Paragraph

Structure
A paragraph is a group of related
sentences that develops one main
idea, which is the topic of the
paragraph


ONE MAIN IDEA ONE MAIN IDEA ONE
MAIN IDEA ONE MAIN IDEA ONE MAIN IDEA
ONE MAIN IDEA ONE MAIN IDEA ONE MAIN
IDEA ONE MAIN IDEA.







A paragraph has 3 parts
TOPIC SENTENCE
SUPPORTING SENTENCES
CONCLUDING SENTENCE
Topic Sentence: tells what topic the
paragraph is going to discuss

Supporting Sentences: give details about
the topic

Concluding Sentence: summary of the
main points or restates the topic sentence
in different words.

Model Paragraph
A Hawaiian Wedding

The mix of cultures in Hawaii makes weddings there very special
occasions. Certainly, Hawaiian clothing, music, and other
Hawaiian customs play a big role. For example, the bride
often wears a long white holoku (wedding dress), and the
groom wears a long-sleeved white shirt and pants with a red
sash around his waist. Both the bride and groom wear leis.
The brides lei is traditionally made of white flowers such as
pikake (jasmine), and the grooms is made of green maile
leaves. Another Hawaiian custom is the blowing of a conch
shell three times to begin the ceremony. Hawaiian music is
played both during the ceremony and during the luau
afterward. Other customs included in the festivities depend on
the ethnic backgrounds of the couple. For instance, there may
be noisy firecrackers, a Chinese way of keeping bad spirits
away. There may be a display of Japanese origami, of there
may be a pandango, a Filipino custom. During a pandango,
the wedding guests tape money together and wrap it around
the couple during their first dance together as husband and
wife. All in all, a Hawaiian wedding is truly a magical,
multicultural event.
The Topic Sentence
Two parts: a topic and a controlling idea
The topic names the subject of the
paragraph (Hawaiian weddings)
The controlling idea tells what the
paragraph will say about the topic.
It controls or limits the topic to a very
specific point or points (weddings in
Hawaii are special because of the mix of
cultures)
Examples
Some marriages are a union of two
families.
Some marriages are a union of two
individuals.
Some weddings are very elaborate.
Some weddings are very simple
Some weddings take place in unusual
locations.
Not too general, not too specific
Examples:
Marriage is an event in a persons life (too
general)
The average age for people in the United
States to marry in the year 2000 was 25
for a woman and 27 for a man (too
specific)

The Topic Sentence
The average age for people in the United
States to marry has changed in the past
100 years (good)

A good topic sentence tells
something about the contents of
the paragraph but none of the
details.

Exercise (too specific, too general, good)
It is estimated that 20 percent of Japanese
marriages are arranged.
In Japan, there are two types of marriages.
Digital cameras have several advantages over
film cameras.
Digital cameras take photos
Digital photos are composed of small squares,
just like a tiled kitchen floor or bathroom wall.
Exercise (too specific, too general, good)


Learning the meaning of abbreviations used in
the field of technology is like learning a new
language.
PC, PDA, GPS, and Wifi are abbreviations.
A PDA can perform a variety of useful functions.
Consider these four factors when choosing a
college.
Golden retriever dogs have certain
characteristics that make them good family pets.
I am considering event planning as a career.
A paramedic should have three characteristics.

Exercise (too specific, too general, good)
Supporting Sentences
They explain the topic by giving more
information about it.
They list the main points of the paragraph
Example:
Other customs included in the festivities depend
on the ethnic backgrounds of the couple.
Some people skip breakfast because they think
it will help them lose weight.
Third, they should have spent at least one year
practice-teaching.


Exercise (write supporting sentences)
1) To keep your teeth healthy and your smile
bright, do the following things.


2) There are several advantages of owning
a small car.
3) A college education is important for these
reasons.

Examples
Illustrate the supporting point sentences
They are specific
They make your meaning very clear
Signal phrases for examples:
For example,
For instance,
such as
Review the model paragraph
The mix of cultures in Hawaii makes weddings there very special
occasions. Certainly, Hawaiian clothing, music, and other Hawaiian
customs play a big role. For example, the bride often wears a long
white holoku (wedding dress), and the groom wears a long-sleeved
white shirt and pants with a red sash around his waist. Both he bride
and groom wear leis. The brides lei is traditionally made of white
flowers such as pikake (jasmine), and the grooms is made of green
maile leaves. Another Hawaiian custom is the blowing of a conch
shell three times to begin the ceremony. Hawaiian music is played
both during the ceremony and during the luau afterward. Other
customs included in the festivities depend on the ethnic
backgrounds of the couple. For instance, there may be noisy
firecrackers, a Chinese way of keeping bad spirits away. There may
be a display of Japanese origami, of there may be a pandango, a
Filipino custom. During a pandango, the wedding guests tape
money together and wrap it around the couple during their first
dance together as husband and wife. All in all, a Hawaiian wedding
is truly a magical, multicultural event.

The Concluding Sentence
Signals the end of the paragraph
Reminds the reader of the main idea
Conclusion signals:
All in all,
In brief,
In conclusion,
Indeed,
In short,
In summary,
To conclude,
To summarize,
To sum up,
It is clear that
These examples show that
You can see that

Use these methods
Repeat the idea in the topic sentence in
different words
Example:
Successful bidding on eBay requires
patience and strategy (topic sentence)
In conclusion, wait patiently and place your
bid with precision timing, and youll be the
winning bidder every time (concluding
sentence)

Use these methods
Summarize the main point or points of the
paragraph.

Example:
In conclusion, follow the steps I have
outlined, and you will be the winning
bidder every time (concluding sentence)

The Concluding Sentence
NEVER end a
paragraph by
introducing a new
idea