Writing a

Paragraph
Using the Hamburger
Method
There is no royal road to writing.
Can you think of the way in which writing a good
paragraph can be compared to making a hamburger?
How can writing a good
paragraph be compared
to making a hamburger?
The Hamburger Method to Writing a Paragraph
 Writing a Sample
Paragraph on Cycling

Brainstorming Ideas
• Health benefits
• Stay fit and fine, exercise, lose weight, regulate BP
• Environment-friendly
• No fossil fuels, no harmful gases, save energy, protect the
environment
• Affordable and convenient
• Reasonable price, useful in crowded areas
 A sample Paragraph on Cycling
Cycling offers a wealth of benefits. One of the main benefits of cycling is health
benefits: it is simply the best way to keep ourselves fit and fine. For example,
when we cycle to our destinations like school, office, market, etc, we get to
vigorously exercise our body. This enables us to lose our weight and remove
toxin from our body, which is a beneficial act for many health concerns such as
obesity and hypertension. Second reason why cycling is important is from the
point of view of the environment: as it requires no use of fossil fuels, namely
petrol or diesel, it does not release any harmful substance in the environment.
In other words, it not only contributes to saving energy but also to saving the
environment. Last but not least, cycling is convenient in cities that often witness
traffic congestion. That is to say, it is an affordable means of transport for
majority of people and is highly useful in a city like Kathmandu which is teemed
with vehicles most of the time. In a nutshell, cycling is a simple and sensible way
to stay healthy, to save energy and the environment, and to avoid traffic jam in
congested areas.
 The Paragraph Structure
Cycling offers a wealth of benefits. One of the main
benefits of cycling is health benefits: it is simply the best
way to keep ourselves fit and fine. For example, when we
cycle to our destinations like school, office, market, etc, we
get to vigorously exercise our body. This enables us to lose
our weight and remove toxin from our body, which is a 1. Topic Sentence
beneficial act for many health concerns such as obesity
and hypertension. Second reason why cycling is important
is from the point of view of the environment: as it requires 2. Supporting Sentences/ideas with
Details
no use of fossil fuels, namely petrol or diesel, it does not
release any harmful substance in the environment. In • SS 1 (details)
other words, it not only contributes to saving energy but • SS 2 (details)
also to saving the environment. Last but not least, cycling • SS 3 (details)
is convenient in cities that often witness traffic congestion.
That is to say, it is an affordable means of transport for 3. Concluding Sentence
majority of people and is highly useful in a city like
Kathmandu which is teemed with vehicles most of the
time. In a nutshell, cycling is a simple and sensible way to
stay healthy, to save energy and the environment, and to
avoid traffic jam in congested areas.
1. Topic Sentence

2. Supporting Sentences with Details

The
• SS 1 (details)
• SS 2 (details)
Paragraph
• SS 3 (details) Structure
3. Concluding Sentence
Common Transition Markers/Connectors
1. Giving Examples: for example, for instance
2. Showing Contrast/Difference: but, yet, while, even
though, although, however, in contrast, unlike on the
one hand……..on the other hand, contrarily, on the
contrary
3. Giving Reasons: so, because
4. Showing Results: therefore, consequently
5. Adding Information: and, in addition, moreover,
6. Showing Similarities: similarly, likewise, like
7. Showing Time Relationships: while when, before, after,
meanwhile, then, finally, after that
8. Drawing Conclusions: in conclusion, in summary, to sum
up, in a nutshell
 Task: Write a paragraph
on Breastfeeding.

First, Get started with brainstorming. Think of a good topic

sentence that states your idea (controlling idea of the
paragraph) on the topic. Also explore three supporting
ideas/points to support your main point. Don’t forget to add
details to supporting points. Finally, restate your main point in
the conclusion. Remember to use transition markers to
connect your ideas. Good Luck!
A group of sentences with a
single idea/point on any topic What’s a
written in a coherent and paragraph?
cohesive manner
What makes a good
paragraph?
What’s the structure of a
paragraph?
 The Paragraph Structure
Cycling offers a wealth of benefits. One of the main
benefits of cycling is health benefits: it is simply the best
way to keep ourselves fit and fine. For example, when we
cycle to our destinations like school, office, market, etc, we
get to vigorously exercise our body. This enables us to lose
our weight and remove toxin from our body, which is a 1. Topic Sentence
beneficial act for many health concerns such as obesity
and hypertension. Second reason why cycling is important
is from the point of view of the environment: as it requires 2. Supporting Sentences/ideas with
Details
no use of fossil fuels, namely petrol or diesel, it does not
release any harmful substance in the environment. In • SS 1 (details)
other words, it not only contributes to saving energy but • SS 2 (details)
also to saving the environment. Last but not least, cycling • SS 3 (details)
is convenient in cities that often witness traffic congestion.
That is to say, it is an affordable means of transport for 3. Concluding Sentence
majority of people and is highly useful in a city like
Kathmandu which is teemed with vehicles most of the
time. In a nutshell, cycling is a simple and sensible way to
stay healthy, to save energy and the environment, and to
avoid traffic jam in congested areas.
Topic Sentence: Topic of the What’s a
paragraph + The writer’s topic
opinion about the topic (the sentence in
Controlling Idea)
a paragraph?
Topic Sentence
(Characteristics)
• Generally the first sentence of a
paragraph
• Introduces the topic of the paragraph
• Contains the Controlling idea of the
paragraph
• States the writer’s opinion on the topic
• Has a specific idea (Neither too broad,
nor too narrow)
• States the purpose of the paragraph: to
describe, to narrate, to argue, to compare
and contrast, to classify, to persuade, etc.
 • Smoking is bad.
(Ineffective/too broad)
Effective Vs • Smoking claims millions of
lives around the world every
Ineffective year. (Ineffective/Too Narrow)
Topic Sentence • Smoking ads can have adverse
impacts on the young minds.
(Effective/Specific idea)
 Cycling can be beneficial for us for a
number of reasons.

Topic An English-English dictionary is the best

choice for English learners.

Sentence
(Examples) My first driving lesson was a disaster.

Mobile phones should be banned from

the classrooms.
 English is spoken all over the world. (E/I)

My ability to speak English has changed my life in several

important ways. (E/I)

Identify English medium is mandatory in many private schools in Nepal.

(E/I)

Effective Making schools an English-only zone can have some serious

Topic consequences in the long run. (E/I)

Sentences? Rohan is my friend. (E/I)

Rohan is one of my best friends for several reasons. (E/I)

There are several reasons why online courses are increasing in

popularity.
• Also known as the body of
paragraph
• Rule of Three (Three Supporting
Ideas) Supporting
• Each Supporting idea backed up Sentences
by relevant details
(facts/reasons/explanation/statis
tics/experience)
Concluding Sentence

• The last sentence of the paragraph

• Restates/Summarizes the writer’s
opinion on the topic
Watch a Video and
Reinforce Your
Understanding so far

1. What is the structure of a paragraph?

2. What does a topic sentence do in a paragraph?
3. What do supporting sentences do in a paragraph?
4. What does a concluding sentence do in a paragraph?
 All sentences in a
paragraph supporting
one single idea
(Controlling Idea)
Unity in a One controlling idea in
Paragraph the Topic Sentence,
supported with details
in the Body, and
restated/reinforced in
the Concluding
Sentence
• All ideas connected to
each other, thereby
resulting in a smooth
and logical flow of
ideas.
• A way to achieve
coherence in writing is
to use pattern of
Coherence in a
organization: Paragraph
• Time order
• Spatial order
• Order of importance.
I work for a private business
company. I have a part-time teaching Rewrite the
job at a primary school. I am happy paragraph by
that I have two jobs. My family adding
doesn’t like the fact that I am very transitional words
busy. They say that I don’t have (however,
enough time to spend with them. therefore, In
Every time I get home, almost
everyone in the family complains. I
addition)
have now decided to give up my
part-time job.
I work for a private business company. In
addition, I have a part-time teaching job at a
primary school. I am happy that I have two jobs.
However, my family doesn’t like the fact that I Revised
am very busy. They say that I don’t have enough
time to spend with them. Every time I get home,
almost everyone in the family complains.
Therefore, I have now decided to give up my
part-time job.
A sample Paragraph on Cycling

Cycling offers a wealth of benefits. One of the main benefits of cycling is health
benefits: it is simply the best way to keep ourselves fit and fine. For example, when we
cycle to our destinations like school, office, market, etc, we get to vigorously exercise
our body. This enables us to lose our weight and remove toxin from our body, which is
a beneficial act for many health concerns such as obesity and hypertension. Second
reason why cycling is important is from the point of view of the environment: as it
requires no use of fossil fuels, namely petrol or diesel, it does not release any harmful
substance in the environment. In other words, it not only contributes to saving energy
but also to saving the environment. Last but not least, cycling is convenient in cities
that often witness traffic congestion. That is to say, it is an affordable means of
transport for majority of people and is highly useful in a city like Kathmandu which is
teemed with vehicles most of the time. In a nutshell, cycling is a simple and sensible
way to stay healthy, to save energy and the environment, and to avoid traffic jam in
congested areas.