WRITING A PARAGRAPH Elizabeth Celeste CoimanLopez BAT MS

WRITING A PARAGRAPH Elizabeth Celeste Coiman-Lopez, BAT, MS. Houston Community College, School of Continuing Education

TOPIC SENTENCE: What the paragraph is about. SUPPORTING IDEA #1: explains the idea expressed in the topic sentence. DETAIL 1 DETAIL 2 SUPPORTING IDEA #2: explains the idea expressed in the topic sentence. T DETAIL 1 DETAIL 2 DETAIL SUPPORTING IDEA #3: explains the idea expressed in the topic sentence. DETAIL 1 DETAIL 2 Concluding Sentence: • • summarizes the main idea from the topic sentence. Similar to, but not exactly as the topic sentence. HAMBURGER STRUCTURE 2

INFORMAL vs. FORMAL WRITING 3

RULES: 1. Think of as many ideas as possible related to your topic. 2. Don’t worry about whether the ideas are good or bad. 3. Write down all the ideas you can think of. TOPIC: TOPIC My Goals – Financial – Health – Music – Entertainment – Friends – Family BRAINSTORMING 4

The TOPIC SENTENCE is your road map. It guides the reader through the paragraph. • It provides the reader with the main idea of the paragraph. • Let’s say you want to talk about pets in this country. For example: The three most popular pets in the United States are dogs, cats, and fish. • First, write the next sentence about dogs. • Then you could write about cats. • Finally, you would include information about fish. • Open Sentence: all three items are mentioned and named: SPECIFIC The three most popular pets in the United States are dogs, cats, and fish. • • TOPIC SENTENCES vs. • The CONCLUDING SENTENCE is used to wrap up, or end your paragraph. • The topic sentence and concluding sentence should include the same information. • They should not use the exact words. • Closed Sentence: animals are generally mentioned but not named: GENERAL There are several animals that Americans prefer as pets. NOTE: You can use… Open sentence for the topic sentence and a closed sentence for the concluding sentence. ----OR---Closed sentence for the topic sentence and an open sentence for the concluding sentence. 5 CONCLUDING SENTENCES

RULES TRANSITION WORDS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Good paragraphs include IDEAS that give information and DETAILS about the main idea. These sentences can give descriptions, reasons, or examples to help the reader clearly understand the main idea. Write 3 ideas. Use TRANSITION WORDS for each idea. Write 2 details for each supporting idea. Explain each detail. Ø Ø Ø First, Next, Last, First, Second, Third, Generally, Furthermore, Finally, In the first place, Also, Lastly, To be sure, Additionally, Finally, In the first place, Just in the same way, Finally, IDEAS AND DETAILS 6

WEB GRAPHIC ORGANIZER 1. Debts TITLE: ____________ 2. 1. Financial 1. Musical Travel 1. NAME: _____________ Exercise My Goals 3. Music 2. Healthy eating 2. Health 2. Favorite music instrument SAMPLE WEB ORGANIZER 7

� Use COMPLETE SENTENCES with Topic, Supporting Idea, and Concluding Sentences. TITLE TOPIC SENTENCE SUPPORTING IDEA #1 DETAIL #2 SUPPORTING IDEA #2 DETAIL #1 DETAIL #2 SUPPORTING IDEA #3 My Goals There are three important goals in life that can help you be happier, like having good finances, a good health, and at the same enjoying music. First, First having a financial security will help to appreciate life. 1. Debts 2. Travel Next, Next being healthy is very important in order to feel well and to be happy. 1. Exercise 2. Healthy eating DETAIL #1 Last, Last enjoying music is a very important factor in keeping up with the life’s problems. 1. Musical Instrument DETAIL #2 2. CONCLUDING SENTENCE Favorite music In conclusion, working hard toward these goals will help to be happier and to enjoy life to the fullest. SAMPLE OUTLINE 8

Heading Elizabeth Coiman-Lopez Mrs. Coiman-Lopez HCC – Pathways - Writing October 26, 2016 First Draft My Goals Indent There are three important goals in life that can help to be happier, like having good finances, a good health, and at the same enjoying music. First, having a financial security will help to appreciate life. Paying all the debts, you will have extra money to travel anywhere you want to go. You will be grateful of what you have and you will be able to help other people. Next, being healthy is very important in order to feel well and to be happy. Eating healthy is an important step toward feeling well. Also, exercising regularly can keep the body in shape and improve life. Last, enjoying music is a very important factor in keeping up with the life’s problems. Practicing a musical instrument or learning to play one, will help to have a sense of accomplishment. At the same time, playing, singing, or listening to a favorite music can transport you away from any problem you might have. In conclusion, working hard toward these goals will help to be happier and to enjoy life to the fullest. SAMPLE PARAGRAPH 9

TOPIC: Are people in your community generally happy or unhappy? • • • HAPPY Safety Healthy Quite Community Social Events Friends Financial equality • • • UNHAPPY Unsafe Unhealthy Noisy Community Nothing Social No Friends Different financial levels BRAINSTORMING 10