HOW TO WRITE A
PARAGRAPH?
A PARAGRAPH is a group of related sentences that develop a main
thought, or idea, about a single topic. The structure of a paragraph is not
complex. There are usually three basic elements:
• (1) a topic,
• (2) a main idea, or topic sentence, and
• (3) supporting details.
The topic sentence states the main point or controlling idea. Often it
appears at (or near) the beginning of a paragraph.
What follows a topic sentence are a number of supporting
sentences that develop/explain the main idea with specific details.
• These details may be facts, reasons, or examples that provide further
information about the topic sentence.
Look at the highlighted TOPIC SENTENCE. It identifies
the topic as COLOR and states that COLOR AFFECT
PEOPLE PHYSIOLOGICALLY. The remaining sentences
provide further information about the effects of color.
You can think about and
visualize a paragraph like this
Here is how you might visualize the
paragraph in color
Now, we have some examples to talk about a
general topic and more specific details.
To summarize:
What is the TOPIC SENTENCE?
The topic sentence is the first sentence in a paragraph.
What does it do?
It introduces the main idea of the paragraph.
How do I write one?
Summarize the main idea of your paragraph. Indicate to the reader what your
paragraph will be about.
Example:
There are three reasons why Canada is one of the best countries in the world.
First, Canada has an excellent health care system. All Canadians have access to
medical services at a reasonable price. Second, Canada has a high standard of
education. Students are taught by well-trained teachers and are encouraged
to continue studying at university. Finally, Canada's cities are clean and efficiently
managed. Canadian cities have many parks and lots of space for people to live. As a
result, Canada is a desirable place to live.
What are SUPPORTING SENTENCES /DETAILS?
They come after the topic sentence, making up the body of a paragraph.
What do they do?
They give details to develop and support the main idea of the paragraph.
How do I write them?
You should give supporting facts, details, and examples.
Example:
There are three reasons why Canada is one of the best countries in the world.
First, Canada has an excellent health care system. All Canadians have
access to medical services at a reasonable price. Second, Canada has a high
standard of education. Students are taught by well-trained teachers and
are encouraged to continue studying at university. Finally, Canada's cities
are clean and efficiently managed. Canadian cities have many parks and
lots of space for people to live. As a result, Canada is a desirable place to live.
What is the CLOSING SENTENCE?
The closing sentence is the last sentence in a paragraph.
What does it do?
It restates the main idea of your paragraph.
How do I write one?
Restate the main idea of the paragraph using different words.
Example:
There are three reasons why Canada is one of the best countries in the world.
First, Canada has an excellent health care system. All Canadians have access to
medical services at a reasonable price. Second, Canada has a high standard of
education. Students are taught by well-trained teachers and are encouraged
to continue studying at university. Finally, Canada's cities are clean and
efficiently managed. Canadian cities have many parks and lots of space for
people to live. As a result, Canada is a desirable place to live.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF PARAGRAPH
• THE NARRATIVE PARAGRAPH
• THE DESCRIPTIVE PARAGRAPH
• THE EXPOSITORY PARAGRAPH
• COMPARE AND CONTRAST
PARAGRAPH
EXPOSITORY
PARAGRAPH
you give information.
You explain a
subject, give
directions, or show
how something
happens. In
expository writing,
linking words like
first, second, then,
and finally are
usually used to help
readers follow the
ideas
NARRATIVE
PARAGRAPH
Have a topic sentence that
grabs the reader’s attention:
one main event, adventure,
scene or happening/anecdote.
Write it chronologically: this
means you must write about
the event in the order the
events occurred.
Contain plenty of interesting
details.
• DESCRIPTIVE
• PARAGRAPH
You describe something. When you
do this, you must use wording that
will allow your readers to be able to
see what you are writing about
without being able to actually "see"
it.
The types of words to use are strong
verbs and colorful adjectives. Verbs
are action words such as run, leap,
shout, and fly. Adjectives are words
that describe nouns. Examples of
colorful adjectives are: smelly,
disgusting, gorgeous, radiant,
brilliant, and gigantic.
COMPARE AND
CONTRAST PARAGRAPH
You expose similarities and differences of two
places, countries, people, friends, items, objects
or events.
The best way to start a compare and contrast
paragraph is to choose two related items and
clarify what is precisely being compared. After
writing the topic sentence, the writer might go on
with the supporting sentences.
There are two chief ways to develop
supporting sentences: whole by whole or
point by point.
In a whole by whole comparison paragraph,
the writer analyzes the first item thoroughly
before giving any details about the second
one.
Point by point comparison is also called
alternating arrangement of ideas.
Transition words or phrases such as “in
contrast”, “on the other hand”, “similarly”,
or “whereas”
TIPS
• Try to be creative. Choose a TOPIC you like and you are
interested in.
• Try to get some inspiration from a personal experience or
from talking to people
• Be organized from the very beginning (topic and
supporting ideas), so you don’t feel frustrated.
• Look information in reliable sources
• Use online dictionaries