How to write a paragraph

1. How to write a paragraph

2. Outline

1.1. What is a paragraph?
1.2. Basic paragraph’s structure
2. Types of Paragraphs
2.1. Compare and Contrast
2.2. Descriptive
2.3. Expository
3.3. Checklist

3. What is a paragraph and its basic structure?

A paragraph is a group of about 6-12 sentences about one topic. Every sentence in a
strong paragraph is about the same topic. In academic writing, a paragraph has a topic
sentence that directly tells the reader the main idea. The other sentences in the paragraph,
called supporting sentences, give more information about the topic. They add specific
details and explanations. A concluding sentence refers to the topic sentences and sums up
the main idea of the paragraph.

4. Types of paragraphs

Comparison (compare /contrast)
Compare and contrast your hometown and college town.
Descriptive (describe)
Describe your most valuable possession.
Expository (explain something through facts, reasons or
examples)
In recent decades, cities have grown so large that now about 50% of
the Earth's population lives in urban areas. Explain the causes of this
phenomenon.

5. Compare/Contrast Paragraphs:

Compare: similarities between the two subtopics Contrast: differences between
them
Plan A (point by point): My hometown and my college town have several things in
common. First, both are small rural communities. For example, my hometown, Gridlock, has a
population of only about 10,000 people. Similarly, my college town, Subnormal, consists of about
11,000 local residents. This population swells to 15,000 people when the college students are
attending classes. A second way in which these two towns are similar is that they are both located in
rural areas. Gridlock is surrounded by many acres of farmland which is devoted mainly to growing
corn and soybeans. In the same way, Subnormal lies in the center of farmland which is used to raise
hogs and cattle . . . .
Plan B (block): My hometown and my college town have several things in common. First,
my hometown, Gridlock, is a small town. It has a population of only about 10,000 people.
Located in a rural area, Gridlock is surrounded by many acres of farmland which are devoted
mainly to growing corn and soybeans. Gridlock also contains a college campus, Neutron
College, which is famous for its Agricultural Economics program as well as for its annual CornWatching Festival. As for my college town, Subnormal, it too is small, having a population of
about 11,000 local residents, which swells to 15,000 people when students from the nearby
college are attending classes. Like Gridlock, Subnormal lies in the center of farmland which is
used to raise hogs and cattle. Finally, Subnormal is similar to Gridlock in that it also boasts a
beautiful college campus, called Quark College. This college is well known for its Agricultural
Engineering department and also for its yearly Hog-Calling Contest.

6. Descriptive Paragraphs

7. Expository paragraph

In recent decades, cities have grown so large that now about 50% of the
Earth's population lives in urban areas. There are several reasons for this
occurrence. First, the increasing industrialization of the nineteenth
century resulted in the creation of many factory jobs, which tended to be
located in cities. These jobs, with their promise of a better material life,
attracted many people from rural areas. Second, there were many
schools established to educate the children of the new factory laborers.
The promise of a better education persuaded many families to leave
farming communities and move to the cities. Finally, as the cities grew,
people established places of leisure, entertainment, and culture, such as
sports stadiums, theaters, and museums. For many people, these
facilities made city life appear more interesting than life on the farm,
and therefore drew them away from rural communities

8. Paragraph Checklist

Does my paragraph contain 135-150 words?
Is my paragraph on-topic?
Does it do what it needs to do ( compare; describe; explain?)
Does my paragraph have
The topic sentence ( tells the reader the main idea)?
Supporting sentences:
Compare/contrast: 3 details (point by point of block structure)
Describe: 3 important details
Explain: 3 arguments
Concluding sentence ( refers the to the topic sentence and sums up the maim
idea)?
• Are the sentences in my paragraph arranged logically, so the reader can
easily understand what the writer wants to say?