The Structure of a Paragraph

Paragraphs A paragraph is a collection of related sentences dealing with one topic. Most paragraphs contain between five to ten sentences. The first line of a paragraph is usually indented (begin a few spaces to the right of the margin) to show that there is a new paragraph. Form ________________________________. _____________ ___________________________________________________ ____________________. ______________________________ ___________________________________________________ ____________________. _____________________________ _________________________________. _________________ ___________________________________________________ _________________________. ________________________ __________________________________________________. indent

Model Paragraph School Uniform Wearing uniforms to school is a necessary part of a good school environment. First, the uniform helps build a sense of community and school spirit among students. Second, a school is a place for learning, not a fashion show. The third reason for wearing the uniform is that it sets an equal standard for everybody. To conclude, school uniforms are very beneficial for students and create a healthy learning environment. indent

Living in Big Cities Although many people like to live in small cities, I prefer to live in big cities for three reasons. First, social life in big cities is active. - Second, big cities have a lot of facilities which make life easier. For instance, you can easily find hospitals, universities and schools within a walking distance. - Third, living in big cities is very helpful and useful especially in finding jobs. To conclude, living in big cities is beneficial in having perfect social life, enjoying good facilities and finding good jobs.

My Grandfather My grandfather is old in years but young in spirit. Every day, he swims a mile and works in his garden. My grandfather loves parties and invites our entire family to his house for a big dinner on his birthday. He never gets tired and is always the last to go to bed. On his last birthday, my brothers and I gave him a present. We put our money together and bought him a video game system. Now he invites us to his house to play video games with him. My grandfather will always seem young to me.

Key Features Every paragraphs should have the following features…  A Topic Sentence  Supporting Sentences  A Concluding Sentence Unity

WHAT IS A TOPIC SENTENCE? The Topic Sentence: It expresses the main idea of a paragraph. it is usually the first sentence of a paragraph. It contains the central idea. It is also the most general sentence in a paragraph.  Example: One of the most serious problems in today’s public schools is overcrowded classrooms

WHAT ARE the SUPPORTING SENTENCES? The Supporting Sentences: They develop, explain and support the main idea (the topic sentence) of the paragraph. They contain facts, examples and details. They explain why the main idea is true.

WHAT IS A CONCLUDING SENTENCE? The Concluding Sentence: It is usually the last sentence of the paragraph. It restates the main idea. It is used to finish the paragraph or to prepare the reader for the following paragraph. In conclusion, the problem of overcrowded classrooms has serious negative effects on student learning.

Analyze the structure of the following paragraph: There are three reasons why Canada is one of the most popular countries in the world. First, Canada has an excellent health care system. All Canadians have access to medical services at a reasonable price. Second, Canada has a high standard of education. Students are taught by well-trained teachers and are encouraged to continue studying at university. Finally, Canada's cities are clean and efficiently managed. Canadian cities have many parks and lots of space for people to live. To sum up, Canada is a desirable place to live.

Decide which of the following is a strong paragraph. If the sentences make a weak paragraph, state one or more of these reasons: I need to buy a motorcycle. With a motorcycle, I could get to my job more quickly. It takes two hours to get to work by train. That's very slow. A motorcycle is much faster. If I had a motorcycle, I could save a lot of time. Taking the train is not fast enough for me. 1.The sentences are not all about the same topic. 2.There are not enough sentences. 3.There is no topic sentence. 4.Some sentences say the same thing.

First, insert a blank CD into the computer. Then, select the song list that you want to copy. You will see a button that says, "Click here to burn." Click on that button. Then just wait for a few minutes. That's all. 1.The sentences are not all about the same topic. 2.There are not enough sentences. 3.There is no topic sentence. 4.Some sentences say the same thing.

When I need a good place to study, I go to the library. It's always quiet there, so I can concentrate. It's easy to find the books I need, and I can search for information on the internet because there are several computers. The other people in the library are also reading or working, so the mood is good for studying. To sum up, I study better and faster in the library than in any other place. 1.The sentences are not all about the same topic. 2.There are not enough sentences. 3.There is no topic sentence. 4.Some sentences say the same thing.

Cell phones are very popular. They are really convenient. They're small and light. 1. The sentences are not all about the same topic. 2. There are not enough sentences. 3. There is no topic sentence. 4. Some sentences say the same thing.

Sports instructor is a good part-time job. You can enjoy your favourite activity and earn money at the same time. Some other jobs pay better. You can also volunteer as an instructor. I had a difficult time learning to swim because my instructor wasn't very good. My tennis instructor was much better. If you get a lot of experience as a sports instructor, you can get a job at a gym or as a couch in the future. 1.The sentences are not all about the same topic. 2.There are not enough sentences. 3.There is no topic sentence. 4.Some sentences say the same thing.

Complete the following paragraph outline: Topic Sentence: The problem of traffic congestion in our city can be reduced by providing the following solutions. First, _________________________________ ______________________________________ Second, _______________________________ _____________________________________ Third, ________________________________ ______________________________________ Concluding Sentence: To conclude, _______________________________ __________________________________________

Complete the following paragraph with supporting sentences: A university is very different from a secondary school. First, university professors talk a great deal and give long homework assignments. Second,____________________________________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ _______________________. Third, _____________ __________________________________________ __________________________________________ ______________. To conclude, while university is quite different from a school, both of them are important places for learning, social interaction and personal growth.