Paragraph-Writing

Grade: 12
Duration: 1Hr
Date: November 21, 2019
Topic: Paragraph Writing
Sub-topics: Unity, Coherence, Completeness, Principles of Organization

General Objective:Students will be able to write paragraphs which are unified,

coherent and complete.

Specific Objectives
At the end of these lessons students should be able to:
1. Define the term paragraph writing.
2. State the parts of the paragraph- topic sentence, supporting sentences, concluding
sentence.
3. Discuss the functions of each part of the paragraph.
4. Analyze paragraphs for the following elements- unity, coherence, completeness
5. Use transition words between sentences.
6. Use the principles of organization when writing paragraphs.

Previous Knowledge
The students should have prior knowledge of sentence structure and function.

Methods

1. Class Discussions
2. Teacher Lead Explanations
3. Questioning

Introductory Activity
Chain Paragraph
Teacher will lead students in writing a chain paragraph. The teacher will write the name
of an individual, place or object, for example Usain Bolt. The teacher will then ask the
students to give information about the person, place, or object. After this, the teacher
and students will discuss the relevance and sequence of the information ( unity,
coherence, completeness).
1
Page
Content

What is a paragraph?
A paragraph is a collection of related sentences dealing with a single topic. Learning to
write good paragraphs will help you as a writer stay on track during your drafting and
revision stages. Good paragraphing also greatly assists your readers in following a piece
of writing. You can have fantastic ideas, but if those ideas aren't presented in an
organized fashion, you will lose your readers (and fail to achieve your goals in writing).

Elements of a Paragraph
To be as effective as possible, a paragraph should contain each of the following: Unity,
coherence, a topic sentence, and completeness. As you will see, all of these traits
overlap. Using and adapting them to your individual purposes will help you construct
effective paragraphs.

Unity

The entire paragraph should concern itself with a single focus. If it begins with a one
focus or major point of discussion, it should not end with another or wander within
different ideas.

Coherence

Coherence is the trait that makes the paragraph easily understandable to a reader. You
can help create coherence in your paragraphs by creating logical bridges and verbal
bridges.

Logical bridges

 The same idea of a topic is carried

over from sentence to sentence
 Successive sentences can be
constructed in parallel form

Verbal bridges

 Key words can be repeated in several

sentences
 Synonymous words can be repeated in
several sentences
2

 Pronouns can refer to nouns in

Page

previous sentences
  Transition words can be used to link
ideas from different sentences

Completeness

The topic (which is introduced by the topic sentence) should be discussed fully and
adequately. Again, this varies from paragraph to paragraph, depending on the author's
purpose, but writers should beware of paragraphs that only have two or three
sentences. It's a pretty good bet that the paragraph is not fully developed if it is that
short.

Some methods to make sure your paragraph is well-developed:

 Use examples and illustrations

 Cite data (facts, statistics, evidence,
details, and others)
 Examine testimony (what other people
say such as quotes and paraphrases)
 Use an anecdote or story
 Define terms in the paragraph
 Compare and contrast
 Evaluate causes and reasons
 Examine effects and consequences
 Analyze the topic
 Describe the topic
 Offer a chronology of an event (time
segments)

How do I know when to start a new paragraph?

You should start a new paragraph when:

 When you begin a new idea or

point. New ideas should always start
in new paragraphs. If you have an
extended idea that spans multiple
paragraphs, each new point within
that idea should have its own
paragraph.
 To contrast information or ideas.
Separate paragraphs can serve to
contrast sides in a debate, different
points in an argument, or any other
3

difference.
Page
  When your readers need a pause.
Breaks in paragraphs function as a
short "break" for your readers—adding
these in will help your writing more
readable. You would create a break if
the paragraph becomes too long or
the material is complex.
 When you are ending your
introduction or starting your
conclusion. Your introductory and
concluding material should always be
in a new paragraph. Many
introductions and conclusions have
multiple paragraphs depending on
their content, length, and the writer's
purpose.

Parts of the Paragraph

All paragraphs have a topic sentence and supporting sentences, and some para-
graphs also have a concluding sentence.

A topic sentence is a sentence that indicates in a general way what idea or thesis the
paragraph is going to deal with. Although not all paragraphs have clear-cut topic
sentences, and despite the fact that topic sentences can occur anywhere in the
paragraph (as the first sentence, the last sentence, or somewhere in the middle), an
easy way to make sure your reader understands the topic of the paragraph is to put
your topic sentence near the beginning of the paragraph. (This is a good general rule
for less experienced writers, although it is not the only way to do it). Regardless of
whether you include an explicit topic sentence or not, you should be able to easily
summarize what the paragraph is about. The topic sentence not only names the topic
of the paragraph, but it also limits the topic to one specific area that can be discussed
completely in the space of a single paragraph. The part of the topic sentence that
announces the specific area to be discussed is called the controlling idea. Notice how
the topic sentence of the model states both the topic and the controlling idea:

Gold, a precious metal, is prized for two important characteristics.

4
Page
Supporting sentences develop the topic sentence. That is, they explain or prove the
topic sentence by giving more information about it. Following are some of the
supporting sentences that explain the topic sentence about gold.

 Gold has a lustrous beauty that is resistant to corrosion.

 A Macedonian coin remains as untarnished today as the day it was made 25
centuries ago.
 Another characteristic of gold is its usefulness to industry and science.
 The most recent use of gold is in astronauts' suits.

The concluding sentence signals the end of the paragraph and leaves the reader
with important points to remember:

In conclusion, gold is treasured not only for its beauty but also for its utility.

Concluding sentences are customary for stand-alone paragraphs. However, paragraphs

that are parts of a longer piece of writing usually do not need concluding sentences.

Principles of Organization
Chronological Order (order of Time)

In chronological order or time order, items, events, or even ideas are arranged in
the order in which they occur. This pattern is marked by such transitions as next, then,
the following morning, a few hours later, still later, that Wednesday, by noon, when she
was seventeen, before the sun rose, that April, and so on.

Chronological order can suit different rhetorical modes or patterns of exposition. It

naturally fits in narration, because when we tell a story, we usually follow the order in
which events occur. Chronological order applies to process in the same way, because
when we describe or explain how something happens or works, we usually follow the
order in which the events occur. But chronological order may also apply to example,
description, or parts of any other pattern of exposition.

Spatial Order

Another principle of organization is spatial order. In this pattern, items are arranged
according to their physical position or relationships. In describing a shelf or desk, I
might describe items on the left first, then move gradually toward the right. Describing
a room, I might start with what I see as I enter the door, then what I see as I step to
the middle of the room, and finally the far side. In explaining some political or social
5
Page

problem, I might discuss first the concerns of the East Coast, then those of the
Midwest, then those of the West Coast. Describing a person, I might start at the feet
and move up to the head, or just the other way around. This pattern might use such
transitions as just to the right, a little further on, to the south of Memphis, a few feet
behind, in New Mexico, turning left on the pathway, and so on. Spatial order is pretty
common in description, but can also apply to examples, to some comparisons, some
classifications [the southern species of this bird . . . ; rhinos in Southeast Asia . . .],
some narrations [meanwhile, out on the prairie], and other forms of exposition as well.

Climatic Order (Order of Importance)

A third common principle of organization is climatic order or order of importance.

In this pattern, items are arranged from least important to most important. Typical
transitions would include more important, most difficult, still harder, by far the most
expensive, even more damaging, worse yet, and so on. This is a flexible principle of
organization, and may guide the organization of all or part of example, comparison &
contrast, cause & effect, and description.

Still other principles of organization based on emphasis include:

general-to-specific order,
specific-to general order,
most-familiar-to-least-familiar,
simplest-to-most-complex,
order of frequency,
order of familiarity, and so on.

Evaluation Exercises

1. Paragraph Structure

Find the topic sentence, supporting details, and conclusion in these

paragraphs:

★Circle the topic sentence. Number the supporting details. Underline the conclusion.
6
Page
 Winter is my favourite season because I like the clothes, the food and

theactivities. In the winter, I can wear a big coat and my favourite sweater. When it's

cold, Ican eat hot foods and soup. I like to drink hot chocolate, too. Best of all, I enjoy

manywinter activities. I can play in the snow and make a snowman. I can go skiing,

iceskating, or stay at home by the fireplace. These things make winter my favourite

season.

American food is fast, cheap, and tasty. Some countries have food that takes

along time to make, but Americans like to eat fast food, for example: hot

dogs,hamburgers, and sandwiches. American food is not too expensive. Some people

don'tlike American food, but I think it tastes great. You can put ranch dressing on

everythingto make it taste delicious. If you are looking for food that is fast, cheap, and

tasty, youshould try American food.

Do all the sentences in this paragraph stay focused on the topic?

I don't like tests. Every time I take a test, I feel nervous. When I study for a

test,I don't know if I will be able to get a good grade. Often I worry about taking a test

andcan't sleep. Sometimes I daydream or draw pictures in class. After the test is over,

Iworry about my grade. When my teacher gives the test back to me with a grade, I

stillcan't relax because I know I will have another test soon. Tests give me a lot of

stress.That is why I don't like tests.

Write a topic sentence for this paragraph.

___________________________________________. You don't have to take

7

acat for a walk every day like a dog. You do not have to wash cats because they
Page
knowhow to clean themselves. If you want to go on vacation, you can leave some food

andwater for your cat and it will be okay. A cat can sleep on your bed and keep you

warmat night. I think these things make cats good pets.

Write a concluding sentence for this paragraph.

Halloween is a traditional American holiday. Americans celebrate it every yearon

October 31. Children dress in Halloween costumes and go trick-or-treating. Adultshave

parties and decorate their homes. The stores sell a lot of candy and black andorange

decorations. At parties people eat cupcakes and drink apple cider. They alsocarve

pumpkins to make jack-o-

lanterns.________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________.

8
Page
 2. Write a paragraph about your favourite kind of sandwich. (10

points)

Using the illustration below, write a topic sentence in the top bun, at least 3

sentencesof supporting details on the lines in between and a conclusion sentence in the

bottombun.

9
Page
 3. Select one of the following topics and write an excellent

paragraph on a separate sheet of paper. (10 points)

Topics:

Describe your favourite thing to do after school.

Describe one of your relatives or your pet.

Describe a place you would like to visit.

Describe an occupation that interests you.

Describe your favourite music.

Student Reminders:

1. Make sure your paragraph has a topic sentence (top bun).

2. Make sure you provide at least 3 sentences that support your main idea

(lettuce,cheese, meat, etc.).

3. Make sure you have a closing sentence (bottom bun).

4. Check that all your sentences focus on the main idea.

Circle your topic sentence. Number your supporting details. Underline the conclusion.

10
Page