WRITING PARAGRAPHS

& WRITER'S TOOLBOX

 

A paragraph is a group of sentences dedicated to explaining one idea. 

 

 Each paragraph must be indented and contain a minimum of five sentences (that means no less than five). 

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There are three types of sentences in every paragraph.  Each paragraph must contain a:

• Topic sentence
• Introduces the main idea of the paragraph and tells the reader what the paragraph will be about.  If you’re answering a question that needs a paragraph response, its a good idea to state the idea behind the question. 
• If you’re writing a body paragraph (the other paragraphs...not the introductory paragrah)  in an essay, make sure the topic directly relates to your topic. 
• Supporting details
• These details explain that which is stated in the topic sentence.  Each detail must be related to the topic and must tell the reader  what you want them to know...
•  AND, 'SHOW' THEM using specific examples. 
• If you’re writing about literature,  or a fact based article, the specific examples come directly from the text. 
• Conclusion sentence. 
• This sentence summarizes the main ideas in your paragraph
• Repeat the topic sentence
• Repeat the main idea(s) without the supporting details.
• When writing multiple paragraphs, we'll learn how the concluding sentence is also used as a transitional sentence to lead into the next paragraph.

  

Hints for writing successful paragraphs:

·        Always include a topic sentence, supporting details, and a conclusion sentence, in that order.

·        All sentences must be complete.  No fragments or run-ons will be accepted!

·        Make sure your examples “SHOW, don't tell.”  You must tell the reader what you want them to know and show them using specific examples. 

·        The specific examples have to be exact things that happened in whatever you are referring to. 

·        Specific examples help prove and support your ideas. 

·        Never address the reader.  Don’t use words like “I, you, me, us, we, etc.”  Don’t say, “In this paragraph, I will tell you about...”  The reader knows you are writing the paragraph and you don’t have to remind them. 

State all opinions as if they were fact and support them with specific examples.

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 WRITER'S  TOOLBOX

Please refer to this when writing. 

Your goal should be to know how to use these tools by the end of the school year.

 

 

   During an interview, a famous author was told that she was a
wonderful writer.
     "Oh no," she responded.  "I'm really a terrible writer.  But I'm a
pretty darn good re-writer."

 

 

THE KEY TO GOOD WRITING  IS:   RE-WRITING

• Very few writers 'get it right' the first time. 
• The first time is your rough draft! 
• To write well you need to go back and make it better. 
  

HERE ARE SOME TOOLS TO MAKE YOUR WRITING BETTER

 

1. SENTENCE VARIETY
• If all your sentences are the same length, they will sound boring.  Combine short sentences and long (compound) sentences in your writing.
  
2. USE GOOD DESCRIPTIVE WORDS 
• Go back and find your nouns, adjectives, verbs, and adverbs.  Replace them with better words.   Can you find a better word for 'run'?    (sprint, scurry) 
3. DON'T USE A  WORD MORE THAN ONCE TO BEGIN A SENTENCE IN A PARAGRAPH 
•  If you've already used the word He, or They, or Sometimes to begin a sentence in a paragraph, don't use it again.   FIND A DIFFERENT WAY TO SAY IT!! 
4. SHOW DON'T TELL 
• Don't TELL the reader that 'the sky is really pretty'.  SHOW THE READER:

 I looked up and noticed that the clouds were all puffy and
         white, like huge  balls of  cotton.   Soon the sun  went down and
         the colors of  the sky changed from blue to red.