DEFINING THE PARAGRAPH:

The Building Block of Writing

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The Importance of a Good Paragraph Paragraph = the building block of writing Work together to make effective essays Without them, our essays would fall

apart.

Donna62, & Flickr (n.d.). Replica of First Brick House West of Rocky Mountains [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/disneyite/2748573870/sizes/s/in/photostreamGrunge Textures, & Flickr (n.d.). Brick with Black Mortar [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/grungetextures/4132752889/sizes/s/in/photostream

What is a paragraph? A paragraph is a

group of sentences sharing and explaining a complete thought.

Sentences should be about the same topic.

Kehrig, G. (n.d.). Paragraphs and Hamburger Metaphor [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/looking_and_learning/6216415392/sizes/s/in/photostream/

What does a good paragraph look like? Debatable Good rule: 6 to 12 sentences Remember, the sentences should be

related.

Jjpacres, & Flickr (n.d.). Writing [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/jjpacres/3293117576/sizes/s/in/photostream/

The Sandwich Analogy

The Casual Paragraph The Academic Paragraph

Bucking Bull, & Flickr (n.d.). Bucking Bull Works Burger [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/buckingbull/3386325673/sizes/s/in/photostream/Cl_03, & Flickr (n.d.). Ham and Cheese Sandwich [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/cl_03/8538204017/sizes/s/in/photostream/

The Parts of a Paragraph

The Topic Sentence

The Concluding

Sentence

The Transitions

The Body Sentences

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The Topic Sentence

Important Usually one sentence Contains the topic and main idea Controls the content of the rest of the

paragraph

Bucking Bull, & Flickr (n.d.). Bucking Bull Works Burger [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/buckingbull/3386325673/sizes/s/in/photostream/Williamfehrphoto, & Flickr (n.d.). Isolated Hamburger Bun [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/williamfehrphotography/8881226389/sizes/s/in/photostream/

The Body Sentences

The Majority of your Paragraph At least 4 sentences Share the Main Ideas Give Details

Bucking Bull, & Flickr (n.d.). Bucking Bull Works Burger [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/buckingbull/3386325673/sizes/s/in/photostream/Williamfehrphoto, & Flickr (n.d.). Burger Patty [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/williamfehrphotography/8881730906/sizes/s/in/photostream/

The Transitions

The Glue Makes sentences flow Keeps the paragraph from sounding

robotic

Bucking Bull, & Flickr (n.d.). Bucking Bull Works Burger [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/buckingbull/3386325673/sizes/s/in/photostream/Davidson, S., & Flickr (n.d.). Condiments [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/susannedavidson/7111286157/sizes/s/in/photostream/S., I., & Flickr (n.d.). Curious Robot [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/81657830@N05/7489691810/sizes/s/in/photostream/

The Concluding Sentence Completes the thought Finishes the paragraph Answers “So What?”

Bucking Bull, & Flickr (n.d.). Bucking Bull Works Burger [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/buckingbull/3386325673/sizes/s/in/photostream/JasperYue, & Flickr (n.d.). Gift Bow [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasperyue/1961590799/sizes/s/in/photostreamWilliamfehrphoto, & Flickr (n.d.). Isolated Hamburger Bun [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/williamfehrphotography/8881226389/sizes/s/in/photostream/

Common Mistakes

Road Signs“I am going to be explaining _________”“So now you can see _________”“This is the part where I explain

__________” Forgetting to conclude Repeating

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Checklist Plan ahead Narrow your topic Brainstorm Cut the fat Finalize topic

sentence Answer “So What?” Edit and Proofread

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Your turn!

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ReferencesBucking Bull, & Flickr (n.d.). Bucking Bull Works Burger [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/buckingbull/3386325673/sizes/s/in/photostream/

Cl_03, & Flickr (n.d.). Ham and Cheese Sandwich [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/cl_03/8538204017/sizes/s/in/photostream/

Davidson, S., & Flickr (n.d.). Condiments [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/susannedavidson/7111286157/sizes/s/in/photostream/

Donna62, & Flickr (n.d.). Replica of First Brick House West of Rocky Mountains [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/disneyite/2748573870/sizes/s/in/photostream/

Grunge Textures, & Flickr (n.d.). Brick with Black Mortar [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/grungetextures/4132752889/sizes/s/in/photostream/

Irinakostyuk1, & Flickr (n.d.). Checklist [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/30358826@N03/5026729965/sizes/s/in/photostream/

JasperYue, & Flickr (n.d.). Gift Bow [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasperyue/1961590799/sizes/s/in/photostream/

Jjpacres, & Flickr (n.d.). Writing [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/jjpacres/3293117576/sizes/s/in/photostream/

Kehrig, G. (n.d.). Paragraphs and Hamburger Metaphor [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/looking_and_learning/6216415392/sizes/s/in/photostream/

MyCELLmyTERMS, & Flickr (n.d.). 3 Common Mistakes [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/mycellmyterms/6638795337/sizes/s/in/photostream/

S., I., & Flickr (n.d.). Curious Robot [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/81657830@N05/7489691810/sizes/s/in/photostream/

Williamfehrphoto, & Flickr (n.d.). Burger Patty [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/williamfehrphotography/8881730906/sizes/s/in/photostream/

Williamfehrphoto, & Flickr (n.d.). Isolated Hamburger Bun [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from http://www.flickr.com/photos/williamfehrphotography/8881226389/sizes/s/in/photostream/