Paragraphing

When should you start a new paragraph? There are three times when you should start a new paragraph: When you change time (so when events jump forward or backward) When you change topic (so you start writing about a different event or part of an event) For dramatic effect (This can be tricky but may be done with short sentences to draw attention to them)

Where should the paragraphs in this piece be? I went down to the shops today to buy some bread and milk, then I came home. Later, at home, I decided to make a sandwhich but I realised that I didn’t have anything to put on the bread so I decided to go back to the shops. I like going shopping, it is fun! Later, at the shops I bought some Jam and butter to put in my sandwich, I chose strawberry jam. Pizza is one of my favourite foods and I often eat that at lunchtime

Where should the paragraphs in this piece be? (Answers) I went down to the shops today to buy some bread and milk, then I came home. Later, at home, I decided to make a sandwhich but I realised that I didn’t have anything to put on the bread so I decided to go back to the shops. I like going shopping, it is fun! Later, at the shops I bought some Jam and butter to put in my sandwich, I chose strawberry jam. Pizza is one of my favourite foods and I often eat that at lunchtime. New time For effect New time New topic

Tips to help you remember to start a new paragraph Try using words that show time when you are writing. Words such as ‘Later’ and ‘Earlier’ or by saying the time, I.e. ‘At 12 O’Clock’. Think carefully about what you are writing about and whether you are now writing about something new. Task: Try writing about what you have done today, starting a new paragraph after a description of each thing you have done.

Task Write a story about your Holidays and work on your paragraphs. Use time connectives within each paragraph. Use time signals at the start of new paragraphs. Use some short paragraphs for effect. If you want to use it there is a writing structure on the next slide.

How to improve your paragraphs Within each paragraph that you write you should try to use time connectives (words that connect events and show time) such as ‘then’, ‘after’, ‘before’. If you use these time connectives that mean something happened immediately after the last event then you don’t need to start a new paragraph! However, you should try not to make paragraphs too long and when writing should separate some events (like we did above by saying ‘later on’).

Writing Structure At the beginning of my holidays I __________ then ______ On the next day I ___________ after ____________. Later on, in the evening, I _________ . On the last day of the holiday I __________ then _______ before ________.