th grade writing paragraphs
TRANSCRIPT
7th Grade
WRITING
PARAGRAPHS NARRATIVE / PROCESS / DESCRIPTIVE / OPINION
English 2
2020-2021
STUDENT NAME________________________________________ CLASS___________________
STUDENT NUMBER_______________________________________
PROOFREADING/EDITING MARKS
ham burger delete space
He is visiting argentina. Capitalize
Highschool insert space
Crayfish also called crawdads are…
use parentheses
I ate a a hamburger delete word
…forever. The next day…
start new paragraph
He is best friend. insert word
stet He rode his bicycle. stet (don’t change)
lions tigers and bears insert comma
All the birds was flying south subj verb agreement
Its cold today. insert apostrophe (also for quotation marks)
I saw six mouse this summer. change to singular/plural
This is a sentence insert period
The weather last Wendsday… spelling mistake/spell it out
The movie we saw was
Yesterday very funny. move where shown
I love to have fun because
it’s fun to have fun. Repetition
She drives a red big car. switch order
I go to the store yesterday. wrong verb tense
The fastest runner in the Nation is…
use lowercase
The horse raced past the barn fell. unclear or confusing
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TED Ankara College English Department 7th GRADE ENGLISH II
Name : _______________ Class: 7 - _____ SEPTEMBER, 2020
Introduction to the Paragraph
WHY WRITE?
Writing will help you…
become a better student
communicate and connect with others
enjoy life
WRITING TERMS – LETTER WORD SENTENCE PARAGRAPH
FEATURES OF A PARAGRAPH
1. A paragraph has a topic sentence that states the main idea. This sentence is usually at the
beginning. It helps the reader understand what the paragraph is about.
2. All of the sentences in a paragraph are connected to the topic sentence. There are no
unrelated or extra sentences.
3. The first line of a paragraph is indented.
4. The last sentence, or concluding sentence, brings the paragraph to a logical conclusion by
stating the main point again or by summarizing the main idea.
THE STEPS IN THE WRITING PROCESS
PREWRITE- The first step in the writing process is getting ready to write. You select a topic, collect details
about it, and plan how to use them.
WRITE – During this step, you write a first draft. It is your first chance to get all your ideas down on paper.
REVISE – You review your first draft. Then you make changes / add details etc.
EDIT – You check your revised writing for errors and write a final copy.
PUBLISH – In the last step, you share your final copy. This makes all of your work worth the effort.
REMEMBER!
You can become a very good writer, but you must
work at it. All it takes is PRACTICE. All of the
writing you do is important – no matter if you are
writing for yourself or for an assignment.
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THE PARTS OF A PARAGRAPH
A paragraph has THREE main parts.
The topic sentence – tells the reader what the paragraph is about
The body/supporting sentences – gives examples, and shares details about the topic
The concluding sentence – sums up the paragraph’s message
FEATURES OF A GOOD TOPIC SENTENCE
It controls, sets the tone, and guides the whole paragraph
It’s NOT a simple fact that everyone accepts as true.
e.g. Green tea is a drink made from water and tea leaves.
It is NOT too general:
e.g. Tea is nice.
It’s NOT too specific.
e.g. Çaykur tea has 25 milligrams of caffeine per cup.
It is specific and has main idea that guides the whole paragraph:
e.g. Drinking two cups of green tea per day has many health benefits.
Topic Sentence = Topic + Main Idea
The topic introduces the subject of the paragraph.
The main idea tells what argument the paragraph will make.
The topic can usually be stated as a simple noun or a simple idea. Some examples:
o School, Videogames, Computers, The Black Sea, etc.
The main idea is an opinion, or claim, or argument about the topic. Some examples:
o …is fun and exciting …can teach important skills, …can be dangerous if… etc.
Example Topic sentence:
Winter is the best season for kids because there are so many ways to have fun. topic main idea
A simple rule for the topic sentence is to tell the reader what thing/person/place/idea you’re
going to talk about, and tell them what you think about that thing/person/place/idea
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A. Read the paragraphs below and write a good topic sentence for each.
1. ________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________
First, your body will look better. Exercise is perfect for staying fit and healthy-looking and it
does not have to take a long time. Second, you will actually have more energy. A person who
exercises will have fewer problems walking up lots of stairs or climbing steep hills. In addition,
your heart will be healthier. A good, strong heart is necessary for a long, healthy life. Finally,
exercise reduces stress and keeps your mind in shape. Therefore, if you want to improve your
overall health, exercise is an excellent way to accomplish your goal.
2. ________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
It is without a doubt one of the easiest foods to eat. You do not need any special utensils, and it
does not have to be served piping hot like some foods do. In addition, with only 20 calories per
cup and almost no fat, it is both a filling and a heart-friendly snack. Furthermore, it can be an
important source of natural fiber, a substance that has been shown to be important in limiting
certain types of illnesses. Based on this information, can anyone be surprised that sales of
popcorn are soaring in many countries?
3. _______________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
I was very young, and it was the first time my parents let me go out in public without them. I was
excited. My friends and I had great seats near the stage. We had to push through crowds of
people to get to our seats. As we sat down, the lights dimmed, and the crowd grew silent. Then in
a flash of light, the band rushed on stage. The guitars blared, and the drums crashed. The music
was deafening! Everyone in the arena screamed and started to dance. My friends and I did not
sit down all night. When I woke up the next morning, my legs ached and my throat was sore, but
I did not care. I thought attending my first rock concert was the most exciting, grown-up thing
I had ever done.
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SUPPORTING SENTENCES
Features of Good Supporting Sentences:
They are related to the topic sentence.
They are like interior walls of a house. They give
information that supports and explains the topic of the
paragraph, so that it won’t collapse.
They give examples that help make the main idea clear.
They give details to answer the questions: WHO? /WHAT? /WHERE? /WHEN? /WHY? /HOW?
E.g. Supporting Sentences
CONCLUDING SENTENCE
The concluding sentence of a paragraph makes the final statement of support for the topic sentence. It
brings the paragraph to a logical conclusion by restating the main idea AND
1. offering a suggestion OR
2. giving an opinion OR
3. making a prediction
Read the paragraphs below and answer the questions.
TOPIC SENTENCE
THE BODY
CONCLUDING
SENTENCE
The Mystery of King Tut
Scientists are still trying to solve the mystery of what happened to King
Tut. He became an Egyptian king when he was only eight years old, and he died
when he was just a teenager. For years, scientists have wondered how he died.
Recently, they looked at King Tut’s mummy using a special X-ray called a CT scan.
Scientists took more than 1,700 pictures of the mummy’s bones and organs. They
hoped that these special pictures would show what happened to the young king. The
X-rays showed that King Tut had a broken leg, but there were no clues about how
he might have died. Now, the mystery of what happened to the king may never
be solved.
Falling Asleep
When people have a hard time falling asleep at night, there are some things that they
can do to relax before going to sleep. One of the most pleasant ways to relax is to imagine
a beautiful and peaceful place. This requires a creative mind, but it helps get rid of the
tension that causes people to stay awake. Another method is to listen to relaxing music,
such as classical or baroque music. Baroque music is also popular because it helps students
study better. People try various tricks to help them fall asleep, but if you have sleep problems,
you should try these three methods to see if one of them works for you.
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1. What is the main idea of the previous paragraph? __________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
2. Which details are most important? ___________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
3. What does the title tell you about the paragraph? ________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
The Job of a Firefighter
Firefighters do a very important job in their community. First of all, they put out fires in
people’s homes and workplaces. They also respond to emergency calls. The calls may be about
dangerous situations, such as car accidents or heart attacks. Many firefighters are EMTs
(Emergency Medical Technicians). They can help people with many kinds of medical emergencies.
Every community needs firefighters.
1. Underline the topic sentence and the concluding sentence.
2. How many supporting sentences are there? ________
3. Complete this statement: The supporting sentences in this paragraph tell why…______________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
How to Annoy a Roommate
It is easy to annoy a roommate. One way is to make a lot of noise. Do this especially when your
roommate is sleeping or studying. Another way is to leave a mess on the floor. Drop your clothes and
shoes everywhere. Keeping the room always clean and tidy will also strengthen your relationship with
your roommate. Finally, eat smelly food in the room. When you finish, put the dirty dishes on the
floor, too. If you follow this advice, you will surely drive your roommate crazy.
1. Underline the topic sentence and the concluding sentence.
2. Circle the sentence that doesn’t support the topic, and can be taken out of the paragraph.
3. Complete this statement: The supporting sentences in this paragraph show several ways to…_________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
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Concluding Sentence
The Weather in My Hometown
Hong Kong, my hometown, is a wonderful place for many reasons, but the weather is not one of them. Our best
weather is in the fall, but we have a lot of air pollution. For this reason, we do not see clear blue skies very
often. The winters are short but cool and damp. I feel cold all the time in the winter. In the spring, there is too
much rain. In the summer, it is too hot and humid. Summer is also the season for typhoons. Typhoons are the
worst part or Hong Kong’s weather. I love my hometown, but I do not love the weather there.
The concluding sentence restates the main idea, and does which of the following? (Check one box.)
☐ It offers a suggestion.
☐ It gives an opinion.
☐ It makes a prediction.
A concluding sentence can remind you of the main idea, but it will try to use different words and phrases. It
won’t just repeat what you already said.
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LINKERS/CONJUNCTIONS
Linkers or linking words help you connect ideas and sentences. We use different linkers to give examples,
to add information, to contrast ideas, to talk about time, etc. Let’s look at the most common linkers!
Linkers have a lot of names. They are sometimes called conjunctions, connectors, or connecting
words. Don’t worry –– it is the same thing!
AND… BUT… OR… FOR… SO… YET…
These linkers connect ideas in compound sentences. We always use a comma in compound sentences and we place it
before AND, BUT, OR, and SO.
“AND” connects two sentences
with similar ideas. The sentences
can be positive or negative.
She has got a sister, and I’ve got a brother.
Bianca doesn’t like living in the city, and Nick
doesn’t like the countryside.
“BUT” connects two statements
with contrasting or opposite ideas.
She has got a sister, but I haven’t got any siblings.
Dev likes to do shopping at the mall, but his wife
hates it.
“OR” connects two sentences that
express alternatives or choices.
Every Saturday afternoon, he visits his parents, or
he goes for a picnic with his friends.
You can get a ride with me, or you can take a bus.
“SO” connects a reason and a
result.
reason, result
Selena works a lot, so she doesn’t go out much.
They both love art, so they go to the art gallery
together.
LINKER/CONJUNCTION PRACTICE
Practice 1: Complete the paragraph putting AND, BUT, OR, and SO in the correct spaces.
My new neighbors are vegetarians, 1) _____ they don’t eat meat. That means that they
don’t eat beef, chicken, 2) _____ even fish. I wanted to be friendly, 3) _____ I invited them to
my house for lunch. They came, 4) _____ they also brought their young son. He is just a baby,
5) _____ he can’t talk yet. I served delicious vegetable curry, rice, 6) _____ a nice green salad.
For dessert, I offered them a choice of chocolate cake 7) _____ apple pie. The husband wanted
both cake and pie, 8) _____ the wife didn’t want either. I asked my neighbours if they wanted to
drink coffee, 9) _____ if they preferred tea. After lunch, we were sitting on the terrace to enjoy
the sunshine, 10) _____ the baby boy was playing his toys. I wanted to hold him, 11) _____ he
started crying when I tried to take him in my arms. They have invited me to come over to their
house for dinner next month, 12) _____ they will serve a special vegetarian meal.
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The Narrative Paragraph:
Telling a Story
Use this space to brainstorm your thoughts about stories. What is a story? What
makes a good story? Write down any words or ideas that you think about when you
hear the word “story”.
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To write a Narrative Paragraph…
1. …decide on the characters.
Who is the story about? Who are the “actors” in the paragraph?
2. … choose a setting.
Where and when does the story happen? What does that time and place look and feel
like? What’s the mood?
3. …give Background Information about the story in the beginning.
What happened before? What will help us understand the action?
4. … have a clear Beginning, Middle, and Ending
Show that the action is starting. Describe the action. End the action and, if you can, help
the reader learn something from the story.
5. …use consistent verb tense – A story about the past uses the past tense
A story is often written in the past tense, but it can also be in the present tense
6. …use lively language – using details (paint a picture with words)
Be Descriptive
o Example: The movie was good The movie was thrilling!
Be Specific
o Example: Dad had to call someone Dad had to call the manager
Sentence
General
(boring)
words
Descriptive words
The movie was _______. nice interesting, thrilling,
inspiring
The short stories were _______. bad boring, horrible, empty,
violent
I felt _______. good marvellous, fantastic,
elated
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PERFECT
Too Specific
Too General
I never thought I could do it, but I finally conquered my fear
of public speaking. At the beginning of the semester, my English
teacher assigned us the difficult task of speaking in front of the
class for three minutes, and I worried about it for the next two
months. I wrote all of my ideas on note cards. I practiced my
speech with my notes in front of a mirror, in front of my cat, and in
front of my brother. When the day of my speech came, I was ready.
As I reached the podium, I looked at my audience and smiled. Then
I looked down at my note cards. At that moment, I realized I had
the wrong information. These were the notes for my biology test,
not the information about my speech! I closed my eyes and took a
deep breath. Without further hesitation, I began the speech. To my
surprise, the words flowed from my mouth. Three minutes later, it
was over. Everyone applauded my speech that day, and I left that
room feeling like a winner.
Topic Sentence
Background
Beginning
Middle
Ending
Concluding
Sentence
Su
pp
ort
ing S
en
ten
ce
s
Supporting Sentences – Who, What, When, Where, Why, How?
7. Give Details! – Describe! – Explain! – Give Facts!
8. Supporting Sentences make up the Body of the paragraph
9. The story needs to flow smoothly
“I burned 400 calories doing 2 hours of exercise in the water on August 23rd at noon.” “Last week I had so much fun at a swimming party at my favourite lake with all my friends.” “I went swimming.”
Concluding Sentence – the last sentence of a paragraph
Sums up the story
Helps create meaning about the experiences
Helps the reader to understand the importance or the lesson of the story
Example ¶
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Paragraph 2
1. Have you ever felt embarrassment? What was an embarrassing moment you experienced recently?
2. Underline the Topic Sentence and a Concluding Sentence in the paragraph above.
3. Who is/are the main character(s)?
4. Where does the story take place (setting)?
5. Does the writer add details in the story? Underline descriptive language and specific information in the
paragraph above.
6. What would be a good title for this story? Write it in the blank in the paragraph above.
7. Does the writer use verb tense consistently? Find one mistake and circle it.
8. Do you have a funny story from your childhood? What happened? Write it using 4 sentences and share
the experience with your class.
_______________________________
Today I’m a pretty good bowler, but I remember the very first time I went to the bowling
alley with my dad. I was only five years old. His fingers fit into the ball like he was putting on his
favourite gloves. I saw Dad’s powerful swing and watched the bowling ball glide down the alley.
Pow! All ten pins went flying, and then it was my turn. The ball was so heavy, but I held on.
Taking a deep breath, I aimed for the pins. “Come on, strike,” I said as I ran a few steps and
swung the ball hard. It crashed down and started rolling very, very slowly. I kept saying, “Go,
go” but it stop dead. Everybody was pointing and laughing. Dad had to call the manager to push
my ball into the gutter. It was one of the most embarrassing and funny moments of my life.
Q U E S T I O N S
Have you been
bowling?
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Paragraph 3
1. What is the purpose of this story? To entertain or to inform? Explain your opinion.
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
2. Is this story fiction or non-fiction? Explain your opinion.
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
3. Does this story have a problem or a conflict? What is it? Support your view.
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
4. Does the writer use the first-person narrative or the third-person narrative?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
5. What does the story make you feel? If you don’t feel anything, how could the writing be improved?
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
6. Where can we find the beginning, the middle, and the ending in the story? Mark these 3 parts in the
paragraph above.
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
A Journey
The Emperor Akbar (1542-1605) was travelling to a city a long way from his home in the
Muhgal Empire of India. It was hot and he was beginning to feel tired and bored. “Can anyobody
shorten this road for me?” he asked impatiently. The courtiers looked at one another anxiously. They
knew there was no shorter road through the mountains to their destination. “I can,” said Birbal, his
favourite adviser. “You can shorten the road?” asked the emperor. “Well, go on and do it!” “I will,”
said Birbal. “But first listen to this story.” Birbal rode beside the emperor and began to tell a story. It
was a very exciting tale, full of adventure and mystery. All the listeners were fascinated. Before they
knew it, they had reached the end of their journey. “We’ve arrived!” exclaimed Akbar. “So soon!”
Hearing this, Birbar smiled. “Well, you did say you wanted the road to be shortened.”
Q U E S T I O N S
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Writing Assignment
PART 1 : Pre-writing – Brainstorm
Before writing your Narrative Paragraph, think about your Topic Choice and draw a “mind map”
above your composition. Let your mind make every connection. Write everything down. Don’t
stop yourself. Brainstorming is free and uncontrolled! There are no wrong ideas!
Example:
PART 2 : Composition
What does your mind map make you think about? Did you remember any stories? Did a funny
memory come to you? Below your mind map, write a Narrative Paragraph. Choose one from
each category.
Your paragraph MUST include these features:
1. ☐ A beginning, middle, and ending
2. ☐ Topic Sentence - with Background information
3. ☐ Supporting Sentences
4. ☐ Concluding Sentence
5. ☐ Verb tense consistency
6. ☐ Word choice that is descriptive and specific
7. ☐ Total of 10 sentences, with a Margin and a Title
POSSIBLE TOPIC CHOICES:
A) a funny experience you had
B) a nervous student on the first day of school
Funny Experiences
at home
at school
other places
falling on the stage
throwing a
bowling ball
my brother playing
a trick
Help readers SEE
& FEEL
Be clear
Include a
SURPRISE
Use good
adjectives and
adverbs
PRO TIP
my pet ruined
the couch
COUCH
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________________________________________________
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_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
On the exam, you can expect a breakdown of points similar to the following:
Good Title
____/2
Clear Background Info
____/3
Clear End
____/3
Margins and
Indentation
____/2
Clear Beginning
____/3
Interesting language
and detail
____/5
Neat Handwriting
____/2
Full Middle
____/5
Grammar and
Mechanics
____/5
STUDENT NAME________________________________________ CLASS___________________
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Peer-Editing
Narrative Paragraph
Writing is not a one-step process – there are many steps! Get opinions on what you wrote with Peer-
Editing, so you can have a deeper understanding of the reader/writer viewpoint, make improvements and
fix mistakes.
STEP 1 : Read what you wrote.
STEP 2 : Find a partner and give your writing to him/her. Be ready to explain yourself.
STEP 3 : Complete the To Do List, write comments, then return it to writer. Be ready to explain yourself.
STEP 4 (OPTIONAL) : Read your composition in front of the class.
To Do List:
When you read your partner’s paragraph…
Fix spelling errors.
Improve word choice.
Fix grammar errors.
Point out where the writer can add more specific details or descriptive language.
Point out anything confusing.
Comment if any required features are missing.
Comment if the Beginning, Middle, and End is missing.
Is it boring? Give advice to make it more original, inspiring, meaningful, interesting.
Check the format. If the indentation and title are missing, make a comment.
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LINKERS INDICATING TIME RELATIONS
BEFORE, AFTER, WHEN, WHENEVER, WHILE, AS SOON AS, UNTIL, SINCE
These linkers express time in complex sentences. We can place them at the beginning of the
complex sentence, or in the middle of it.
If you put the linker at the beginning of a complex sentence, you need to use a comma
in the middle of it.
As soon as I got home, I called my mom.
If you put the linker in the middle of the sentence, no comma is needed.
I called my mom as soon as I got home.
“before” Before I go to bed, I brush my teeth.
I brush my teeth before I go to bed.
“after” After Nadine finishes her performance, she will take off her makeup.
Nadine will take off her makeup after she finishes her performance.
“when” When you called, I was in the shower.
I was in the shower when you called.
“whenever” Whenever I think of my hometown, I get sad.
I get sad whenever I think of my hometown.
“while” While I was trying to sleep, my housemate was playing the drums.
My housemate was playing the drums while I was trying to sleep.
“as soon
as”
As soon as Fabrice took the medicine, he felt better.
Fabrice felt better as soon as he took the medicine.
“until” Until everyone hands the test to the teacher, we can’t leave the room.
We can’t leave the room until everyone hands the test to the teacher.
“since” Since I saw my grandfather for the last time, a year passed.
A year passed since I saw my grandfather for the last time.
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Practice Time related Linkers/Conjunctions:
Combine two sentences into one. Choose if you want to put the linker in parentheses at the
beginning or in the middle of the sentence. Use commas when necessary.
1. I found an amazing job abroad. I graduated from university. (as soon as)
___________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________
2. The rain was drumming on the roof of our cottage. My grandparents were
watching a historical movie on an old TV. (while)
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
3. I talked to my friend on the phone last night. She fell asleep in the middle
of her sentence. (until)
___________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
4. Efosa hasn’t talked to me. We had our big argument. (since)
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
5. My parents started crying tears of happiness. My sister told them about
the new baby. (when)
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
6. I immediately gave Jacob first aid. Jacob fell on the floor shaking. (after)
__________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
7. You should give me a call. You feel sad or anxious. (whenever)
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
8. I always read a recipe carefully. I start cooking a new meal. (before)
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
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The Process Paragraph:
Making a Mental Map
Write a list or cluster of things you know how to do that are hard for other people.
What can you teach people to do? What skills do you have?
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A process paragraph describes how to do something or explains how an activity is completed. It can tell you how
to prepare a sandwich, how to use an application on your phone, how to upload a photo online, etc. Linking words
(we also call them transition words or sequence words) are important in a process paragraph because they explain
the order of steps: first, second, third, next, afterwards, finally, last, etc.
A Neat Room Like No Other
All teenagers need a clean and cool room to get ready in the mornings, do homework, and just relax. Start
with these simple steps and you'll learn what works best for you! First of all, map your room out! Grab a piece of
paper and sketch out how you'd like your room to look like. Start with the basics like a space for your clothes, space
for sleeping and space for school work. Different spaces are devoted to different activities. Then write down any
other spaces you would like to create for the things you like such as music, gaming or reading. Next, give away
anything you don't need or want. There are so many things that we collect over the years: clothes that are too
small, gifts that we don’t really like, old notebooks and toys that nobody uses anymore. This stuff wastes a lot of
space and makes your room look crowded and messy. Finally, get organized! Get some containers to put your
things in. You can buy plastic boxes or recycle old shoe boxes you have. Separate your stuff in the containers: a
container for cables and phone chargers, one for art Follow these steps and you will have a neat room where you
feel comfortable every day.
How do we know this is a process paragraph?
It tells the reader how to have a neat and organized room.
It uses linking sequence words (first of all, next, finally) to explain the order of steps.
It uses imperative sentences (Map your room out! Get organized! Separate your stuff.)
Wait, what are imperative sentences?
Imperative sentences give a command or an instruction that should be followed. We form them
by using the base form of the verb (“close”, “help”, “don’t forget”)
Examples: “Close the door.” • “Help your brother.” • “Don’t forget to call grandpa!”
Imperatives do not have a stated subject, but it is understood to be “You”.
(You) Close the door. (You) Help your brother. (You) Don’t forget to call grandpa.
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Let’s have a look at another process paragraph. It is a recipe for an egg sandwich.
An Easy Sandwich
An egg salad sandwich is one of the easiest and most delicious foods to make for lunch. First, boil two
eggs for five minutes. Take them out of the water and let them cool off. Next, peel away the shells and
put the eggs into a bowl. Use a fork to mash them very well. After that, add three tablespoons of
mayonnaise. Add a little salt and pepper. Mix these ingredients well. Put the egg salad in the
refrigerator for at least thirty minutes. Just before you are ready to eat, spread the egg salad on bread. If
you follow all these easy steps, you will certainly enjoy your delicious egg salad sandwich.
Try it yourself now!
Think of something you know how to do well. Write down a few steps that are needed to complete the task. Use imperative sentences and linking words.
1. ______________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
2. ______________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
3. ______________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
4. ______________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
5. ______________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Put your knowledge to practice and choose the correct order of steps for conducting a fish tank experiment.
____ a. First, put the water and the plants in the jar.
____ b. For this experiment, you will need a clean glass jar with a tight lid, plants, and a gold fish.
____ c. Next, put the lid on as tightly as you can.
____ d. When you do this, be sure to leave about a few centimetres of empty space.
____ e. After you are sure that the water in the jar is at room temperature, add the fish.
____ f. The fact that the fish is still alive shows that oxygen was added and your experiment was a success.
____ g. One week later, check the fish.
____ h. Here is a simple science experiment that proves that plants produce oxygen.
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We use process paragraphs in our daily lives without even being aware of it. You will now write a process paragraph in form of personal letter. Your grandma got a new smart phone. She has never had one before and does not know how to start using it. Write her a letter explaining how to set up her phone. Use 10 sentences. Start your letter with a greeting ( …)
and end it with a closing salutation ( …).
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Practice Time related Linkers/Conjunctions:
Rewrite the following sentences. Change the order of the statements to place the linker at the
beginning of the sentence and add a comma where needed.
1. The doctor gave my sister some medicine when she got sick.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
2. The teacher encouraged us before the Spanish test began.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
3. You should prepare the sauce while the vegetables are cooking.
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
4. I haven’t been to France again since I started working at the hospital.
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
5. Sunny starts growling and barking whenever a stranger knocks at the door.
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
Look at the three images below. Write a process paragraph about them. Use 5 to 10 sentences. Write a title too.
______________________________________________________________________________________
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______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
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A process paragraph can have many forms. It can look like a recipe, a tutorial, or a blog. It can also be just a part of a conversation.
Imagine talking to a friend who is facing a problem. Despite studying at home, they got a bad grade
from the first test and they feel discouraged. Try to help them by offering 3 useful ideas to improve their grade and increase their confidence! Friend: “... and so you heard it all now. I just don’t know what to do.”
You: __________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________
Friend: “Well, I guess I could try that. Thank you for trying to help me out!”
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26
Write a process paragraph explaining one of the following:
How to Cook Something
How to Do Something on a Computer
How to Take Care of a Pet
If you have another idea, check it with your teacher.
Start by doing some brainstorming. Use the space below to do a mindmap connecting ideas
related to your topic. Fill up the space with as many words and connections as you can think
of. Don’t stop! Keep going!
27
________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
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_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
On the exam, the process paragraph will be marked based on a set of criteria similar to the following:
Good Title
____/2
Clear Topic Sentence
____/3
Good Detail and Cause/Effect
____/4
Margins and Indentation
____/2
Clear Steps using Imperatives
____/6
Transitions/Sequence words
____/3
Neat Handwriting
____/2
Clear Concluding Sentence
____/3
Grammar and Mechanics
____/5
STUDENT NAME________________________________________ CLASS___________________
28
The Descriptive Paragraph:
Painting Pictures with Words
Use this space to list as many adjectives as you can.
29
Like every paragraph, a descriptive paragraph uses a topic sentence to state the topic and the main idea that
guides the rest of the paragraph. The main idea can give more information about what kinds of details and support
the paragraph will give.
The supporting sentences will give details and information about the subject so the reader gets a good mental
image. A good descriptive paragraph will not just give information and opinions about the subject, but will make
the subject come alive. The reader should be able to imagine the subject clearly. The supporting sentences should
all lead naturally to the conclusion.
The concluding sentence of the descriptive paragraph will be connected to the main idea, but restating the
meaning using different words. It will usually include an overall impression or opinion about the subject.
Descriptive paragraphs usually include opinions, but the focus is on the information and details that lead
to that opinion.
Hotel Vitale†
Hotel Vitale is my favorite place to stay because of its extremely calming, natural
atmosphere. This luxury hotel is located in San Francisco, California, on the San Francisco
Bay. The hotel lives up to its slogan of "luxury, naturally" through the use of natural
elements and soothing music. The rooms contain large windows that let in a lot of bright
sunlight and allow guests to look out at the water. Natural materials such as wood and
stone are used throughout the hotel, and lit-up river stones sit on the bedside tables in
each room. Fresh lavender above the doors fills the rooms with a beautiful, fresh scent.
Hotel Vitale completes its natural image with a Muzak soundtrack that features calming
instrumental music in the lobby and livelier music in the lounge. When guests enjoy the
hotel's hot spas on the roof deck and listen to peaceful music, they feel as if they are in
paradise. Hotel Vitale has succeeded in creating a powerful yet calming energy through its
design. This hotel is more than just a place to stay; it is an unforgettable experience.
† Paragraph adapted from Focus on Writing 3, Pearson
CONCLUDING SENTENCE is connected to
main idea
Topic Main Idea
TOPIC
SENTENCE
SUPPORTING
SENTENCES (8)
adjectives prepositional
phrases
30
Using Adjectives and Prepositional Phrases
Adjectives can give us more information about the qualities of a noun, and prepositional phrases tell us more about
the location, motion and relations of a noun.
Prepositional phrases (PP) help you to describe relationships between objects, usually in space or time. Here are
some examples of prepositional phrases describing space:
The car is in the garage. The apple tree is on the hill.
The cat under the sofa is hiding from the vacuum cleaner. When I looked behind the book, I saw the birthday cake
Notice that these prepositional phrases begin with a preposition, and have a noun as the object. If you recognize
prepositions, the phrases are much easier to find.
A helpful test for finding prepositions is to fill in the blank in the following sentences:
The plane flew _______________ the cloud.
The man spoke _______________ the audience.
The dog ran _______________ the car.
How many different prepositions can you think of to fit in the three sentences above?
Are there any prepositions that you don’t think fit well? Why do you think they don’t work?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
Look at that blue car!
That car is blue.
Be careful on the slippery
ice!
Be careful! The
ice is slippery!
Adjectives are more interesting when they have more
meaning. Simple adjectives like good/ bad/ big/ small
don't add as much to a description as friendly/ useless/
monstrous/ microscopic.
Location can be described using prepositional phrases.
The car is in the garage. --- The monster hid under the
bed. --- The rainbow stretched across the sky. --- The
cat in the tree was meowing loudly.
31
Write down any 3 prepositional phrases used in the paragraph.
EXAMPLE: _____ _____________________________________________
1._______________________________________________________________________
2._______________________________________________________________________
3. ._______________________________________________________________________
Change 3 adjectives in the paragraph into adjectives that you find more interesting and informative
ex: _____ old ________ ______ ________
1. ______________________________________
2. ______________________________________
3. ______________________________________
Write a sentence (of your own) that uses at least 3 adjectives and one prepositional phrase
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
A Great Living Room
My living room is small, but tidy and well-organized. On the right, there is a wooden bookcase with
four shelves. On top of the bookcase is a small lamp with a dark base and a blue lampshade. The first and
third shelves are filled with some of my favorite books, including an English-French dictionary. On the
second shelf, there is an old clock with faded numbers on it that my grandfather gave me when I was
young. On the opposite side of the room is a television set with a DVD player and my small movie
collection on top of it. Between the television and the bookcase is a large sofa. Lying near the other end of
the sofa is one of my cat's toys. In front of the sofa, there is a long coffee table with short legs. On the right
side of this table are two magazines. Perhaps the most striking thing in the room is the beautiful beach
painting above the sofa. The painting shows a peaceful scene with a sailboat on the right, far from the
beach. Although it is a small room, everything in my living room is in its place.
adapted from Great Writing Fourth Edition
32
Appealing to the Senses
You can appeal to the five senses (sight/ smell/ sound/ taste/ touch) easily, using adjectives, as well as similes and
comparisons.
E.g. The cheese smelled like a dirty sock.
The white sand sparkled like millions of diamonds.
The baby's piercing cry sounded like an ambulance.
Many adjectives also give information to help the reader imagine the senses.
1. How does this description of a farm appeal to the senses?
a) What can you see?_____________________ b) What can you smell? ________________________
c) What can you hear? ___________________ d) What can you touch? ________________________
e) What can you taste? ____________________
Fantastic Fun at a Fabulous Farm
My grandparents' farm is a huge and fascinating place that can overload
your senses if you try to take it all in. You walk into the huge red barn through a
wide wooden door that creaks as you push it aside. You're surrounded by the
grassy smell of hay and the earthy smell of the dirt floor as you wander between
the dark stalls, hearing the quiet snorts of cows and horses eating. You can
climb the rough ladder into the dark hayloft, but be careful: If you jump around
in the dry hay, your arms and neck will be itching and scratching for hours. In
the barnyard, your ears are teased by the soft sound of sheep chewing on grass,
and the light clippity-clop of horses trotting on the road. After a day spent
outside in the bright, hot sun, you can walk inside and my grandmother will
serve you a dish of cold, sweet ice-cream, made from buttery farm-fresh milk
and red strawberries picked right in the backyard. You'll never run out of things
to see, hear, smell, touch and taste when you visit my grandparents' magical
farm.
33
2. For each of the senses, think of 1 noun (not from the paragraph), and use an adjective that can describe the
noun for that sense. The first example is given.
a) Sight noun ___FLOWER__________________ adj _____PURPLE________________
b) Sound noun ______________________________ adj ______________________________
c) Touch noun ______________________________ adj ______________________________
d) Taste noun ______________________________ adj ______________________________
e) Smell noun ______________________________ adj ______________________________
3. Think of one noun and give it a brief description for each of the five senses.
Noun ________________________
Sight ______________________ Sound _____________________ Taste ____________________
Smell ______________________ Touch _____________________
4. Most things can be described using more than one of the senses. What is something that you can easily
describe using all five of the senses? _______________________________________
Now describe it without adjectives, but appeal to each of the senses:
How does it look? _____________________________________________________
How does it sound? _____________________________________________________
How does it smell? _____________________________________________________
What does it taste like? _____________________________________________________
What does it feel like? _____________________________________________________
34
5. Abstract nouns can be difficult to describe using the senses. Pick one of the following:
Joy / Peace / Fear / Creativity
Now, describe the noun you chose, using qualities that aren't all based on the senses. To do this, think about things
that it is similar to, what it is used for (function), or what it does. Be creative.
It reminds me of___________________________________________________________________________
It acts like ________________________________________________________________________________
It is never ________________________________________________________________________________
It always _________________________________________________________________________________
6. How would you describe the following?
a) Happiness
________________________________________________________________________________________
b) Sadness
________________________________________________________________________________________
c) Freedom
________________________________________________________________________________________
d) Boredom
________________________________________________________________________________________
e) Homework
________________________________________________________________________________________
Similes and Metaphors
Similes and metaphors are a comparison of two things that are not usually compared. They are very helpful for
making a description interesting. Instead of saying something simple like "She is very tall", you can use a simile that
compares her to a tree: "She was as tall as an oak tree." Instead of just saying "The dog was very skinny", use a
simile like "The dog’s legs looked as thin and weak as twigs." The comparison of a person and a tree, and of a dog
and twigs is new and memorable.
Similes and Metaphors are a good way to help people see things in a new way. They can change our ideas because
they often show us a new way to think about something. They open our minds to new connections.
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A. Use similes to make the following descriptions more interesting. Remember to use the structure “… as
_______ as _______ …” Eg. He was gentle: ___He was as gentle as a lamb.__
1. He was strong: _________________________________________________________________________
2. The house was dirty:____________________________________________________________________
3. The water was cold:______________________________________________________________________
4. She was very smart: _____________________________________________________________
B. Write down something that you could compare to each of the following. Explain why you believe they are
similar.
1. A Mountain is like ______________________ because ______________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
2. Cold Water is like ______________________ because ______________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
3. A Snowflake is like ______________________ because __________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
4. A Brick Wall is like ______________________ because __________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
5. Tissue Paper is like ______________________ because ___________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
36
Using Adverbs Adverbs give more information about verbs and adjectives. In a descriptive paragraph, they are especially helpful
for describing action.
There are many types of adverbs:
Adverbs of manner: fast, loudly, happily, easily…
Adverbs of time: soon, immediately, later…
Adverbs of place: there, near, everywhere…
Adverbs of degree: very, quite, somewhat…
Adverbs of frequency: seldom, often, rarely…
Magnum Madness
When I was 12 years old, I rode the scariest
roller-coaster I've ever been on. The Magnum XL-200 was a
record-breaking ride that reached 115 kph. It was taller and faster
than any roller-coaster in the world. The ride began suddenly with a lurch
that pushed you back into your seat, speeding around a corner, then slowly starting
the first climb up a 65 meter rise. The chain clicked loudly and steadily, building tension as the
ground quickly sank farther and farther below me. My heart pounded loudly and I felt like the
climb was never going to end. I nervously looked down and saw tiny people and cars scurrying
around. When we reached the top of the climb, we sat there for what seemed like forever. The
cart crept slowly over the crest of the hill, and I anxiously looked straight down the track at a 65
meter, 60° drop. When we started the drop, everyone screamed loudly and shut their eyes
tightly, gripping the handles of the carts like their life depended on it. We went up and down
hills, thrown back and forth by the turns, racing madly through pitch black tunnels. When the
terrifying experience was over, we all ran eagerly to get back in line to immediately ride it again.
Adverbs often answer the
question "How was it
done?" How was the cake
eaten? It was eaten
quickly. How did you talk?
I spoke quietly to my
friend. How were they
dressed? They were
fashionably dressed.
37
38
Write a descriptive paragraph describing one of the following:
Your Favorite Outdoor Place to Visit
The Best Meal You Ever Ate
The Dirtiest Room You Were Ever In
Start by doing some brainstorming. Use the space below (or a page in your notebook) to do a
mindmap connecting ideas related to your topic. Fill up the space with as many words and
connections as you can think of. Don’t stop! Keep going!
Remember the structure of the paragraph:
Topic sentence (With Topic and Main Idea)
Supporting sentences
Concluding sentence (connected to the main idea)
Around ten Sentences
Use adjectives, prepositional phrases and adverbs to give more information.
Use details that appeal to the senses.
39
________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
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_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
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_______________________________________________________________________________________
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_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
The descriptive paragraph on the exam will be based on criteria similar to the following:
Good Title
____/2
Clear Topic Sentence
____/3
Meaningful Adjectives
____/4
Margins and Indentation
____/2
Good Detail and “Sense” Language
____/6
Vocabulary from the Units
____/3
Neat Handwriting
____/2
Clear Concluding Sentence
____/3
Grammar and Mechanics
____/5
STUDENT NAME________________________________________ CLASS___________________
40
41
Peer Editing
When you're done writing, there's still more work to do before you're finished. After the preparation, brainstorming,
and writing, you should still get help from friends and other writers. Let them read what you wrote, and ask them to
share their opinions so you can have a deeper understanding of another viewpoint.
Find a partner and exchange your writing with each other. Be ready to explain your work.
Complete the following To-Do list in response to each other's paragraph. Be ready to explain your answers.
Checklist of issues for the peer editor to consider:
Word choice -- Can you suggest more effective or interesting vocabulary?
Clarity -- What phrases or sentences are confusing? Suggest improvements.
Details -- Are there enough details to make the description come alive?
Adjectives -- Do they add meaning and texture to the description?
Interesting -- Is there a point to the paragraph? Are there boring sections?
Grammar -- Help with any mistakes in tenses, plurals, structure, etc.
Spelling -- Check it!
Punctuation -- Check periods, commas, apostrophes, question marks etc.
Format -- Check indentation, margins, spacing, neatness, etc.
If you want, you can read your paragraph in front of the class when you're done.
42
MORE LINKER/CONJUNCTION PRACTICE
Combine sentences using AND, BUT, OR, and SO. Add a comma as needed. For some, there might be more
than one answer.
1. There are hundreds of languages spoken in the world. Not all of them have a written form.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
2. I love Nigerian music. My best friend likes it too.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
3. International companies are growing. Bilingual workers are always needed.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
4. Puerto Rico has two official languages. Everything is printed in both English and Spanish.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________________
5. Mean people can make you feel bad. You should surround yourself with loyal friends.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
6. Lucia and Peter are related. They are not brother and sister.
____________________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________
7. Young people should know a second language. They will be at a disadvantage
when travelling or trying to study abroad.
________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
43
The Opinion Paragraph:
Saying What You Think
Brainstorm about topics that people argue about a lot. Circle the topics
that you LIKE to argue about. Fill as much of the space as you can.
44
Opinion paragraphs are a great way to express your opinion or ideas and then try to persuade
others to see things as you do. Perhaps you have some ideas that some others may not agree with.
Use this form of writing to give your opinion and then support your ideas with facts in order to
show why everyone should agree with you.
A good opinion paragraph will do the following:
Clearly state an opinion about a topic
Provide two or three facts to support the opinion
Briefly mention opposing ideas (the counter argument)
Dismiss the counterargument or make it sound silly (refutation)
Conclude with a sentence that restates the main idea, your opinion, and offers a solution or
prediction
Take a look at this example opinion paragraph:
Volunteering is Great
Give your opinion
Counter Argument
Refute it
Give supporting fact
Give 2nd fact
State your conclusion
Without a doubt, all high school students
should be required to volunteer in their
community. While some may claim that
students should focus solely on their studies
during school hours, research has actually
found that volunteering improves students’
motivation both in and out of the classroom. In
a recent poll by the student council, 71 percent
of the students who volunteered were better
able to manage their time and grades.
Furthermore, students at Western High
School have overwhelmingly reported that
they felt like they were part of something
greater and could see how their efforts could
truly help those around them. Based on all of
the research and results, schools should require
students to volunteer.
In your exam you will write an opinion paragraph. Opinion ideas will be given as part of the writing
task. Normally a good opinion paragraph will include some well researched facts. These may
come from such sources as the internet, research papers or similar sources. (During the exam you
will not be able to GoogleTM for facts so you may simply make up some ‘facts’ to support your
opinion.)
eg : According to the school website, 84 percent of the students love the school uniform.
45
The Structure of the Opinion Paragraph
Have a Title, Topic Sentence, Supporting Details, and a Concluding Sentence.
Give your opinion with
1 refutation/reason why other/opposite opinions aren’t as good
Try to imagine what someone who disagrees with you would use as an
argument. Then show why their reason is weak. Example:
Some people say the opposite opinion because reason, but ATTACK
3 reasons why your opinion is the right
with an example, explanation OR fact for EACH reason
Topics should be controversial (not everyone agrees) and interesting so that people feel
strongly about the topic
As a general format guide for a 9 sentence opinion paragraph:
1 Topic
Sentence: Give the reader a CLEAR opinion
2
Supporting
Details:
Counter Argument and Refutation
3
4
Reason 1 and an
Example/Explanation/Fact
5
6
Reason 2 and an
Example/Explanation/Fact
7
8
Reason 3 and an
Example/Explanation/Fact
9 Conclusion
Sentence: Strongly repeat your opinion
Helping the reader is important, use words like these:
(1) - Starting your opinion (3) - Giving examples
In my opinion I believe For example Additionally
I think I prefer For instance In other words
I feel My favourite In particular In fact
(2) - Giving reasons Specifically An example is
First Another reason (4) - Finishing your opinion
To start Finally In conclusion To sum up
To begin with Lastly All in all To summarize
Second Most importantly
So it is obvious
Clearly
Next One last reason As you can see
Thus
46
Opinions Vs Facts
Do you know the difference between an opinion and a fact? Opinion paragraphs will all start and
end with your opinion and include some facts in the supporting section in order to make your ideas
seem more significant.
Opinions are your ideas about something. Another person may disagree or have a different idea.
There can be as many different opinions as there are people that have an opinion.
Facts are something that can be shown to be true. Facts are different from opinions in that a fact
can be shown to be true, with evidence or repetition etc.
In the exercise below, identify the statement as OPINION or FACT by writing O or F.
eg : O Football is a much more interesting game that golf.
F The Nile River splits into the White Nile and the Blue Nile in Sudan.
1._____ The most beautiful city in the world is Paris.
2._____ Citrus fruits include oranges, lemons and grapefruit.
3._____ Hawaii is the best place for a holiday.
4._____ The Capital of Thailand is Bangkok.
5._____ School uniforms should be mandatory for all students.
6._____ A glass of milk has more calcium than a glass of apple juice.
7._____ Apple juice tastes better than milk.
8._____ Cats are more fun than dogs.
Topic Sentence
Your opinion paragraph must include your opinion in the topic sentence, and not just a simple fact.
Put the details and facts in the supporting sentences in the middle of your paragraph.
Weak topic sentence:
Istanbul is a large city in Turkey.
o It’s just a simple fact. There’s nothing more to say!
OK topic sentence:
The most amazing city in the whole world is undoubtedly Istanbul.
o It’s an opinion, but it doesn’t say why you have the opinion.
Strong topic sentence:
A great variety of historical and cultural landmarks make Istanbul a fantastic city to
visit.
o This has a clear opinion, and the argument has a clear direction. We can expect the
paragraph will go on to give some facts to support the opinion.
47
In the activity below, put a mark next to the topic sentences that are a good beginning for an
opinion paragraph.
1._____ Football is more interesting than golf.
2._____ Being a hospital volunteer can be a lot of fun, but you have to be ready for the
many duties that will keep you busy.
3._____ The largest and best-known city in all of France is Paris.
4._____ Eating a Vegetarian diet is the best way to stay healthy.
5._____ Hawaii is the best place for a vacation because of all the fun things to do.
6._____ School uniforms should be mandatory.
WHEN SHOULD A PERSON BE CONSIDERED AN ADULT?
Many people think that 21 is a good age for people to be considered adults, but in my
opinion, 18 is a more suitable age for several reasons. In the first place, children grow up quicker
than we realize. As a result of the internet, and especially the social network sites, kids know about
things earlier than they used to. This may not be a good thing, but it means that they are more aware
of the world than their parents realize. Secondly, in most countries in the world 18 is the age when
people can do certain things legally, like vote and learn to drive. This happens at the same time
that most children finish school, so there is a natural transition. It makes sense! Leaving school is
also when you have to start making your own decisions. Are you going go study more? Do you
want to start working immediately? Society dictates that at the age of 18 we have to become more
personally responsible for our lives. For these reasons, I think that 18 is the natural age for people
to enter adulthood.
1. What is an opinion that you can find in this paragraph?
________________________________________________________________________________
2. What are 2 facts that you can find in this paragraph supporting the opinion?
________________________________________________________________________________
3. State your opinion: Do you agree with the paragraph’s main claim? Give a reason why or why
not _____________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
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After you have stated and defended your opinion, your concluding sentence can make
your opinion completely clear. You should use the concluding sentence to erase any
questions about your view.
A good conclusion will
rephrase the MAIN IDEA
briefly summarize the SUPPORT
look to the FUTURE (say what will happen if the situation continues or changes)
Write a paragraph stating an OPINION about one of the following:
The Length of the School Day
Cafeteria Food
The Seasons (Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter)
Dogs vs Cats
Spend some time brainstorming or making a mindmap about the topic. Think about your
feelings attitudes or beliefs about one of the topics. Also think about other people’s feelings
attitudes and beliefs. FILL THE SPACE. DON’T STOP!
Remember the structure of the paragraph:
Topic sentence (with a clear topic and main idea)
Supporting sentences using facts as reasons for your opinion
A “refutation” sentence explaining why people who disagree with you are wrong
Concluding sentence (connected to the main idea)
Use facts, statistics and logic to support your argument. Be detailed and specific to make your
opinion stronger.
49
________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
On the exam, the opinion paragraph will be marked based on criteria similar to the following:
Good Title
____/2
Clear Topic Sentence
____/3
Three facts or experiences
____/4
Margins and Indentation
____/2
Clear Supporting sentences
____/5
Vocabulary from the Units
____/4
Neat Handwriting
____/2
Clear Concluding Sentence
____/3
Grammar and Mechanics
____/5
STUDENT NAME________________________________________ CLASS___________________