Writing Effective Paragraphs

Writing Effective paragraphs

Using techniques, & creativity!

What is a Paragraph?

a group of sentences that focuses on ONE main idea, supported by other details.

Step 2

Brainstorming

Think of details you want to include:How can I describe it?

Step 3

Step 1

Review your thoughts & ideas:Do I have a specific topic? Do I have enough details?

Think of a topic:What will I write about?

Detail 2: my culture's festival (when it is celebrated? and why is it important?)

Example:

Detail 3: my culture's folk tale (what is it about? & what is the moral?)

Review: Do I have a specific topic?

Topic: My Culture

Detail 1: my culture's cuisine (the main food's ingredients & taste)

Review: Do I have 3 details?

Format of a Topic Sentence:main topic + controlling idea * use a general word to summarize your details.

Special Note:

use an adjective to describe the controlling idea!

What is a topic Sentence?

*first sentence*contains the main idea: - what will I discuss? -What will be your focus?

Examples of controlling ideas

Examples of topics

characteristics

My culture

My anime character

traits

consequences

Disobedience

Global warming

factors

1. The Mestizo Culture is unique because of its various characteristics.

Example of a Topic Sentence

2. My favorite anime character, Naruto, has distinctive traits.

Example of a Topic Sentence

3. As a student, I know that disobedience results in facing negative consequences.

Example of a Topic Sentence

4. Global warming is a major concern for the world because of the contributing factors.

Example of a Topic Sentence

What is a concluding sentence?

*last sentence*reinforces the main idea: - summarizes your points -reflects the topic sentence

use synonyms, change the parts of speech, or change the word order to reword the topic sentence.

Example 1

Topic Sentence:The Mestizo Culture is unique because of its various characteristics. Concluding Sentence: The variety of characteristics contribute to the Mestizo culture's essence.

Example 2

Topic Sentence: My favorite anime character, Naruto, has distinctive traits. Concluding Sentence: Naruto's unique traits make it my favorite anime character.

Example 3

Topic Sentence: As a student, I know that disobedience results in facing negative consequences. Concluding Sentence: Negative consequences are the result of being rebellious.

Example 4

Topic Sentence: Global warming is a major concern for the world because of the contributing factors. Concluding Sentence: There are numerous factors causing global warming.

-provide details to support, explain, and develop the topic sentence.

Supporting Sentences

Adding more

Topic sentence

extra ideas to develop the main supporting sentences

3 main supporting sentences

Concluding Sentence

Strategies

Example:

Facts

Topic sentence: Global warming is a major concern for the world because of the contributing factors. Supporting Fact: Scientists have confirmed that excessive heat has a major impact on marine life, as it causes diseases.

-can be verified-provide evidence or proof -comes from previous studies conducted by professionals

Strategies

Example:

Statistics

Topic sentence: As a student, I know that disobedience results in facing negative consequences. Supporting Stat: A study shows that 5% of disobedient children are sent to a juvenile correctional institution.

-a fact using numbers (%)-comes from previous studies conducted by professionals

Strategies

Example:

Topic sentence: The Mestizo Culture is unique because of its various characteristics. Supporting Illustration: Families gather late at night to hear folk tales like La Llorona and El Duende.

Illustrations/Examples

- a specific person, thing, object or event that proves a point.

Strategies

Example:

Topic sentence: My favorite anime character, Naruto, has distinctive traits.Supporting Illustration: His most outstanding power is his breakneck speed.

Details

-an individual feature of a person, place or object

Additional detail A:Relleno is a black soup consisting of chicken stuffed with ground meat and boiled eggs.

Example:

Topic Sentence:The Mestizo Culture is unique because of its various characteristics.

Additional detail B:Grandmothers cook it over an open fire, known as 'fogon' which adds a unique smoky flavor.

Supporting Sentence 1:Families gather on Christmas day to enjoy a scrumptious dish of Relleno.

Coherence

ideas are logically organized so that readers can see the connection & flow of ideas.

use transitional words to accomplish coherence.

Transitional Words

use a transitional word to introduce the main supporting sentence & place a (,) after it.

adding transitional Words

For instance, families gather on Christmas day to enjoy a scrumptious dish of Relleno. Relleno is a black soup consisting of chicken stuffed with ground meat and boiled eggs. Grandmothers cook it over an open fire, known as 'fogon' which adds a unique smoky flavor.

Main supporting sentence

Additional detail A

Additional detail B

adding transitional Words to clinchers

1. Therefore, the variety of characteristics contribute to the Mestizo culture's essence. 2. Hence, Naruto's unique traits make it my favorite anime character. 3. Thus, negative consequences are the result of being rebellious. 4. All in all, there are numerous factors causing global warming.