Paragraph Writing
WRITING EFFECTIVE PARAGRAPHS
Rules of Paragraph Writing
u 5- 8 Sentences that is related and develops a
main thought or idea about a single topic
u Indent each paragraph and use capitalization
u Sentences should not begin with, And, But or
Because
u Numbers MUST be spelt out except for dates or
addresses
u Must be cohesive (Organized,
Connected/interrelated)
Example
Example of a Paragraph
Outline
Activity
u Create a paragraph Outline Using the following
prompts:
u Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of
social media on youth
u Are Mobile Phones a Necessity or Nuisance?
Types of Paragraphs
Writing Effective Paragraphs
Types of Paragraphs
u The four basic types of paragraphs:
u Narrative
u Exposition
u Descriptive
u Persuasive
Narrative
u Tells a story from beginning, middle to
end (Usually chronologically organized)
u Gives specific details about a situation
u Is not a mere listing of events- it has
characters, setting, conflict, and
resolution (Time and place are usually
established)
Example
So, now on nights when my mother
presented her tests, I performed listlessly, my
head propped on one arm. I pretended to
be bored, and I was. I got so bored I started
counting the bellows of the foghorns out on
the bay while my mother drilled me in other
areas… The next day, I played a game with
myself, seeing if my mother would give up
on me before eight bellows. After a while, I
usually counted only one, maybe two at
the most. At last, she was beginning to give
up hope.
Expository
u Informative/explanatory
u A list of details, facts or steps to explain
the idea or process
u An expository paragraph requires
evidence and additional
source/reference to back up your point
(how do I know that you know what
you’re talking about?)
Example
u Stress is defined as a state of extreme difficulty
that causes mental or physical tension. In a
recent study, teenagers were shown to
experience stress as often as adults. According
to the study, the most common causes of
stressors to teens include divorce of parents,
death of a loved one, loneliness, moving to a
new neighborhood, and having difficulty in a
social environment. These stressors can greatly
change the way teens act in many
circumstances.
Descriptive
u Series of detailed observations
u Using sensory details such as how things feel, look,
smell, sound (Five senses)
(Imagery: Similes, metaphors etc.)
Example
u When I think of the home town of my youth, all that I seem to
remember is dust- the brown, crumbly dust of late summer- arid,
sterile dust that gets into the eyes and makes them water, gets into
the throat and between the toes of bare brown feet. I don’t know
why I should remember only the dust… And so, when I think of that
time and that place, I remember only the dry September of the dirt
roads and grassless yards of the shanty-town where I lived.
Persuasive
u Uses direct approach
u Takes a stand on an important issue, using
facts, evidence and examples to prove your
point
u More than just opinion is needed; information,
analysis, and context must be given to the
reader to let him/her make a decision
Example
u Students are currently getting ripped off.
Students who spend an average of 10 hours or
more on extracurricular activities should
receive some kind of academic credit. Most
students who are involved in sports, music,
journalism, or theater activities are actively
learning on a daily basis. They attend practice
and events and participate regularly as they
would in class. Furthermore, their participation
helps them become more responsible and
disciplined students. Students are putting forth
the effort, and not getting any recognition for
their time.
