•Parts of a paragraph:
•Topic sentence
•Paragraph styles:
Descriptive
Narrative
Exposition
Parts of the Paragraph
The Topic Sentence
The topic sentence is usually the first sentence of the
paragraph, and it tells what the rest of the paragraph is going to be
about.
 The topic sentence helps the writer to focus on his or her main
idea.
 The topic sentence helps the reader by acting as a guide to what
the rest of the paragraph will discuss.
 It must be narrow enough so that the topic can be covered easily in
one paragraph.
 It must be interesting to catch the reader’s attention.
Topic Sentence
 It introduces the topic of a paragraph without announcing it.
 It hooks the reader.
 It plants questions in the readers' mind.
 It uses thought-provoking words.
 It is ususally the first sentence; however, it can occur anywhere in
the paragraph or it can be implied.
 It provides a transition from the previous paragraph.
 Not all topic sentences will contain every single characteristic. A
writer should strive for the ideal; the ideal, however, is not always
ideal.

Read more: http://www.brighthub.com/education/k-12/articles/15419.aspx#ixzz0cb3TeEzO
Topic Sentence…..
A moped is a cross between a motorcycle and a bicycle. Like a
bicycle, it can be pedaled. Like a motorcycle, it is equipped with a gasolinepowered engine. Like both the bicycle and the motorcycle, the moped
must be handled carefully in automobile traffic.
The above paragraph – topic sentence states the main idea of the
paragraph. All of the other sentences relate to the topic sentence
and the paragraph is unified.
Rewrite the following topic sentences to make them not too broad, or
uninteresting:
1)
2)
3)
4)
Exercise is important for physical and mental well-being.
Hockey is a very dangerous game.
Street crime has increased during the past decade.
our family traveled in Canada last summer.
Topic Sentence
In each of the following groups there are several sentences giving specific
details that could be used to develop a paragraph, and one sentence giving
a general idea that could be used as a topic sentence. Which sentence
would work best as a the topic sentence for each group:
1
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
2
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
Toys with sharp edges can cause cuts of puncture wounds.
Buttons on stuffed animals and dolls can be swallowed and cause choking.
Toys must be carefully examined to avoid safety hazards.
Toys that propel objects can cause serious eye injuries
Toys that are meant to be used by older children should be kept out of reach of younger ones
Dad jogs every morning
Billy plays handball and tennis.
Mom swims twice a week.
Even Grandma has started taking long walks after dinner.
I have joined the track team at school.
Everyone in our family has taken up exercising.
Descriptive Paragraphs
Almost everything in sight is black, from the tips of trees forty feet above
the ground to the powdered ash blanketing the earth. The firestorm that raged
through there in recent weeks was driven by sixty-mile-an–hour winds that fanned
temperatures to more than 1600 degrees Fahrenheit. The fire was so intense that
a gray shadow on the forest floor is all that remains of a fallen log.
Description is spatial.
 Arrange details in some kind of tour through space… like a walking tour.
 Paragraphs can sometimes be organized in units of space; one for the tree, one for
the ground, conducting your readers down the path.
 Paragraphs should proceed with noteworthy details in any convenient spatial order;
first the tips of the trees, then the ground, followed by the powdered ash
blanketing the earth, finishing with; gray shadow on the forest floor is all that
remains of a fallen log.
Description….
Use specific details to create vivid pictures or impressions in your reader’s
mind.
The old man was thin and gaunt with deep wrinkles in the back of his
neck. The brown blotches the benevolent skin cancer brings from its
reflection on the tropic sea were on his cheeks. The blotches ran well
down the sides of his face, and his hands had the deep-creased scars from
handling heavy fish on the cords. But none o f these scars were fresh.
They were as old as erosions in a fishless desert.
- Old Man and the Sea, by Ernest Hemingway
The word picture above is much more vivid than if the author had simply said
that the man was old and wrinkled with blotchy skin.
The Narrative Paragraph – First person
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
In its simplest form, the narrative paragraph tells a story. Events are told in chronological
order, or the order in which they took place.
When you write about something that has happened to you, yourself , you are writing a firstperson narrative. A well written narrative paragraph begins with a topic sentence, then tells
what happened in chronological order. Specific details should be used to help create a vivid
impression for the reader.
Narrative begins where the action is relevant to central idea, with significant detail.
Narrative tells the reader WHAT HAPPENS and HOW the story takes place.

I saw the flames coming from the basement window, and I knew there was no time to
loose. Old Mrs. Tibbs, who was nearly deaf, was certain to be taking her afternoon nap
now. My hands trembled as I tried the front doorknob. Miraculously, the cool metal
turned in my hand, and I entered the darkened house. Thick smoke was everywhere.
My eyes burned , and my breath caught in my throat. I could feel sweat begin to pour
down my back. I held my breath and felt my way to Mrs. Tibb’s bedroom. Feeling a
surge of strength I didn’t know I had, I lifted the frail old lady out of her bed and ,
stumbling, carried her to the front door. Through carried her to the front door.
Through my eyes I could see fresh air. As fire engines approached, I sank to my knees,
gasping for breath. One look at the house, now engulfed in flames, told me I had not
been a minute too soon!
The Narrative Paragraph - First Person
 Writing a First-person narrative. Following is a list of topic sentences that
may be developed into first-person narrative paragraphs. Choose one of
these sentences, and develop it into a well written paragraph.
1. I will never forget the day I learned to______________________________
2. Luck was with me when I ________________________________________
3. My first day in high school was quite an experience___________________
4. I thought my parents would disown me when I brought home the python.
The Narrative Paragraph - Third Person

In a third-person narrative, you are telling what someone else did. In order to tell
what happened to someone else, you must put yourself in the other person’s place.
You must use your imagination to decide how you would feel if you were actually in
the situation you are writing about.

Denise entered the gym anxiously. She could see the list posted on the
bulletin board. How she hoped her name would be on it! With breath held,
Denise raced across the gym. She could see that there were five names
beneath the heading “New Cheerleaders.” Her eyes scanned the list, and
then they filled with tears. She could barely see her way to the locker
room. Denise ran to the back corner, slumped on the bench, and began to
sob. How could she face her parents? And her friends? She had been so
confident! This was the biggest disappointment of her life.
After beginning the paragraph, with a topic sentence, the writer tells what
happened in the order that it happened. Because the story tells what
Denise did, it is a third-person narrative.
Narrative Paragraph – Third-Person
 Writing the Third-Person Narrative. Choose one of the topic sentences
below. Write a third-person narrative paragraph.
I.
David was ashamed of his own behavior.
II.
The veterinarian approached the wounded animal cautiously.
III. When Helen saw the accident, she rushed forward to help.
IV.
V.
The door stood open, and Aileen ventured in.
Dad’s experience in the army saved his life.
Exposition
 The expository paragraph explains in as clear a language as possible; it
tells how, what or why.
 The HOW paragraph is one of the three kinds of expository paragraphs.


It is the easiest to write.
It simply explains how something is done. As clearly as possible you
explain what to do first, what to do next, and so on.
 Choose one of the following topic sentences, and expand into a WELL
WRITTEN paragraph.
 You can make your own pizza at home.
 Sewing your own clothes is fun.
 Choosing the right (bicycle, skateboard, purse) requires careful shopping.
 A gas powered lawn mower should be used with caution.
Expository Paragraph - What
 A What paragraph defines. It explains what something is and what it does.
 Remember that the topic sentence of a paragraph developed by definitionthat is a what paragraph – contains three parts.
I.
II.
III.
Term to be defined.
The general class to which the term belongs.
The particular characteristics that sets the term apart form other member of the
general class.
The cello.... a stringed instrument of the violin family....that is between
the viola and the double bass in size and pitch.
The remainder of the paragraph is make up of supporting details
that further explain the definition.
Expository Paragraph – What – sample paragraph - SUPPORT
The cello is a stringed instrument of the violin family that is between
the viola and the double bass in size and pitch. The cello is about 120 cm
long and about 45 cm across at the widest part. The four strings of the
cello are an octave lower in pitch than the strings of the viola. A cello
player rests the instrument on the floor and against his knees and plays
the cello with a bow.
Here is a list of topics that may be expanded into WHAT paragraphs
by using definitions. Choose one topic, and write a topic sentence
containing a three-part definition. Then expand the topic sentence into a
well written paragraph.
1) Chevrolet
4) magnetism
2) soccer
5) Shakespeare
3) aspirin
6) Nintendo DS
Persuasive Paragraph - Why
 The WHY paragraph explains why the writer believes something is so or why
something has happened. Then, through additional facts or opinions, the writer
give reasons why he or she thinks the fact or opinion stated in the topic sentence is
true. Therefore, this kind of paragraph is an answer to a why question.
 To write a convincing Persuasive WHY paragraph, you need GOOD SUPPORTING
DETAILS- or strong reasons.
Eating too many sweets can upset your body’s natural appetite control
mechanism. The appetite control center in your brain – called the appestat- responds
to high blood sugar by telling the liver to cut down on glucose production. If the
condition of high blood sugar is produced by eating food heavily saturated in sugar,
the appestat will be temporarily satisfied and cause a shutdown of glucose
production. The high-blood sugar state, however, is temporarily dropping drastically
to a very low level of blood sugar. The appestat will quickly signal for more food.
The appestat has been confused by the unnaturally rapid increase in blood sugar and
the resulting dip in blood sugar.
 The author has given facts about the body’s blood mechanism to explain why
eating too many sweets can upset one’s control appetite.
 A Persuasive paragraph can be developed with opinions as well.
Persuasive Paragraph – “Why”
 Following are topic sentences that can be developed into
PERSUASIVE PARAGRAPHS.
 Some maybe developed by the use of facts: others by the use of
opinions.
 Choose one topic sentence then write a well written paragraph
developed with facts or with opinions.
I.
II.
III.
IV.
Our school needs to change the lunch hour system.
Everyone should learn lifesaving techniques.
All businesses should be closed on Remembrance Day.
Grades should be abolished.