12 Writing Paragraphs

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English Language Arts:

Page 087 from Writers Express

A Closer Look at the Parts

Use this page in conjunction with the last one to help students understand how to create the topic sentence, body sentences, and closing sentence in their paragraphs.

State Standard Reference:

LAFS Standard:

110.6.b.11.A, 110.6.b.11.B.i, 110.6.b.12.C

TEKS Standard:

NE ELA Standard:

LA 4.2.2, LA 4.2.2.a, LA 4.2.2.b, LA 4.2.1.b

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Page 088 from Writers Express

Types of Paragraphs

On this page of the student handbook and those that follow, you'll find paragraphs in different modes of writing: descriptive, narrative, explanatory, and persuasive. These modes move from the simplest and most familiar to the most complex.

Help your students see that the writer's choices in building each paragraph relate to the topic and purpose of the writing. For example, the descriptive paragraph on this page includes many sensory details, allowing the reader to experience the spot for themselves.

Once students understand the descriptive paragraph, have them write a descriptive paragraph of their own. Use the minilessons if you wish, or have students find a descriptive topic to start from.

State Standard Reference:

LAFS Standard:

LAFS.4.RL.1.1

TEKS Standard:

110.6.b.8

NE ELA Standard:

LA 4.1.6.d, LA 4.1.6.b

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Level:

Personal Writing Narrative Writing

Mode:

Form:

Description

Theme:

Nature Environment

English Language Arts:

Page 089 from Writers Express

Sample Narrative Paragraph

This narrative paragraph tells a real-life story about a situation that goes awry. Point out that the paragraph focuses on people (characters) at a given place and time (setting) doing something (plot) in response to a problem (conflict).

Once your students understand how a narrative paragraph works, have them write their own narrative paragraphs. You can use the minilessons, or direct them to narrative topic ideas.

State Standard Reference:

LAFS Standard:

LAFS.4.RL.1.1

TEKS Standard:

110.6.b.8

NE ELA Standard:

LA 4.1.6.d, LA 4.1.6.b

Related Resource Tags

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Level:

Writing Basics Narrative Writing

Mode:

Form:

Narrative Paragraph

Theme:

Friends Fun Nature Environment

English Language Arts:

Page 090 from Writers Express

Sample Explanatory Paragraph

In this explanatory paragraph, the purpose of the writing is to explain a process. Point out to your students that the details here are arranged in chronological (time) order. Transition words such as "first" and "then" help the reader understand the flow of details.

Other explanatory paragraphs might follow a different order. For example, a paragraph that explains the three types of something might use order of importance.

Once students are comfortable with explanatory writing, have them write their own explanatory paragraphs using one of these writing topics.

State Standard Reference:

LAFS Standard:

LAFS.4.RI.1.1

TEKS Standard:

110.6.b.9.D

NE ELA Standard:

LA 4.1.6.e

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Level:

Mode:

Explanatory Writing

Form:

Explanatory Paragraph

Theme:

Friends Work Nature Environment Home

English Language Arts:

Page 091 from Writers Express

Sample Persuasive Paragraph

This persuasive paragraph states a position and supports it with multiple reasons. Persuasive paragraphs also may evaluate a topic, focus on pros and cons, or advocate for a solution to a problem.

Once your students understand that persuasive writing provides reasons to convince the reader of a position, have them write their own persuasive paragraphs using one of these writing topics.

State Standard Reference:

LAFS Standard:

LAFS.4.RI.1.1

TEKS Standard:

110.6.b.9.D

NE ELA Standard:

LA 4.1.6.e

Related Resource Tags

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Level:

Writing Basics Persuasive Writing

Mode:

Form:

Persuasive Paragraph

English Language Arts:

Page 092 from Writers Express

Writing a Paragraph

This page provides the steps in the process of writing a paragraph. In prewriting, students need to understand the assignment and gather details. During writing, students need to develop a first draft. When they revise and edit their writing, students should improve the paragraph.

Have students revise and edit one of the paragraphs they have already written. Or, if you prefer, have students select a new writing topic and write a new paragraph following the guidelines on this page.

State Standard Reference:

LAFS Standard:

LAFS.4.W.2.4

TEKS Standard:

110.6.b.11.A

NE ELA Standard:

LA 4.2.2.a, LA 4.2.1.g, LA 4.2.1

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Level:

Writing Basics Narrative Writing Explanatory Writing Persuasive Writing

Mode:

Form:

Narrative Paragraph Explanatory Paragraph Persuasive Paragraph

English Language Arts:

Writing Process Prewriting Writing Revising Editing Qualities of Writing Ideas Structure Conventions

Page 093 from Writers Express

Adding Details

Use this page to give students an overview of the different types of details they can gather and use in their writing. The "Personal Details" work well for personal, descriptive, and narrative writing. The "Details from Other Sources" work well for explanatory and persuasive writing.

Have students review one of the paragraphs they have written and revise it, adding details that will strengthen the writing.

State Standard Reference:

LAFS Standard:

110.6.b.11.B.ii, 110.6.b.12.C

TEKS Standard:

NE ELA Standard:

LA 4.2.2, LA 4.2.2.b, LA 4.2.1.b

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Level:

Writing Basics Personal Writing Narrative Writing Explanatory Writing Persuasive Writing

Mode:

English Language Arts:

Qualities of Writing Ideas

Page 094 from Writers Express

Putting Things in Order

Help your students understand three basic ways to organize information, and how they relate to purpose:

Time order (narratives and process writing)
Order of location (descriptive and narrative writing)
Order of importance (explanatory and persuasive writing)

On the next page, you'll find transition words that can help organize details.

Have your students return to one of the paragraphs they have written and underline any transition word they used. What kind of order did they use to organize their details? If students' paragraphs don't contain enough transition words, have them add some.

State Standard Reference:

LAFS Standard:

110.6.b.11.B.i, 110.6.b.12.C

TEKS Standard:

NE ELA Standard:

LA 4.2.2, LA 4.2.1.b

Related Resource Tags

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Level:

Writing Basics Personal Writing Narrative Writing Explanatory Writing Persuasive Writing

Mode:

English Language Arts:

Page 095 from Writers Express

Transition Words

Suggest that your students flag this page so that they can find it whenever they are drafting a paragraph or essay. The transition words and phrases here can help them organize their details and create flow.

State Standard Reference:

LAFS Standard:

110.6.b.11.B.i, 110.6.b.12.C

TEKS Standard:

NE ELA Standard:

LA 4.2.2, LA 4.2.1.b

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Page 096 from Writers Express

Finding Paragraphs

Sometimes, students write and write and write without making paragraph breaks. If you have students like that, teach them this simple technique for finding where paragraph breaks should be. The next page offers a sample piece of writing that you can have students use to practice this skill.

State Standard Reference:

LAFS Standard:

LAFS.4.W.2.4

TEKS Standard:

110.6.b.11.A

NE ELA Standard:

LA 4.2.2.a, LA 4.2.1.g, LA 4.2.1

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Page 097 from Writers Express

Finding Paragraphs (Continued)

Use this page in conjunction with the previous page to help students break long chunks of text into digestible paragraphs.

State Standard Reference:

LAFS Standard:

LAFS.4.W.2.4

TEKS Standard:

110.6.b.11.A

NE ELA Standard:

LA 4.2.2.a, LA 4.2.1.g, LA 4.2.1

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Mode:

English Language Arts:

Page 098 from Writers Express

Building Paragraphs and Essays

Use this page to demonstrate how the three-part structure works in paragraphs and in essays. Both types of writing have a beginning, a middle, and an ending. Each of these parts has a different role to help the reader understand the ideas.

Point out to your students that a paragraph is a mini-essay, and an essay is a maxi-paragraph. Ask students if any of the paragraphs they wrote during this chapter could be turned into an essay.

State Standard Reference:

LAFS Standard:

110.6.b.11.A, 110.6.b.11.B.i, 110.6.b.12.C

TEKS Standard:

NE ELA Standard:

LA 4.2.2, LA 4.2.2.a, LA 4.2.2.b, LA 4.2.1.b

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Level:

Mode:

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