2. © Capital Community College The paragraph is a series of sentences developing one topic.

3. © Capital Community College The topic of a paragraph is stated in one sentence. This is called the topic sentence. The Topic Sentence

4. © Capital Community College The rest of the paragraph consists of sentences that develop, explain, and/or SUPPORT the main idea. Through the centuries rats have managed to survive all our efforts to destroy them. We have poisoned them and trapped them. We have fumigated, flooded, and burned them. We have tried germ warfare. Some rats even survived atomic bomb tests conducted on Entwetok atoll in the Pacific after World War II. In spite of all our efforts, these enemies of ours continue to prove that they are the most indestructible of pests. main idea concluding sentence

5. © Capital Community College Developing a Paragraph TEXT BASED DETAILS take the shape of: examples facts quotes TEXT BASED DETAILS take the shape of: examples facts quotes Even if you’re writing a narrative paragraph, you support your ideas with Specific Details! Even if you’re writing a narrative paragraph, you support your ideas with Specific Details! To support your main idea you must support it using TEXT BASED DETAILS!

6. © Capital Community College Unity in the Paragraph Every sentence in a paragraph should support the main idea expressed in the topic sentence. main idea sentence At least THREE TEXT BASED DETAILS to support the main idea!!!

7. © Capital Community College The concluding or sentence INFER a conclusion based on the details you’ve provided in the paragraph For Example: -If your paragraph was about ice cream and the three most popular flavors of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry, you can conclude: Despite the fact that there are many variations of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry ice cream, people still gravitate to their pure favorites.

8. © Capital Community College Coherence in a Paragraph Stick to the point: The ideas have a clear and logical relation to each other. Put details or examples or incidents in logical order. 4 3 2 1 chronological in relation to each other in order of importance

9. © Capital Community College Connecting Sentences Within the Paragraph chronological order first meanwhile later afterwards finally objects in relation to one another next to in front of beside between behind in order of importance however furthermore as a result in fact yet Transition words

10. © Capital Community College Types of Paragraphs  The narrative paragraph tells a story The descriptive paragraph describes something The persuasive paragraph. tries to convince the audience The expository or explanatory paragraph gives information or explains something Next!