Learning How to Develop a Paragraph.

1. Learning How to Develop a Paragraph.

2. The Paragraph The paragraph is a series of sentences developing one topic.

3. The Topic Sentence • The topic of a paragraph is stated in one sentence. This is called thetopic sentence.

4. The rest of the paragraph consists of sentences that develop or explain the main idea. main idea • Through the centuries rats have managed to survive all our efforts to destroy them. We have poisonedthem andtrappedthem. We have fumigated, flooded, andburned them. We have tried germ warfare. Some rats even survived atomic bombtests conducted on Entwetok atoll in the Pacific after World War II. In spite of all our efforts, these enemies of ours continue to prove that they are the most indestructible of pests. concluding sentence

5. Developing a Paragraph A topic sentence may be developed by giving examples. • A topic sentence may be developed by giving details. A topic sentence may be developed by telling an incident

6. Unity in the Paragraph Every sentence in a paragraph should support the main idea expressed in the topic sentence. mainidea sentence sentence sentence sentence

7. The concluding or clincher sentence • Restate the topic sentence in different words. • A clincher sentence or concluding sentenceclinches the point made in the paragraph. • It summarizes the paragraph.

8. Coherence in a Paragraph • Stick to the point: The ideas have a clear and logical relation to each other. • Put details or examples or incidents in logical order. 4 3 2 chronological 1 in relation to each other in order of importance

9. Connecting Sentences Within the Paragraph Transition words chronological order first meanwhile later afterwards finally objects in relation to one another next to in front of beside between behind in order of importance however furthermore as a result in fact yet

10. Types of Paragraphs • The narrative paragraph • tells a story • The persuasive paragraph. • tries to convince the audience • The descriptive paragraph • describes something • The expository or explanatory paragraph • gives information or explains something

11. Sample Paragraph

12. Sample Paragraph My mother survived difficult times to become a good parent and worker. Her hard times began when she lost her husband. At his death, she was only nineteen and had a baby, me, to raise. She survived by going to school at night to train for a career. Even though she still lives a stressful life today, she is a good mother. She always takes care of me. She listens to my problems, encourages me to do my best, and praises all my efforts. She cleans our apartment until is shines, and she make dinner every night. She makes a delicious chicken casserole. In addition, she works hard at her job. She is a nurse at a home for elderly people, where she is on her feet all day and is still kind and cheerful. At work or at home, my mother is an inspiration to me.

13. Topic Sentence Sample Paragraph My mother survived difficult times to become a good parent and worker. Her hard times began when she lost her husband. At his death, she was only nineteen and had a baby, me, to raise. She survived by going to school at night to train for a career. Even though she still lives a stressful life today, she is a good mother. She always takes care of me. She listens to my problems, encourages me to do my best, and praises all my efforts. She cleans our apartment until is shines, and she make dinner every night. She makes a delicious chicken casserole. In addition, she works hard at her job. She is a nurse at a home for elderly people, where she is on her feet all day and is still kind and cheerful. At work or at home, my mother is an inspiration to me.

14. Example 1 Sample Paragraph My mother survived difficult times to become a good parent and worker. Her hard times began when she lost her husband. At his death, she was only nineteen and had a baby, me, to raise. She survived by going to school at night to train for a career. Even though she still lives a stressful life today, she is a good mother. She always takes care of me. She listens to my problems, encourages me to do my best, and praises all my efforts. She cleans our apartment until is shines, and she make dinner every night. She makes a delicious chicken casserole. In addition, she works hard at her job. She is a nurse at a home for elderly people, where she is on her feet all day and is still kind and cheerful. At work or at home, my mother is an inspiration to me.

15. Example 1 Details Sample Paragraph My mother survived difficult times to become a good parent and worker. Her hard times began when she lost her husband. At his death, she was only nineteen and had a baby, me, to raise. She survived by going to school at night to train for a career. Even though she still lives a stressful life today, she is a good mother. She always takes care of me. She listens to my problems, encourages me to do my best, and praises all my efforts. She cleans our apartment until is shines, and she make dinner every night. She makes a delicious chicken casserole. In addition, she works hard at her job. She is a nurse at a home for elderly people, where she is on her feet all day and is still kind and cheerful. At work or at home, my mother is an inspiration to me.

16. Transition Words Sample Paragraph My mother survived difficult times to become a good parent and worker. Her hard times began when she lost her husband. At his death, she was only nineteen and had a baby, me, to raise. She survived by going to school at night to train for a career. Even though she still lives a stressful life today, she is a good mother. She always takes care of me. She listens to my problems, encourages me to do my best, and praises all my efforts. She cleans our apartment until is shines, and she make dinner every night. She makes a delicious chicken casserole. In addition, she works hard at her job. She is a nurse at a home for elderly people, where she is on her feet all day and is still kind and cheerful. At work or at home, my mother is an inspiration to me.

17. Example 2 Sample Paragraph My mother survived difficult times to become a good parent and worker. Her hard times began when she lost her husband. At his death, she was only nineteen and had a baby, me, to raise. She survived by going to school at night to train for a career. Even though she still lives a stressful life today, she is a good mother. She always takes care of me. She listens to my problems, encourages me to do my best, and praises all my efforts. She cleans our apartment until is shines, and she make dinner every night. She makes a delicious chicken casserole. In addition, she works hard at her job. She is a nurse at a home for elderly people, where she is on her feet all day and is still kind and cheerful. At work or at home, my mother is an inspiration to me.

18. Example 2 Details Sample Paragraph My mother survived difficult times to become a good parent and worker. Her hard times began when she lost her husband. At his death, she was only nineteen and had a baby, me, to raise. She survived by going to school at night to train for a career. Even though she still lives a stressful life today, she is a good mother. She always takes care of me. She listens to my problems, encourages me to do my best, and praises all my efforts. She cleans our apartment until is shines, and she make dinner every night. She makes a delicious chicken casserole. In addition, she works hard at her job. She is a nurse at a home for elderly people, where she is on her feet all day and is still kind and cheerful. At work or at home, my mother is an inspiration to me.

19. Example 3 Sample Paragraph My mother survived difficult times to become a good parent and worker. Her hard times began when she lost her husband. At his death, she was only nineteen and had a baby, me, to raise. She survived by going to school at night to train for a career. Even though she still lives a stressful life today, she is a good mother. She always takes care of me. She listens to my problems, encourages me to do my best, and praises all my efforts. She cleans our apartment until is shines, and she make dinner every night. She makes a delicious chicken casserole. In addition, she works hard at her job. She is a nurse at a home for elderly people, where she is on her feet all day and is still kind and cheerful. At work or at home, my mother is an inspiration to me.

20. Example 3 Details Sample Paragraph My mother survived difficult times to become a good parent and worker. Her hard times began when she lost her husband. At his death, she was only nineteen and had a baby, me, to raise. She survived by going to school at night to train for a career. Even though she still lives a stressful life today, she is a good mother. She always takes care of me. She listens to my problems, encourages me to do my best, and praises all my efforts. She cleans our apartment until is shines, and she make dinner every night. She makes a delicious chicken casserole. In addition, she works hard at her job. She is a nurse at a home for elderly people, where she is on her feet all day and is still kind and cheerful. At work or at home, my mother is an inspiration to me.

21. Closing (restates topic in a different way) Sample Paragraph My mother survived difficult times to become a good parent and worker. Her hard times began when she lost her husband. At his death, she was only nineteen and had a baby, me, to raise. She survived by going to school at night to train for a career. Even though she still lives a stressful life today, she is a good mother. She always takes care of me. She listens to my problems, encourages me to do my best, and praises all my efforts. She cleans our apartment until is shines, and she make dinner every night. She makes a delicious chicken casserole. In addition, she works hard at her job. She is a nurse at a home for elderly people, where she is on her feet all day and is still kind and cheerful. At work or at home, my mother is an inspiration to me.

22. Reminder!!! Be sure to spell check and re-read your paragraph before turning it in.

23. Questions? See Instructor They will be glad to help Used by permission of Betty Linneman, 2010