(from Writers Express, Nelsons, Kemper, Nathan, Sebranek) There are four kinds of paragraphs you can write. • To describe something, write a descriptive paragraph. • To tell a story, write a narrative paragraph. • To express your opinion, write a persuasive paragraph. • To explain something, write an expository paragraph.
Descriptive Paragraph
A descriptive paragraph describes a person, a place, a thing, or an idea. When you write a descriptive paragraph, you should use words that help your readers see, hear, smell, taste, and feel what you are describing. You should tell your readers what colours things are, how big things are, what things sound like, etc. Your readers should feel as if they are right there with you.
Model Descriptive Paragraph
You can tell a lot about Evan by looking at his face. The first thing you notice are his big brown eyes that always seem so shiny and alert. You wouldn't notice his pug nose except that it seems to be running all of the time. Like many small children, he wipes it with his sleeve rather than a Kleenex. His mouth seems to have two basic positions. He smiles when he's got trouble on his mind, or he clenches his mouth shut when he doesn't want to do something, like eat his lunch. Evan's tongue, which he likes to stick out, is usually orange from his favourite fruit drink. Whenever someone tries to clean his mouth or chin, he squirms and turns away. Evan likes his face just the way it is.
Narrative Paragraphtive Paragraph
In a narrative paragraph, you tell a story by sharing the details of an experience. A narrative paragraph should pull your readers into the story and keep them wondering what will happen next. It's important to include a lot of colourful details to make the experience come alive.
Model Narrative Paragraph
Evan leaves a trail of trouble even when he isn't trying. The last time I babysat for him, we were painting pictures at the kitchen table. Evan painted a couple of monster faces, and then decided he wanted to do something else. He even offered to help clean up, which surprised me a little. He was carrying the bowl full of dirty water from our paint brushes when disaster struck. He tripped right in front of the sink in the utility room and the dirty water went flying. I did my best to clean up the mess while Evan had a snack. As I worked, I reminded myself never to let Evan help again. To make sure you have included all the important details in your narrative paragraph, ask the following questions: Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?
Persuasive Paragraph
A persuasive paragraph gives the writer's opinion on the topic and tries to get the reader to agree with it. When you write a persuasive paragraph, you should give facts and examples to back up your opinion. Otherwise, you won't persuade, or convince, your reader that your opinion is the right one.
Model Persuasive Paragraph
Anyone who babysits for Evan should receive an extra bonus. For one thing, you have to put up with Evan's screaming. He likes to sneak up behind you and scream in your ear. He's very good at scaring just about anyone with this move. For another thing, you never get a chance to rest for even a minute. Evan likes to keep things active by teasing the cat, locking himself in his room, overloading the circuits, falling off his bike, and so on. And finally, you have to clean up after him. There is always spilled milk in the kitchen and dumped toys to pick up in every other room. For conditions like these, the regular hourly rate is not enough!
Expository Paragraph
The main purpose of an expository paragraph is to give information about a topic. It may explain ideas, give directions, or show how to do something. An expository paragraph uses transition words (such as first, second, and most importantly in the model below). These words help guide the reader through the explanation.
Model Expository Paragraph
Always be prepared when you babysit for Evan. First, make sure to bring a flashlight in case of a blackout. Even likes to overload the circuits. Second, bring a few first-aid supplies like cotton balls and Band-Aids. Evan will get at least two or three scratches or cuts while you are there, and sometimes their first-aid kit is low on materials. You can also use the cotton balls to plug your ears if Evan starts screaming. Most importantly, have a phone number where you can contact Evan's mother. No matter how prepared you are, you can't babysit for Evan all by yourself. You will need to call his mother at least once for help or advice. Sometimes it's helpful to list the facts or examples you are going to include in your paragraph. That way, you can put your supporting ideas into the best possible order before you begin.
Sample Listing Topic Sentence: Always be prepared when you babysit for Evan. 1. Bring a flashlight 2. Bring first-aid supplies 3. Have a phone number to contact his mother
Writing the Paragraph
1. Plan your paragraph.
To begin planning your paragraph, you can ask yourself the following questions: Subject: Who or what will I write about? Purpose: What feeling about my subject will I focus on? Audience: Who will be reading my paragraph? Form: What kind of paragraph will work best?
2. Gather information.
Once you've answered these questions, you are ready to begin gathering details for your paragraph. This chart will help you decide what information you need to collect.
for a
you'll need
descriptive paragraph
lots of details about how things look, sound, smell, taste, and feel
narrative paragraph
details about an experience you want to share: how it began, what problems occurred, how it ended
persuasive paragraph
facts, figures, and examples to back up your opinion
expository paragraph
facts to explain the thing or process you're writing about
3. Put the information in order.
The topic sentence is first. Next comes the body - the sentences that tell about the topic sentence. At the end is the closing sentence that sums up the paragraph, or tells what it means.
4. Check your work.
Read your paragraph. Imagine that you are reading it for the first time. Does it tell everything you need to know to understand the topic sentence? Is it interesting and clear?
Details in a Paragraph Details are an important part of any paragraph. They are the facts and examples that bring the paragraph to life. Personal Details Most of the details you use in your paragraphs will be personal details - things you know from your own experience. Here are the different kinds of personal details you can use: Details from Your Senses • These details come from the world around you and are picked up by your five senses. They are things that you see, hear, smell, taste, and touch. You will need a lot of these when writing a descriptive paragraph. Details from Your Memory • These details come from memories of things you've done and experienced. In an expository paragraph, such details will help you to explain how to do something. In descriptive and narrative writing, they will help you to bring the past to life. Details from Your Imagination • These details come from inside your mind and deal with your hopes, wishes, and wonders. What if Evan were a teacher? Thoughts like this one can make narrative paragraphs interesting and fun. Details from Other Sources When you write a paragraph, first think about what you already know about the subject.Then add details from other sources: • Ask people who may have the answers you need teachers, parents, neighbours, friends. • Ask an expert on the subject. For example, if you are writing a paragraph about the flu that's going around, talk to a doctor or a nurse. • Check newspapers, magazines, and books. Check the ones you have at home and the ones in your library.
Types of Paragraphs
Types of Paragraphs | | Descriptive Paragraph | Narrative Paragraphtive Paragraph | Persuasive Paragraph | Expository Paragraph | Writing the Paragraph(from Writers Express, Nelsons, Kemper, Nathan, Sebranek)
There are four kinds of paragraphs you can write.
• To describe something, write a descriptive paragraph.
• To tell a story, write a narrative paragraph.
• To express your opinion, write a persuasive paragraph.
• To explain something, write an expository paragraph.
Descriptive Paragraph
A descriptive paragraph describes a person, a place, a thing, or an idea. When you write a descriptive paragraph, you should use words that help your readers see, hear, smell, taste, and feel what you are describing. You should tell your readers what colours things are, how big things are, what things sound like, etc. Your readers should feel as if they are right there with you.Model Descriptive Paragraph
You can tell a lot about Evan by looking at his face. The first thing you notice are his big brown eyes that always seem so shiny and alert. You wouldn't notice his pug nose except that it seems to be running all of the time. Like many small children, he wipes it with his sleeve rather than a Kleenex. His mouth seems to have two basic positions. He smiles when he's got trouble on his mind, or he clenches his mouth shut when he doesn't want to do something, like eat his lunch. Evan's tongue, which he likes to stick out, is usually orange from his favourite fruit drink. Whenever someone tries to clean his mouth or chin, he squirms and turns away. Evan likes his face just the way it is.Narrative Paragraphtive Paragraph
In a narrative paragraph, you tell a story by sharing the details of an experience. A narrative paragraph should pull your readers into the story and keep them wondering what will happen next. It's important to include a lot of colourful details to make the experience come alive.Model Narrative Paragraph
Evan leaves a trail of trouble even when he isn't trying. The last time I babysat for him, we were painting pictures at the kitchen table. Evan painted a couple of monster faces, and then decided he wanted to do something else. He even offered to help clean up, which surprised me a little. He was carrying the bowl full of dirty water from our paint brushes when disaster struck. He tripped right in front of the sink in the utility room and the dirty water went flying. I did my best to clean up the mess while Evan had a snack. As I worked, I reminded myself never to let Evan help again.To make sure you have included all the important details in your narrative paragraph, ask the following questions:
Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?
Persuasive Paragraph
A persuasive paragraph gives the writer's opinion on the topic and tries to get the reader to agree with it. When you write a persuasive paragraph, you should give facts and examples to back up your opinion. Otherwise, you won't persuade, or convince, your reader that your opinion is the right one.Model Persuasive Paragraph
Anyone who babysits for Evan should receive an extra bonus. For one thing, you have to put up with Evan's screaming. He likes to sneak up behind you and scream in your ear. He's very good at scaring just about anyone with this move. For another thing, you never get a chance to rest for even a minute. Evan likes to keep things active by teasing the cat, locking himself in his room, overloading the circuits, falling off his bike, and so on. And finally, you have to clean up after him. There is always spilled milk in the kitchen and dumped toys to pick up in every other room. For conditions like these, the regular hourly rate is not enough!Expository Paragraph
The main purpose of an expository paragraph is to give information about a topic. It may explain ideas, give directions, or show how to do something. An expository paragraph uses transition words (such as first, second, and most importantly in the model below). These words help guide the reader through the explanation.Model Expository Paragraph
Always be prepared when you babysit for Evan. First, make sure to bring a flashlight in case of a blackout. Even likes to overload the circuits. Second, bring a few first-aid supplies like cotton balls and Band-Aids. Evan will get at least two or three scratches or cuts while you are there, and sometimes their first-aid kit is low on materials. You can also use the cotton balls to plug your ears if Evan starts screaming. Most importantly, have a phone number where you can contact Evan's mother. No matter how prepared you are, you can't babysit for Evan all by yourself. You will need to call his mother at least once for help or advice.Sometimes it's helpful to list the facts or examples you are going to include in your paragraph. That way, you can put your supporting ideas into the best possible order before you begin.
Sample Listing
Topic Sentence: Always be prepared when you babysit for Evan.
1. Bring a flashlight
2. Bring first-aid supplies
3. Have a phone number to contact his mother
Writing the Paragraph
1. Plan your paragraph.
To begin planning your paragraph, you can askyourself the following questions:
Subject: Who or what will I write about?
Purpose: What feeling about my subject will I focus on?
Audience: Who will be reading my paragraph?
Form: What kind of paragraph will work best?
2. Gather information.
Once you've answered these questions, you are ready to begin gathering details for your paragraph. This chart will help you decide what information you need to collect.occurred, how it ended
3. Put the information in order.
The topic sentence is first. Next comes the body - the sentences that tell about the topic sentence. At the end is the closing sentence that sums up the paragraph, or tells what it means.4. Check your work.
Read your paragraph. Imagine that you are reading it for the first time. Does it tell everything you need to know to understand the topic sentence? Is it interesting and clear?Details in a Paragraph
Details are an important part of any paragraph. They are the facts and examples that bring the paragraph to life.
Personal Details
Most of the details you use in your paragraphs will be personal details - things you know from your own experience. Here are the different kinds of personal details you can use:
Details from Your Senses • These details come from the world around you and are picked up by your five senses. They are things that you see, hear, smell, taste, and touch. You will need a lot of these when writing a descriptive paragraph.
Details from Your Memory • These details come from memories of things you've done and experienced. In an expository paragraph, such details will help you to explain how to do something. In descriptive and narrative writing, they will help you to bring the past to life.
Details from Your Imagination • These details come from inside your mind and deal with your hopes, wishes, and wonders. What if Evan were a teacher? Thoughts like this one can make narrative paragraphs interesting and fun.
Details from Other Sources
When you write a paragraph, first think about what you already know about the subject.Then add details from other sources:
• Ask people who may have the answers you need teachers, parents, neighbours, friends.
• Ask an expert on the subject. For example, if you are writing a paragraph about the flu that's going around, talk to a doctor or a nurse.
• Check newspapers, magazines, and books. Check the ones you have at home and the ones in your library.