© Jefferson Community College Learning How to Develop a Paragraph.

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

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

© Jefferson Community College The rest of the paragraph consists of sentences that develop or explain 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

© Jefferson Community College A topic sentence may be developed by telling an incident A topic sentence may be developed by telling an incident Developing a Paragraph A topic sentence may be developed by giving examples. A topic sentence may be developed by giving examples. A topic sentence may be developed by giving details.

© Jefferson Community College Unity in the Paragraph Every sentence in a paragraph should support the main idea expressed in the topic sentence. main idea sentence

© Jefferson Community College The concluding or clincher sentence Restate the topic sentence in different words. A clincher sentence or concluding sentence clinches the point made in the paragraph. It summarizes the paragraph.

© Jefferson 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 chronological in relation to each other in order of importance

© Jefferson 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

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

© Jefferson Community College Sample Paragraph

© Jefferson Community College Sample Paragraph My mother survived difficult times to become a good parent and worker. Her hard times began when she lost her husband. At his death, she was only nineteen and had a baby, me, to raise. She survived by going to school at night to train for a career. Even though she still lives a stressful life today, she is a good mother. She always takes care of me. She listens to my problems, encourages me to do my best, and praises all my efforts. She cleans our apartment until is shines, and she make dinner every night. She makes a delicious chicken casserole. In addition, she works hard at her job. She is a nurse at a home for elderly people, where she is on her feet all day and is still kind and cheerful. At work or at home, my mother is an inspiration to me.

© Jefferson Community College Sample Paragraph My mother survived difficult times to become a good parent and worker. Her hard times began when she lost her husband. At his death, she was only nineteen and had a baby, me, to raise. She survived by going to school at night to train for a career. Even though she still lives a stressful life today, she is a good mother. She always takes care of me. She listens to my problems, encourages me to do my best, and praises all my efforts. She cleans our apartment until is shines, and she make dinner every night. She makes a delicious chicken casserole. In addition, she works hard at her job. She is a nurse at a home for elderly people, where she is on her feet all day and is still kind and cheerful. At work or at home, my mother is an inspiration to me. Topic Sentence

© Jefferson Community College Sample Paragraph My mother survived difficult times to become a good parent and worker. Her hard times began when she lost her husband. At his death, she was only nineteen and had a baby, me, to raise. She survived by going to school at night to train for a career. Even though she still lives a stressful life today, she is a good mother. She always takes care of me. She listens to my problems, encourages me to do my best, and praises all my efforts. She cleans our apartment until is shines, and she make dinner every night. She makes a delicious chicken casserole. In addition, she works hard at her job. She is a nurse at a home for elderly people, where she is on her feet all day and is still kind and cheerful. At work or at home, my mother is an inspiration to me. Example 1

© Jefferson Community College Sample Paragraph My mother survived difficult times to become a good parent and worker. Her hard times began when she lost her husband. At his death, she was only nineteen and had a baby, me, to raise. She survived by going to school at night to train for a career. Even though she still lives a stressful life today, she is a good mother. She always takes care of me. She listens to my problems, encourages me to do my best, and praises all my efforts. She cleans our apartment until is shines, and she make dinner every night. She makes a delicious chicken casserole. In addition, she works hard at her job. She is a nurse at a home for elderly people, where she is on her feet all day and is still kind and cheerful. At work or at home, my mother is an inspiration to me. Example 1 Details

© Jefferson Community College Sample Paragraph My mother survived difficult times to become a good parent and worker. Her hard times began when she lost her husband. At his death, she was only nineteen and had a baby, me, to raise. She survived by going to school at night to train for a career. Even though she still lives a stressful life today, she is a good mother. She always takes care of me. She listens to my problems, encourages me to do my best, and praises all my efforts. She cleans our apartment until is shines, and she make dinner every night. She makes a delicious chicken casserole. In addition, she works hard at her job. She is a nurse at a home for elderly people, where she is on her feet all day and is still kind and cheerful. At work or at home, my mother is an inspiration to me. Transition Words

© Jefferson Community College Sample Paragraph My mother survived difficult times to become a good parent and worker. Her hard times began when she lost her husband. At his death, she was only nineteen and had a baby, me, to raise. She survived by going to school at night to train for a career. Even though she still lives a stressful life today, she is a good mother. She always takes care of me. She listens to my problems, encourages me to do my best, and praises all my efforts. She cleans our apartment until is shines, and she make dinner every night. She makes a delicious chicken casserole. In addition, she works hard at her job. She is a nurse at a home for elderly people, where she is on her feet all day and is still kind and cheerful. At work or at home, my mother is an inspiration to me. Example 2

© Jefferson Community College Sample Paragraph My mother survived difficult times to become a good parent and worker. Her hard times began when she lost her husband. At his death, she was only nineteen and had a baby, me, to raise. She survived by going to school at night to train for a career. Even though she still lives a stressful life today, she is a good mother. She always takes care of me. She listens to my problems, encourages me to do my best, and praises all my efforts. She cleans our apartment until is shines, and she make dinner every night. She makes a delicious chicken casserole. In addition, she works hard at her job. She is a nurse at a home for elderly people, where she is on her feet all day and is still kind and cheerful. At work or at home, my mother is an inspiration to me. Example 2 Details

© Jefferson Community College Sample Paragraph My mother survived difficult times to become a good parent and worker. Her hard times began when she lost her husband. At his death, she was only nineteen and had a baby, me, to raise. She survived by going to school at night to train for a career. Even though she still lives a stressful life today, she is a good mother. She always takes care of me. She listens to my problems, encourages me to do my best, and praises all my efforts. She cleans our apartment until is shines, and she make dinner every night. She makes a delicious chicken casserole. In addition, she works hard at her job. She is a nurse at a home for elderly people, where she is on her feet all day and is still kind and cheerful. At work or at home, my mother is an inspiration to me. Example 3

© Jefferson Community College Sample Paragraph My mother survived difficult times to become a good parent and worker. Her hard times began when she lost her husband. At his death, she was only nineteen and had a baby, me, to raise. She survived by going to school at night to train for a career. Even though she still lives a stressful life today, she is a good mother. She always takes care of me. She listens to my problems, encourages me to do my best, and praises all my efforts. She cleans our apartment until is shines, and she make dinner every night. She makes a delicious chicken casserole. In addition, she works hard at her job. She is a nurse at a home for elderly people, where she is on her feet all day and is still kind and cheerful. At work or at home, my mother is an inspiration to me. Example 3 Details

© Jefferson Community College Sample Paragraph My mother survived difficult times to become a good parent and worker. Her hard times began when she lost her husband. At his death, she was only nineteen and had a baby, me, to raise. She survived by going to school at night to train for a career. Even though she still lives a stressful life today, she is a good mother. She always takes care of me. She listens to my problems, encourages me to do my best, and praises all my efforts. She cleans our apartment until is shines, and she make dinner every night. She makes a delicious chicken casserole. In addition, she works hard at her job. She is a nurse at a home for elderly people, where she is on her feet all day and is still kind and cheerful. At work or at home, my mother is an inspiration to me. Closing (restates topic in a different way)

© Jefferson Community College Reminder!!! Be sure to spell check and re-read your paragraph before turning it in.

© Jefferson Community College Questions? See Instructor They will be glad to help Used by permission of Betty Linneman, 2010