• TO INTRODUCE CHOICE/ ALTERNATIVE – Otherwise/ if/ or/ unless
• TO INTRODUCE A STATEMENT – In fact/ As a matter of fact/ In deed/ That is
• TO SUMMARISE – In brief/ In short/ In summary/ All in all/ In a nutshell/ Overall
• TO EXPRESS CAUSE – for/ because/ since/ as/ because of/ due to/owing to
• TO INTRODUCE A RESULT – As a result/ Accordingly/ Therefore/ Hence/ Thus

Paragraph Without transition words
• Cell phones have changed our family
communication for the worse. Parents complain
about their teenagers spending too much time on
their phones. Teenagers are annoyed that they
can't get the attention of their parents, who are
always working or shopping on their phones. We
need to make some changes.

Paragraph With transition words
• Generally speaking, cell phones have changed our
family communication for the worse. Obviously,
parents complain about their teenagers spending
too much time on their phones. Moreover,
teenagers are annoyed that they can't get the
attention of their parents, who are always working
or shopping on their phones. Unquestionably, we
need to make some changes.

TIPS FOR WRITING A GOOD PARAGRAPH

CHOOSE ENGAGING WORDS TO START A PARAGRAPH
1. Starting With Adverbs
2. Using Words That Aren’t ‘However’
Here are a few substitutes: Nevertheless, Nonetheless,
Alternatively, Conversely, That said, Despite this
3. Relying On Dependent Clauses
There are plenty of words used to start these clauses,
including: While, As, As far as, In so much, When
4. Use transition words or linking words

CONCLUDING SENTENCE

• the last sentence in the paragraph.
• usually restates/ reinforces the topic

sentence in different words or
summarizes the main points of the
paragraph.
• Ties everything together

EXAMPLE OF A CONCLUDING PARAGRAPH

Topic Sentence:
There are several serious health hazards directly linked to
smoking.

Concluding sentence:
Clearly, smoking is a dangerous habit and should be
avoided.

EXAMPLE OF A PARAGRAPH

Sunday is my favourite day because I spend the day watching
football with my dad. On Sunday, unlike the other days of
the week when he works, my dad spends the whole day with
me watching football on TV. We even eat lunch together
while watching TV. The highlight of the day is watching the
Liverpool game. Dad and I get so excited, we yell and cheer
together. On Sundays, I get to combine watching my
favourite sport and spending time with my mentor — what a
great day!

EXAMPLE OF A PARAGRAPH

The Internet has become really important for three main
reasons. First, it enables people to access more information than ever
before. That is, people can read books, newspapers or magazines
online and for free. Second, thanks to the Internet, people can
communicate with others in every part of the world via social
networking websites like Facebook, WhatsApp, WeChat, Twitter,
Skype, Viber, Snapchat, LinkedIn, Reddit, etc. Third, the Internet is a
perfect tool to study and get certificates from well-known top
universities. In other words, now more than ever, anyone can do free
online courses in a variety of subjects. In short, the Internet is,
beyond doubt, an essential and valuable tool nowadays.

TYPES OF PARAGRAPH

THERE ARE 4 MAIN TYPES.
1.NARRATIVE
2.DESCRIPTIVE
3.EXPOSITORY
4.PERSUASIVE

The Narrative Paragraph

This type of paragraph describes
one main topic and narrates or
tells a/its story. The topic usually
involves one event, adventure,
scene, or happening.

Tips for writing a narrative paragraph

1. Start with a topic sentence that grabs the
reader’s attention.

2. Write events in the order in which they occurred.
3. Use plenty of interesting details.

A narrative paragraph provides a lot of
detail but still stays on topic.

© 2016 Time4Writing.com. All Rights Reserved. www.time4writing.com/free-writing-resources

1. Start your narrative paragraph with a strong
topic sentence.

“This past weekend I had the time of my life. First, Friday
night, I had my best friend over and we made a delicious,
mouth-watering pizza. After we ate, we had a friendly video
game competition.”

If the first sentence (topic sentence) is
strong enough, the reader look forward to
finding out what happens next.

© 2016 Time4Writing.com. All Rights Reserved. www.time4writing.com/free-writing-resources

2. Use transition words to move from
event to event.

“On Saturday, my dad took us out on the boat. The
weather was perfect, and the water was warm. It was a
great day to go for a swim. Later that night, we went to
the movies. We saw an action-packed thriller and ate a
lot of popcorn.

Did you notice how the words (transition
words) in bold move the narrative naturally
from one thing to the next?

© 2016 Time4Writing.com. All Rights Reserved. www.time4writing.com/free-writing-resources

3. End your detailed description with a good
concluding sentence.

“Finally, on Sunday, we rode our bikes all over
town. By the end of the day, my legs were very
tired. I only hope that next weekend will be as
fun as this one.”

© 2016 Time4Writing.com. All Rights Reserved. This narrative paragraph keeps everything
in order, adds in a lot of detail, and ends on
a strong note.

www.time4writing.com/free-writing-resources

The Descriptive Paragraph

When writing this type of paragraph,
you describe something with words
that allows your reader to almost
“see” what you’re describing.

Tips for writing a descriptive
paragraph

1.Use strong verbs and
2.colourful adjectives

A descriptive paragraph provides a lot of
descriptions of the object being described

© 2016 Time4Writing.com. All Rights Reserved. www.time4writing.com/free-writing-resources

Use strong verbs and colorful adjectives
in a descriptive paragraph.

Verb (action word) Adjective (describes
examples : noun) examples :

• run • smelly
• leap • radiant
• shout • gorgeous
• fly • gigantic

© 2016 Time4Writing.com. All Rights Reserved. www.time4writing.com/free-writing-resources

Here are some sample sentences with strong verbs
and colorful adjectives.

“The petite, young “A strong, putrid
girl merrily skipped odor flowed through
around the the musty air outside
blossoming, fragrant the garbage
bushes.” dumpster.”

The descriptive words in each sentence help
the reader see (and smell!) what is being
described.

© 2016 Time4Writing.com. All Rights Reserved. www.time4writing.com/free-writing-resources

The Expository Paragraph

When writing this type of paragraph,
you provide information. You write
it in a logical sequence so your
reader can follow the ideas.

Three parts of an expository
paragraph:

1.topic sentence
2.supporting sentences in a logical

sequence
3.concluding sentence

1. The topic sentence in an expository paragraph
states the main idea, or what you’ll write about.

Example: “Going to college can be
expensive.”

When your reader reads this sentence, he
or she will know your paragraph is going
to cover the costs of attending college.

© 2016 Time4Writing.com. All Rights Reserved. www.time4writing.com/free-writing-resources

2. Each supporting sentence may be followed by one
or two sentences that add details or give more
explanation.

Example: “First, college tuition and room and
board can cost anywhere from $2,000 to
more than $10,000 per semester. Other
expenses can add up, as well. For example,
books typically cost between $300 and $500
each term.”

© 2016 Time4Writing.com. All Rights Reserved. www.time4writing.com/free-writing-resources

2a.The next supporting sentence and detail
sentences follow in a logical sequence.

Example: “Second, materials are also very
expensive. Paper, notebooks, writing utensils,
and other required supplies often cost more at
the college bookstore than at a discount store.
For instance, a package of notepaper costing
RM3 at a discount store might cost RM6 at the
college bookstore.”

© 2016 Time4Writing.com. All Rights Reserved. www.time4writing.com/free-writing-resources

2b. You may have other supporting sentences and
detail sentences, still in logical sequence.

Example: “Finally, there are all kinds of special fees
added onto the bill at registration time. A college
student might have to pay a RM50 insurance fee, a
RM20 activity fee, a RM15 fee to the student
association and anywhere from RM100 to RM300 for
parking. There is another fee if a student decides to
add or drop a course after registration ends.”

© 2016 Time4Writing.com. All Rights Reserved. www.time4writing.com/free-writing-resources

3.Your paragraph should end with an appropriate
concluding sentence.

Example: “The costs required to attend
college never seem to end.”

This sentence ties back to the topic
sentence, often by rephrasing it. It
shows you where the sequence of
information finally leads you.

© 2016 Time4Writing.com. All Rights Reserved. www.time4writing.com/free-writing-resources

The Persuasive Paragraph

This type of paragraph tries to
change the reader's mind about
something or to persuade the
reader to agree with the writer's
point of view.

Things to know about persuasive
paragraphs:

1.the first sentence should lay out the
writer’s point of view on the topic at
hand

2.supporting sentences should back up
the opinion with logic

3.all claims should be able to be
supported with evidence

A sample persuasive paragraph:

Spring is the best season. First, spring is colorful. Flowers
of all kinds begin to bloom, and even some trees have
colourful buds. Next, with spring comes warmer weather.
While some days are still chilly, the wind has lost its
winter bite, allowing people to get outside more often.
Finally, spring has pleasant noises of all kinds. In some
places, one can hear the peeping of frogs and the song of
the whippoorwill at night. To one’s eyes, skin, and ears,
the best season of the year is spring!

© 2016 Time4Writing.com. All Rights Reserved. www.time4writing.com/free-writing-resources

FROM PARAGRAPHS INTO AN ESSAY

1.INTRODUCTION
2.BODY :

POINT # 1
POINT # 2
POINT # 3
3. CONCLUSION

OUTLINE OF AN ESSAY TOPIC SENTENCE
SUPPORTING DETAILS
INTRODUCTION
CONCLUSION
BODY
CONCLUSION TOPIC SENTENCE
SUPPORTING DETAILS

CONCLUSION

TOPIC SENTENCE
SUPPORTING DETAILS

CONCLUSION