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Paragraph Writing

Paragraph Writing: Where do I begin?

A paragraph has three main parts:Topic Sentence

Body

Closing Sentence

Topic Sentence● Let’s the reader know what you are going to be talking about● Is always a complete sentence● Is indented

Let’s practice writing topic sentences:Change the following question into topic sentences

● What is your favorite color?

There are a couple of ways to change this question into a topic sentence:

1. My favorite color is blue.

Or

2. I have many favorite colors.

What’s the difference?While you can change the question into a sentence both ways, which way you choose will affect how you write the rest of your paper.

Sentence 1:

My favorite color is blue.

If you choose to write your topic sentence this way, the rest of your paper has to be about the color blue and why it’s your favorite color.

Now let’s look at option 2Here is the second way to change the question into a sentence.

Sentence 2:

I have many favorite colors.

If you choose to write your topic sentence this way, you can write the rest of your paper about several different colors and why you like them.

Why does it matter?

For a short paragraph or paper, it probably doesn’t matter. It’s not really difficult to talk about the color blue for one paragraph.

If you are writing several paragraphs or an essay, it is much more difficult to continue talking about one thing, like the color blue. It’s nice to have more options.

Body of the Paragraph● The body comes directly after the topic sentence.● The body of a paragraph is typically 2-6 sentences in length. This is to give

you enough sentences to really discuss your topic.

Topic Sentence

Body

This is also the biggest part of your paragraph.DO NOT indent the body. The body begins right next to the period at the end of the topic

sentence.

Closing Sentence

Body of a Paragraph ContinuedI like to divide the body of a paragraph into two parts:

Part 1 -- Example or reason

Part 2 -- Explanation of your example or reason

Don’t just tell me your answer. Explain it!

Topic sentence: I have many favorite colors.Example or reason:

One of my favorite colors is green.

Explanation:

I love green because it is the color of Christmas trees.

What did I do?Topic Sentence:

I have many favorite colors.

Body Example or Reason

One of my favorite colors is green.

Body Explanation

I love green because it is the color of Christmas trees.

Closing Sentence

Isn’t the body 2-6 sentences?Yes. We just did 2 sentences. Here’s how to make it longer.

Example or Reason 2:

Another of my favorite colors is blue.

Explanation 2:

I love the color blue because it makes me think of the bright blue of the sky or the deep blue of the ocean.

Did you notice the colors?

● Both examples or reasons are colored yellow.● Both explanations are colored pink.

This pattern will continue until you are done with the body of your paragraph.

Quick knowledge check:

Did you notice that I changed what my favorite color was? That’s because I stated in my topic sentence that I have many favorite colors.

Did you notice that I started my second example with the word another? That’s because I want my reader to notice that this my second example or reason.

How do you think you would start a third example?

Closing SentenceOnce you have all of the sentences you want in the body of your paragraph, it’s time to write your closing sentence.

This sentence reminds your reader what you just talked about.

You may want to list your examples for your reader as a reminder.

Topic Sentence and Closing Sentence

Hint: The closing sentence is color-coded green because it is almost the same as the topic sentence. If you don’t know what to write, look back at your topic sentence.

Let’s review what we’ve already written

Topic Sentence:

I have many favorite colors.

Body:

One of my favorite colors is green. I love green because it is the color of Christmas trees. Another of my favorite colors is blue. I love the color blue because it makes me think of the bright blue of the sky or the deep blue of the ocean.

Closing Sentence:

What should we write for the closing?Remind the reader what you were talking about:

I have many favorite colors.

Now, remind the reader what those colors are:

I have many favorite colors, including green and blue.

Let’s look at our final outline

Topic Sentence:

I have many favorite colors.

Body:

One of my favorite colors is green. I love green because it is the color of Christmas trees. Another of my favorite colors is blue. I love the color blue because it makes me think of the bright blue of the sky or the deep blue of the ocean.

Closing Sentence:

I have many favorite colors, including green and blue.

Let’s type it out with our indentI have many favorite colors. One of my favorite colors is green. I love green

because it is the color of Christmas trees. Another of my favorite colors is blue. I love the color blue because it makes me think of the bright blue of the sky or the deep blue of the ocean. I have many favorite colors, including green and blue.

Let’s review the color coding

Topic Sentence

Body: Example or Reason

Body: Explanation. Tell me more about your example or reason.

Closing Sentence

Now try your own

What is your favorite food?Change my question into a sentence.

Tell me your first reason or example.

Explain or tell me more about your reason or example.

Tell me your second reason or example.

Explain or tell me more about your second reason or example.

Look back at sentence one and remind me what you were talking about.

The last step

Rewrite your sentences from the previous slide, but this time make it look like a paragraph.

1. Remember to indent your first sentence.2. Make sure each of the other sentences come right after the period

of the sentence that was before it.3. Do not indent any other sentences.