Paragraphs

Clincher Sentences

Can be particularly effective in persuasive paragraphs

Spatial Order

Organize your writing spatially when you want to describe the appearance of a person, an animal, a place, or an object

Logical Order

Organize your writing to give information in the order that a reader needs to know it

When a paragraph is _____ and ______, each word, phrase, and sentence in it works together to present the ideas in a sequence that makes sense to the reader.

Organized......Coherent

Paragraphs that inform, explain, or persuade have ____ when all their sentences focus on a single main idea.

Unity ( or are unified )

Transitions

Any word or phrase (group of words) used to move from one idea to the next, one sentence to the next, or one paragraph to the next.

Develop or support a paragraph's main idea with the following kinds of details:

Facts, statistics, quotations, definitions, anecdotes or incidents, examples, reasons, and comparisons

Use _____ ____ to appeal to the reader's five senses ( sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste ) and to create a main impression or mood

Sensory Details

Order of Importance

State the least important reasons and details first, and end with the most important -- or the reverse

Logical Order

Use common sense to decide which details to group together or where to insert background or explanatory information

Descriptive Paragraph

When you are describing the appearance of a person, an animal, a place, of an object, use the following suggestions. Use sensory details to appeal to the reader's five senses ( sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste ) and to create a main impression or mood. Use spatial order to present the sensory details from left to right, top to bottom, near to flat -- or in reverse. Use appropriate transitions.

Narrative Paragraph

When you are telling a true or fictional story, use the following suggestions. Use specific details to help make the reader an eyewitness to events. Use chronological order ( time order ) to relate events in the order in which they occur. Use appropriate transitions.

Persuasive Paragraph

When you are trying, in a single paragraph, to convince someone that your opinion is correct or to persuade someone to take action, use the following suggestions. Begin with a sentence that is an attention grabber. Include a thesis statement, or claim, that clearly expresses your point of view. Supply reasons and other evidence ( facts, statistics, anecdotes, quotations ) to support your opinion. Arrange the supporting details in order of importance -- from most to least important, or the reverse. Include a call to action that tells the reader what to do.

Expository

When you are writing an exposition, you are explaining or informing. Exposition includes comparing or contrasting; explaining cause and effect; defining, classifying, or analyzing; and giving instructions or explaining the steps in a process. For any of these specific purposes, use the following suggestions. State your main idea as early and as clearly as possible. Use facts, examples, quotations, statistics, and definitions and supporting details to develop the main idea. Present the details or the steps in logical order - in a way that makes sense to the reader. Use appropriate transitions.

Transitions ( Position )

above across after before behind between beyond here in front of inside next to outside over under

Transitions ( Order of Importance )

above all to begin to conclude equally important more (most) important first second third

Transitions ( Cause-Effect )

accordingly as a result because consequently if...then for since so so that therefore

Transitions ( Time )

after afterward already before finally following first later next soon then

Transitions ( Similar Ideas )

also and just as like as similarly equally important too likewise

Transitions ( Contrast )

although however in contrast nevertheless on the contrary on the other hand but still though unlike

A topic sentence

can appear anywhere in a paragraph

A paragraph that starts with a topic sentence may end with a ________ _______ that restates or summarizes the main idea.

clincher sentence

Spatial Order

describe details in an orderly way

Chronological Order

effective for writing about a historical event and for explaining steps in a process

Transitions ( Examples )

for example for instance in addition in other words namely that is

Transitions ( Emphasis )

for this reason moreover most important again in fact

A topic sentence

introduces and sometimes even organizes everything that follows

Coherent

logically connected; making sense

Order of Importance

organize your writing in order of importance when you are trying to persuade your audience

Chronological Order

organize your writing in time order when you want to tell about events in the order in which they occurred

What are the details that appeal to the reader's five senses?

sensory details

A topic sentence

states the main ideas of a paragraph

Elaboration

the process of adding details that support the main idea