Writing Skills – How do I Plan a Paragraph?

By Stuart Ackerman

     It is important to plan a paragraph because a combination of good paragraphs is the backbone for a good piece of writing.
 

Make a Plan

Before writing a paragraph, it is important to determine the bigger picture.

1.    First determine what the topic of the paragraph will be.  The rest of the paragraph will support the topic sentence.

2.    Who is the audience?  Will a teacher or other students be reading the paragraph?  The paragraph should be consistent with the rest of the writing.  It should be more complex for adult readers and simpler for younger readers.

3.    What is the form?  Determine what type of paragraph it will be (i.e. factual, narrative?).

Get the Information

It is time to gather all the details for the paragraph.  The topic sentence must introduce the idea of the paragraph and the supporting sentence must support the topic.

Descriptive paragraphs - should have details that focus on the five senses (i.e. focus on adjectives and descriptive words)
Narrative paragraphs - should contain details about an experience and problems in sequential order
Persuasive paragraphs - must contain facts, figures and proof to back up your opinion
Expository paragraphs - have facts to explain a process or phenomenon
 
Organize

Make sure the topic sentence of the paragraph is first.  Next, make sure the supporting sentences give proof, facts, or information that supports the topic sentence.  The last sentence is the closing sentence.  This sentence sums up the paragraph.
 
Editing

Read your paragraph out loud.  Make sure you have a good introduction, supporting details, and your conclusion.  Check spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure.
 

Remember, good paragraphs lead to good reports and essays. 

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TOPIC SENTENCES - Lesson (A) Introduction to Topic Sentences (Grades 1-3)

TOPIC SENTENCES - Lesson (B) Topic Sentences and Details (Grades 4-6)

PARAGRAPHS - Lesson (A) Introduction to Paragraphs (Grades 1-3)

PARAGRAPHS - Lesson (B) Paragraph Format (Grades 1-3)

MESSAGE WRITING - Writing a Message (Grades 2-3)

TRANSITION WORDS - Transition (Linking) Words (Grades 4-6)

REPORT WRITING - Writing a Report (Grades 2-3)