Step by Spep - Paragraphing

8/13/2019 Step by Spep - Paragraphing

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How to Write a ParagraphHow to Write a Paragraph

So you want to learn how to write a paragraph do you? Its fairly easy. Withoutgetting into too many technical terms, lets try to set one up following theguidelines below:

Step 1: Deciding on a Topic

Not many people write ust to write. !sually, there is some type of topic that ispro"ided for your writing.

Ex. Topic: #o you agree or disagree with the following statement$Sports can be fun in many different ways%. &i"e reasons ande'amples to support your opinion.

Step (: Brainstorming

Now that you ha"e your topic, youll need to figure out, $what is it you want towrite about?% )a*e about ( to + minutes and write down the first ideas that cometo your head when thin*ing about your topic.

Brainstorming:

S-)S CANTBE/!N S-)S CAN BE/!N

Inuries

0ay be e'pensi"e

#angerous

/ight among mates

ose

/rustration

2elled by coach of /ans

3eing part of the bench

4ang out

5'citing

4ealthy

ela'ing

/riends

icnics

&ather people

Adapted by LVARO DEL CASTILLO

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Step +: Focsing: !rgani"ing #or ideas

Now you ha"e a bunch of ideas and you need to ta*e a side. 6hoose the bestideas to support your position 7at least three89 later these ideas will become your

supporting sentences or supporting reasons 7in persuasive writing8

$$$Notice not a%% o& the ideas &rom 'rainstorming are sed. That is o()$$$

ets suppose we agreewith the statement that Sports can be fun in manydifferent ways

Now, we ha"e to choose at %east threeof our best ideas from the column ofSports can be fun:

4ang out

5'citing 4ealthy

Step ;: Topic *entence: Deciding what to write a'ot

Now we need to thin* and write about our Topic *entence: emember that thetopic sentence introduces the topic, and it tells your position about the issue orthe topic addressed.

Possible Topic Sentences:

+ood and Accepta'%e: ,-mpersona%

Sports can be fun in many different ways.

+ood and Accepta'%e: ,Persona%i"ed

In my opinion, sports can be fun in many different

ways.

I belie"e sports can be fun in many different

ways.

I thin* sports can be fun in many different ways.

)hese are threeo& the most common"erbs used in the T!EF/test and are"ery useful when you ha"e to gi"e your opinion about something.


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Ne"ertheless, 5nglish is a rich language, and there are many "erbs fore'pressing opinions. It


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2ore Pro&essiona% ,-mpersona%

egardless of any opposing "iewpoints, sports

are fun in many different ways

2ore Pro&essiona% ,Persona%i"ed

egardless of any opposing "iewpoints, I assert

that sports are fun in many different ways

Step >: Writing *pporting *entences

3y now, you ha"e pic*ed your Topic *entenceand the Focsed -deasyou are going to tal* about in the paragraph. ets start ot%iningour paragraph:

-DEA !3T/-NE -DEA !3T/-NE

)opic Sentenceegardless of any opposing "iewpoints, I assertthat sports can be fun in many different ways.

Supporting Sentence 4 1. "ang out:

o Evidence /

Example

Supporting Sentence 5 (. #$citing:

o Evidence /

Example Supporting Sentence 6 +. "ealthy:

o Evidence /

Example

6oncluding Sentence

Now, ta*e the ideas you are going to write about and tell something about themthat relate to sports. emember that supporting sentences reasons 7in

argumentati"e writing8 $support% what the main idea is saying.

%emember: 2ou do not want se"eral different ideas in one paragraph. =paragraph should focus on one idea and one idea only.


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Step @: Writing detai% sentences

Now that the supporting sentences are done, you can write detailsentences Athe 5"idence 5'amples. #etail sentences add specific details about

the supporting sentence. =s you can see, everything in the paragraph thusfar has to do with the main idea. ets see how this is done. Well ta*e the &supporting sentencesfrom abo"e and e'pand on them by gi"ing e'amples ofeach. 4ow? i*e this:



Supporting Sentence 4 1. "ang out: Sports are fun because we get tohang out with friends.

o Evidence /

Example

o /or e'ample, hanging out with friends is

great because it is something manypeople enoy doing.

Supporting Sentence 5 (. #$citing: =nother reason sports are fun isbecause they are e'citing.

o Evidence /

Example

o )o illustrate, not *nowing what is going

to happen and wondering if the ball ise"er going to come to you is ner"e

rac*ing. istening to the fans cheeringyou on can be thrilling tooB

Supporting Sentence 6 +. "ealthy:= third reason why sports are fun isbecause it ma*es us healthy.

o Evidence /

Example

o /or instance, running around helps us

lose fat. It also allows us to *eep ourmuscles and bones strong.

6oncluding Sentence In conclusion,

$$$Notice that in nm'ers 5 and 61 more than one detai% sentence waswritten &or the spporting sentence 7 reason. That is o()))) As %ong as #oha0e one spporting sentence 7reason1 #o can write as man# detai%sentences &or that one spporting sentence 7reason as #o %i(e$$$

Step C: Writing the Conc%sion


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We ha"e finally come to the last part of writing a paragraph, theConc%sion. 0any people feel that the conclusion is the easiest part of writing tolearn. )he conclusion stops the idea and the paragraph. 6onclusions usuallymirror the main idea of the paragraph. )hey dont always ha"e to. It really

depends on the writer. ets loo* at a conclusion.

Conc%ding *entence: )hese are ust a few reasons why playing sports is fun.



Supporting Sentence 4 1. "ang out: Sports are fun because we get tohang out with friends.

o Evidence /

Example

o /or e'ample, hanging out with friends is

great because its something manypeople enoy doing.

Supporting Sentence 5 (. #$citing: =nother reason sports are fun isbecause they are e'citing.

o Evidence /

Example

o )o illustrate, not *nowing what is going

to happen and wondering if the ball ise"er going to come to you is ner"e

rac*ing. istening to the fans cheeringyou on can be thrilling tooB

Supporting Sentence 6 +. "ealthy:= third reason why sports are fun isbecause it ma*es us healthy.

o Evidence /

Example

o /or instance, running around helps us

lose fat. It also allows us to *eep ourmuscles and bones strong.

6oncluding Sentence In conclusion, these are ust a few reasons whyplaying sports is fun.

#id this summariDe the main idea and the paragraph? 2es. #id this restate themain idea? 2es. )his is the easiest and most common way of closing aparagraph.


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Step E: Ptting it a%% together

We are done writing the parts of the paragraph. ets put it together and see howit loo*s and sounds. #ont forget to indent your paragraphBBB

%emember:

=ll paragraphs in 5nglish 7formal writing8 23*Tbegin with an -ndentation. )hatis to lea"e a few spaces to the right of the paragraph edge before the first line ofyour paragraph.

egardless of any opposing "iewpoints, I assert that sports can be fun inmany different ways. First, sports are fun because we get to ang out witfriends. For example, anging out wit friends is great because it!s someting

many people en"oy doing. #noter reason sports are fun is because tey areexciting. $o illustrate, not %nowing wat is going to appen and wondering if teball is ever going to come to you is nerve rac%ing. &istening to te fans ceering

you on can be trilling too' # tird reason wy sports are fun is because itma%es us ealty. For instance, running around elps us lose fat. (t also allowsus to %eep our muscles and bones strong. (n conclusion, tese are "ust a fewreasons wy playing sports is fun.

Now, does your topic sentence state de main idea? =re your supportingsentences and detail sentences related to your main idea? #id you use

transitions 7first, another, a third8 correctly? #id you effecti"ely close theparagraph? =ll of these answers are #es. )he paragraph abo"e is complete.'ongratulations(((((2ou ha"e made your first paragraphBBB

)T#: 6hec* the pages below: you will find some importantinformation that may answer some FA8s )Fre*uently #s%ed+uestions


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Another Examp%e:

0y hometown is famous for se"eral amaDing natural

features. /irst, it is noted for the Wheaton i"er, which is "erywide and beautiful. =lso, on the other side of the town isWheaton 4ill, which is unusual because it is "ery steep. )hethird amaDing feature is the 3ig -ld )ree. )his tree stands twohundred feet tall and is probably about si' hundred years old.)hese three landmar*s are truly amaDing and ma*e myhometown a famous place.

Detai%s in Paragraphs

)he short paragraph in this lesson is a &air%# comp%ete paragraph, but it lac*sdetails. Whene"er possible, you should include enough details in yourparagraphs to help your reader understand e'actly what you are writing about.In the paragraph about Wheaton, three natural landmar*s are mentioned, but wedo not *now "ery much about them. /or e'ample, we co%d adda sentence ortwo about Wheaton ri"er concerning H!W wide it is or WH9 it is 'eati&% .6onsider this re"ision 7and note the additional details in 'o%d8:

0y hometown is famous for se"eral amaDing naturalfeatures. /irst, it is noted for the Wheaton i"er, which is"ery wide and beautiful. !n either side o& this ri0er1 whichis 4; &eet wide1 are man# wi%%ow trees which ha0e %ong'ranches that can mo0e grace&%%# in the wind. -natmn the %ea0es o& these trees &a%% and co0er theri0er'an(s %i(e go%den snow. =lso, on the other side of thetown is Wheaton 4ill, which is unusual because it is "erysteep. E0en thogh it is steep1 c%im'ing this hi%% is notdangeros1 'ecase there are some &irm roc(s a%ong thesides that can 'e sed as stairs. There are no trees

arond this hi%%1 so it stands c%ear%# against the s(# andcan 'e seen &rom man# mi%es awa#. )he third amaDingfeature is the 3ig -ld )ree. )his tree stands two hundred feettall and is probably about si' hundred years old. )hese threelandmar*s are truly amaDing and ma*e my hometown afamous place.


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