Sequential Paragraph
Definition:
– Describes details in a special order.
Types:
– Narrative paragraph
• Tells a story about a sequence of events.
– Step-by-step paragraph
• Tells how to do something in a step-by-step
manner.
Narrative Paragraph:
Tells a Story
1. Topic Sentence
– Introduces the story to be told.
2. Detail Sentences
– Tells the reader about the events in the order
that they happen, happened, or will happen.
3. Clincher Sentence
– Tells the reader the story is finished.
– Points out the significance of the story.
Narrative Paragraph:
Tells a Story (cont.)
4. Transitions
– Time transitions
5. Point of View
– First person
– Third person
6. Tense
– Usually past tense
– Sometimes present tense
– Sometimes future tense
Paragraph Checklist
Name: ________________________
Do I have. . .
_____ a title?
_____ a Topic Sentence that fits the details?
_____ at least 4 Detail Sentences?
_____ a Clincher Sentence that is different from the Topic
Sentence?
Have I used. . .
_____ a variety of sentence types (Simple, Compound,
Complex, Compound-Complex)?
_____ the same point of view throughout?
_____ the same tense throughout?
_____ the correct paragraph format?
Model Diagram for Narrative
Paragraphs: Level II
Model Paragraph for Narrative
Paragraphs: Level II
My Sporty Vacation
I had an enjoyable vacation this year since I filled each of the five
days with my favorite sports activities. On the first day, I went to the
beach and swam, and I got a wonderful sun tan. On the second day, I
went sailing with a friend. We took our lunch, and we anchored in an
isolated cove for a swim in the late afternoon. On the third day, since it
rained all day, I stayed inside the cabin and read a good book about my
favorite sports star. On the fourth day, my friend and I rented a rubber
raft and went down the river in it. Because the rive had lots of rapids,
we had an exciting ride as well as a lot of exercise. We even capsized
the raft and got soaking wet. For the fifth day, my friend and I decided
to climb a mountain. Again, we packed our lunch, and we ate it as we
sat on the top of the mountain enjoying the view of the mountains,
streams, and lakes spread out before us. To conclude, although I
probably will not return to this vacation spot again, I will remember my
Model Diagram for Narrative
Paragraphs: Level I
Model Paragraph for Narrative
Paragraphs: Level I
My Sporty Vacation
I had a wonderful vacation this summer
because I filled it with several sporty activities. On
the first day, I swam in the lake, and I sunbathed
on the beach. On the second day, I went sailing
with a friend. On the third day, I went fishing; I
caught five lake trout. On the fourth day, I hiked in
the woods along a babbling stream. To summarize,
I enjoyed my sporty vacation, and I’m looking
forward to a similar vacation next year.
Topic List for Narrative
Paragraphs
• Write a Narrative Paragraph that tells a story about…
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A movie you have seen
A vacation you have taken
A book you have read
A story you have made up
An emergency situation you have experienced
The best day of your life
The worst day of your life
Your last birthday
The perfect day
A typical day in your life
A funny (or strange) think your pet did
What you do to get ready for school each day
A disaster (or series of disasters) you have experienced
Step-by-Step Paragraph:
Tells How to do Something
1. Topic Sentence
– Tells the reader that a sequence of steps for a
specific task or process will be described.
2. Detail Sentences
– Each tells the reader specific information
about a step.
– The steps must be described in the correct
order to get the job done right.
Step-by-Step Paragraph:
Tells How to do Something
(cont.)
3. Clincher Sentence
– Tells the reader the job is done.
4. Transitions
– Time transitions
5. Point of view
– Usually second person
– Sometimes third person
6. Tense
– Usually present tense
Model Diagram for Step-by-Step
Paragraphs: Level II
Model Paragraph for Step-byStep Paragraphs: Level II
A Yummy Sandwich
You will find that the steps for making a peanut butter and jelly
sandwich are as easy as pie. To get started, gather the ingredients and
equipment. You need to find bread, peanut butter, butter, jelly, and a knife.
Next, you should butter the bread. To do this, put two slices of bread on a
clean part of the counter, and carefully spread butter on one side of each
slice using the knife. Make sure the butter goes all the way to the edge of
the bread and is evenly spread. Take care not to tear the bread. For the
third step, you need to put peanut butter evenly across one slice and to the
edge of the bread. Make the peanut butter about 3/8 of an inch thick.
Fourth, spread the jelly on the other slice of bread. You can make the jelly
as thick as the peanut butter. Be sure the whole slice is covered with the
jelly. When you have finished spreading the jelly, you’re ready for the fifth
step, putting the sandwich together. Take one of the slices of bread, and
put it on top of the other slice, making the peanut butter and jelly touch
Topic List for Step-by-Step
Paragraph
• Write a Step-by-Step Paragraph about…
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Making your favorite food
Travel from your house to school
Building something
Doing your favorite hobby
Traveling from your house to your best friend’s house
Making a brown bag lunch
Washing dishes
Doing the laundry
Shoveling the sidewalk
Cleaning a room
Building a snowman (or ice sculpture)
Building a sandcastle
Taking a picture with a camera
Playing a sport
Descriptive Paragraph
Tells about people, places, events, and things through
Sees
what the writer:
Hears
Tastes
Smells
Feels
Model Diagram for Descriptive
Paragraphs: Level II
ASSIGNMENT: Describe a beach.
Model Paragraph for Descriptive
Paragraphs: Level II
Beach Sensations
At daybreak, the beach was a delightful collage of sights, sounds, and smells.
The backdrop for the whole scene was the dawn-filled sky, which was a mixture
of pink and orange water colors. Immediately in front of the sky was the silverorange ocean, which was bordered by white, frothy waves that were breaking
and rolling gracefully into the shore. the pure white sand on which the waves
constantly pounded their tune stretched as far as the eye could see. Upon
closer scrutiny, what appeared to be solid sand was really millions of tiny white
shells. In fact, in some places, there were more shells than sand. Grouped
along this beach of sand and shells were hundreds of birds arranged in great
patches of grey and black. Perfectly still and facing into the wind, the birds
remained soundless unless something (a wandering dog or a lonely jogger)
disturbed them. Then the beating of hundreds of wings and their startled cries
filled the air until they settled in another spot. Over the whole scene hung a fine
mist that cooled the skin and smelled of salt water, seaweed, fish, and other
ocean spices. As one might imagine, drinking in all of these sensations can be
Descriptive Paragraph: Provides
a "Picture" of a Person, Place, or
Thing
1.Topic Sentence
– Tells the reader that a specific person, place,
or thing will be described
– Sometimes limits the topic by telling time,
and/or place, and/or senses used
Descriptive Paragraph: Provides
a "Picture" of a Person, Place, or
Thing (cont.)
2.Detail Sentences
– Each provides a detail for the "picture"
– Each mentions a detail derived by at least one
of the senses (sight, hearing, smell, taste,
feeling)
– Include modifiers (adjectives, adverbs)
Descriptive Paragraph: Provides
a "Picture" of a Person, Place, or
Thing (cont.)
3.Clincher Sentence
– Sums up the overall impression of the subject
4.Transitions
– Usually Space Transitions
– Sometimes Chain-Link or Importance
Transitions
Descriptive Paragraph: Provides
a "Picture" of a Person, Place, or
Thing (cont.)
5.Points of View:
– Usually third person
– Sometimes first person
6.Tense
– Present
– Past
– Future
Topic List for Descriptive
Paragraph
• Write a Descriptive Paragraph about…
– A lake*
– A classroom
– A city block
– A favorite meal on the table
– A car
– A banana split
– A house
– Your neighborhood
– A picturesque scene – An emotion
– A person
– An animal
– An object
clothing
– A sensation
– A sports field or court
– A favorite article of
Expository Paragraph
Definition:
Explains something.
Types:
Facts Paragraph
Explains something through facts
Reasons Paragraph Explains something through
reasons
Examples Paragraph Explains something through
examples
Model Diagram for Facts
Paragraphs: Level II
ASSIGNMENT: Define Criticism.
Model Paragraph for Facts
Paragraphs: Level II
Criticism: A Blessing in Disguise
You can think of criticism as a blessing in disguise if you keep several important
points about criticism in mind. Typically, criticism involves one person telling
you what you have done wrong. Usually, you have hurt someone physically,
hurt someone’s feelings, done some things incorrectly, done something that is
illegal or against the rules, or done something that makes the other person
angry or upset. Additionally, you should remember that people who really care
about you, including your parents, friends, teachers, and bosses, are the only
ones who will give you criticism. They may give you criticism in a quiet,
thoughtful way, or they may give it in a loud, furious way. Regardless of how the
criticism is delivered, be sure to remember that criticism is a gift to you that you
can use to build a successful future. If you take criticism to heart and follow
suggestions, you will lead a happier life than if you ignore criticism. Thus, when
you are in the midst of receiving criticism, remember that you probably have
done something wrong, that the person cares enough about you to tell you, and
that you can use this gift to give yourself a better future.
Facts Paragraph
Explains Something Through
Facts
1.Topic Sentence
– Introduces the main idea
2.Detail Sentences
– Each provides information about a related fact
3.Clincher Sentence
– Sums up the facts
Facts Paragraph: Explains
Something Through Facts (cont.)
4. Transitions
– Importance, Time, or Chain Link
5. Point of View
– Usually third person
– Sometimes first or second person
6. Tense
– Usually past or present tense.
– Sometimes future tense.
Topic List for Facts Paragraph
• Write an Expository Paragraph using facts
about…
–The cause of World War II*
– Summer Olympic sports
–Three types of houses (buildings) – A professional team
in your neighborhood
– Types of movies
–Four kinds of house pets
– Equipment needed for a sport
–The causes of crime
– Rules for a sport
–The causes of heart disease
– Kinds of natural disasters
–The effects of war
– A type of natural disaster
–The effects of overeating
–Four great books
–My family
–My parent’s pet peeves
Model Diagram for Reasons
Paragraph: Level II
ASSIGNMENT: Explain why a person should accept criticism calmly.
Model Paragraph for Reasons
Paragraphs:
Level
II
Cool, Calm, and
Collected
Accepting criticism in a calm manner will yield dividends for four
major reasons. First, by listening carefully and calmly to the criticism, a
person will usually learn something about how to avoid problems in the
future. Second, when the criticism is unfair, and the person has not done
anything wrong, by listening carefully and asking calm questions, the
person receiving the criticism will be better able to understand and
explain how the problem occurred. More important, if a person refrains
from becoming angry and abusive while receiving criticism, she will avoid
making the person who is giving the criticism even more angry or upset.
Usually, a person who gets angry while receiving criticism will receive
some sort of punishment from the other person. The more angry the
other person gets, the more severe the punishment will probably be.
Most importantly, if a person receives criticism calmly and makes a
genuine attempt to understand or to change, others will think that person
is mature and responsible. They will be more likely to let the person do
what he or she wants to do, and they will be more likely to trust the
person and to give the person more responsibility. In conclusion, the calm
Reasons Paragraph:
Persuades Through Reasons
1. Topic Sentence
– Introduces the side of the issue to be
supported
– Tells the reader reasons will be given
2. Detail Sentences
– Each provides information about a related
reason
3. Clincher Sentence
– Sums up the reasons
Reasons Paragraph:
Persuades Through Reasons
4. Transitions
(cont.)
– Importance Transitions
– Chain-link Transitions
5. Point of View
– Second person
– Third person
6. Tense
– Past, present, or future tense
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Topic List for Reasons
Paragraphs
Write an Expository
Paragraph using reasons why…
– Dogs should (should not) be allowed to roam free*
– Women should (should not) have the same rights as men
– The U.S. should (should not) avoid nuclear war at all costs
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Prayer should (should not) be required in school
Pollution should (should not) be better controlled
Freshmen should (should not) be allowed to play varsity sports
Wild animals that are starving should (should not) be fed
Whales should (should not) be killed for their oil
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Video games are (are not) hazardous to young people
Smoking is (is not) harmful
Murderers should (should not) be electrocuted
Teenagers should (should not) be given more freedom
Teenagers should (should not) be given more responsibility
– War should (should not) be an international crime
– Nuclear power plants should (should not) be banned
* The student can choose whether to write about the positive or negative side of each of these topics. A
Model Diagram for Example
Paragraphs: Level II
ASSIGNMENT: Provide several examples of sources of criticism.
Model Paragraph for Example
Paragraphs: Level II
Criticism Has Many Different Faces
Criticism can come from a variety of people. For
example, criticism can come from a friend for hurting her
feelings or for not returning a borrowed item. Another
example of a source of criticism is parents. They often give
their children criticism for such things as breaking house
rules, poor grooming, or acting inappropriately. Teachers
are a further example of people who often give criticism.
They tell their students what they have done wrong on
assignments, and they give out low grades to students. A
final example of a source of criticism is bosses. They tell
their employees when they have done a poor job, when
Examples Paragraph: Explains
Something Through Examples
1. Topic Sentence
– Introduces the main idea
– Tells the reader examples will be given
2. Detail Sentences
– Each provides information about a related
example
3. Clincher Sentence
– Sums up the examples
Examples Paragraph: Explains
Something Through Examples
4. Transitions
(cont.)
– Chain-link transitions
5. Point of View
– Third person
6. Tense
– Usually present tense
– Sometimes past or future tense
Topic List for Examples
Paragraphs
• Write an Expository Paragraph that includes
examples of…
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A kind of music
A style of cooking
Situations where you should say “no” to a friend
Video games
A kind of movie
Situations where you should compliment someone
School activities
Situations where a person should ask for advice
Things a true friend does
Rules you wish didn’t exist
Laws you think should be made
Uses of computers
Uses of an object of your choice
Compare and Contrast
Paragraph
Definition:
– Shows how people, places, things, or ideas
are alike and/or different.
Types:
Compare Paragraph
Shows how they are alike.
Contrast Paragraph
Shows how they are different.
Compare and Contrast
Paragraph
Shows how they are alike
and different.
Model Diagram for Compare
Paragraphs: Level II
ASSIGNMENT: Compare two animals.
Model Paragraph for Compare
Paragraphs: Level II
Brother Whales
The two kinds of whales, toothed and baleen whales, have five
important similarities. First, they both live and swim around in the sea,
but this does not mean that they are fish. They are mammals, just like
humans are mammals. Because they are mammals, both types of
whales have lungs and breathe air. This means that they must swim up
to the surface of the water each time they need to breathe. Also,
because both types of whales are mammals, their babies are born
alive; they are not hatched from eggs. All baby whales are called calves
and drink their mother’s milk. One of the most interesting facts about
both types of whales is that they can “see” with their ears. They send
out clicking sounds that bounce off of objects. When these sounds
return to the whales, they can hear them and know what the object is
and how far away it is. They also communicate with each other using
these clicking sounds. In all, these similarities between toothed and
baleen whales provide an interesting picture of two of the world’s most
Compare Paragraph:
Shows How Things Are Alike
1.Topic Sentence
– Introduces the two subjects
– Tells that they will be compared
2. Detail Sentences
– Each tells one way they are alike
3.Clincher Sentence
– Sums up the similarities
Compare Paragraph:
Shows How Things Are Alike
4.Transitions
(cont.)
– Chain-link, importance
5.Point of View
– Usually third person
– Sometimes first or second person
6.Tense
– Present or past tense
Topic List for Compare and
Contrast Paragraphs
• Write a paragraph comparing, contrasting, or comparing
and contrasting…*
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Two sports
Two friends
Two adults close to you
Two animals
Two desserts
Two places
Two stores
Two objects
Two pieces of sports equipment
Two games
– Two clubs
– Two hobbies
– Two chores
– Two jobs
– Two teachers
– Two pets
– Two books
– Two movies
– Two singers
– Two kinds of music
* The teacher may choose to assign the student to compare the items listed, to contrast the items listed, or to
compare and contrast the items listed in a paragraph. The student can limit the topic to whatever he/she chooses.
Model Diagram for Contrast
Paragraphs: Level II
ASSIGNMENT: Contrast two animals.
Model Paragraph for Contrast
Paragraphs: Level II
Distant Cousins
A number of differing characteristics make toothed and baleen
whales distant cousins. The most important difference is indicated by
their names. The toothed whale has many sharp teeth; the baleen
whale has a huge “mustache-like” piece of equipment called a “baleen”
inside its mouth. Because of this difference, another important
difference between the two whales is the way they catch their food. The
toothed whale must actively chase after its food and catch it. The
baleen whale just opens its mouth, swims along, and strains its food
out of the water with its “mustache.” Toothed whales eat larger fish;
they swallow them whole, one at a time. In contrast, baleen whales eat
very small sea creatures, and they swallow many at one time. Probably
the least important difference between the two whales is their size.
Most baleen whales are huge; they can be over 100 feet long. Most
toothed whales are between 10 and 20 feet long. Thus, toothed whales
Contrast Paragraph:
Shows How Things Are Different
1. Topic Sentence
– Introduces the two subjects
– Tells that they will be contrasted
2. Detail Sentences
– Each tells one way in which the subjects are
different
3.Clincher Sentence
– Sums up the differences
Contrast Paragraph:
Shows How Things Are Different
4.Transitions
(cont.)
– Chain-link, importance
5.Point of View
– Usually third person
– Sometimes first or second person
6.Tense
– Past or present tense
Model Diagram for Compare
and Contrast Paragraphs: Level
II
ASSIGNMENT: Compare and contrast two animals.
Model Paragraph for Compare
and Contrast Paragraphs: Level
II
Toothed and Baleen Whales: Very Different Brothers
Toothed and baleen whales come from the same family and are similar
in some ways, but, just like brothers, they are different, too. The most
important similarity is that they are both mammals. This means they both
breathe air with their lungs, and their babies are born alive. Other
similarities are that they both live in the dark depths of the sea, and they
can “see” objects and communicate with each other using clicking sounds.
The most important difference is that toothed whales have teeth, and
baleen whales have baleens, which are big “mustaches” inside their
mouths. Their teeth allow toothed whales to eat large fish up to 50 pounds
in weight. Baleen whales must eat the very small creatures they strain out
of the water with their “mustaches.” Another difference is that toothed
whales must chase after and catch their food, but baleen whales simply
open their mouths and swim along to eat. Of lesser importance is the
difference in their sizes; baleen whales, as a group, are usually larger than
toothed whales. Therefore, although they are related, baleen whales and
Compare and Contrast
Paragraph:
Shows How Things or Ideas Are Alike and
1.Topic Sentence Different
– Introduces the two subjects
– Tells that they will be compared and
contrasted
2.Detail Sentences
– Each tells at least one way in which the
subjects are alike or at least one way they are
different
3. Clincher Sentence
Compare and Contrast
Paragraph:
Shows How Things or Ideas Are Alike and
4.Transitions Different (cont.)
– Importance, Chain-Link
5.Point of View
– Usually third person
– Sometimes first or second person
6.Tense
– Present or past tense
Compare and Contrast
Paragraph Diagram