Paragraph Writing

There are FIVE components to a strong paragraph.

• Topic Sentence• Supporting Details• Three Es of Explanation

•Examples•Elaborations•Evidence

• Concluding Sentence• Transitions

Topic Sentences•Topic sentences introduce the information in your paragraph. This sentence serves to state the topic clearly for your reader.

• I did many awesome things over my summer vacation.

Supporting Details• Reason or fact that supports the topic sentence

• Transition word(s) introduce and CONNECT the supporting detail sentences within the paragraph

• During the beginning of my break, I went to Michigan and spent time with my friends from college.

Three Es of Explanation• Elaborations

•Provide more detail

• Evidence•Provides facts – data and/or statistics

• Examples•Gives clear, specific and relevant examples to explain the supporting detail

• Transitions are also used to connect multiple Es

Three Es of Explanation• Elaborations

• Provide more detail

• Evidence• Provides facts – data and/or statistics

• Examples• Gives clear, specific and relevant examples to explain the detailSeeing my college roommate was

awesome as we spent time reminiscing and laughing about all the crazy things that happened. We also went to a Tigers’ game downtown and had lunch in Windsor, Canada.

Transitions• Transitions are words and phrases that

help connect one idea to the next• Transitions also show relationships in a

paragraph (or sentence) between the main idea and the support the author gives

• Transitions can also be helpful in explaining the relationship of time

• First, second, third

• Following• For example• furthermore

• Also• Next• In addition• finally

Concluding Sentence• The concluding sentence sums up the

ideas of your paragraph.• You should move beyond your topic

sentence and leave your reader with a strong understanding of the purpose of your paragraph

Summer vacation was a great time to relax and have fun, but the best part was definitely spending time with family and friends in Michigan.

A strong paragraph has…• A clear and interesting Topic Sentence that

introduces your paragraph’s focus and grabs the attention of your reader

• Your paragraph should have at least 3 Supporting Details that clearly relate to your topic

• Each Supporting Detail should have to at least 2 Explanations (examples and/or elaborations and/or evidence) – this means your paragraph will have at least 6 total

• Supporting Details and Explanations should be connected using transitions

• The paragraph should end in a clear Concluding Sentence that summarizes the information and purpose of the paragraph

Paragraph Outline

• Topic Sentence• Supporting Detail

• E• E

• Supporting Detail• E• E

• Supporting Detail• E• E

• Concluding Sentence

Don’t forge to connect supporting details and Es with transitions!!!

My camping trip was a total disaster! The weather was less than suitable for even a bear. I hardly slept that night because it was so cold. I was also afraid that my tent would collapse under the foot of snow that fell and collected on the roof of the tent. As if that wasn’t bad enough, we had no access to food. We planned on fishing for our food, but the lake had frozen over. We tried to hunt for food, but the animals had taken shelter from the falling snow and were impossible to find. Lastly, we got lost on the way back. Because the unexpected snow had fallen, we could not find the trail we used to get to our camp. It will be a long time before I will want to go camping again after this horrible experience.

My camping trip was a total disaster! The weather was less than suitable for even a bear. I hardly slept that night because it was so cold. I was also afraid that my tent would collapse under the foot of snow that fell and collected on the roof of the tent. As if that wasn’t bad enough, we had no access to food. We planned on fishing for our food, but the lake had frozen over. We tried to hunt for food, but the animals had taken shelter from the falling snow and were impossible to find. Lastly, we got lost on the way back. Because the unexpected snow had fallen, we could not find the trail we used to get to our camp. It will be a long time before I will want to go camping again after this horrible experience.

My camping trip was a total disaster! The weather was less than suitable for even a bear. I hardly slept that night because it was so cold. I was also afraid that my tent would collapse under the foot of snow that fell and collected on the roof of the tent. As if that wasn’t bad enough, we had no access to food. We planned on fishing for our food, but the lake had frozen over. We tried to hunt for food, but the animals had taken shelter from the falling snow and were impossible to find. Lastly, we got lost on the way back. Because the unexpected snow had fallen, we could not find the trail we used to get to our camp. It will be a long time before I will want to go camping again after this horrible experience.

My camping trip was a total disaster! The weather was less than suitable for even a bear. I hardly slept that night because it was so cold. I was also afraid that my tent would collapse under the foot of snow that fell and collected on the roof of the tent. As if that wasn’t bad enough, we had no access to food. We planned on fishing for our food, but the lake had frozen over. We tried to hunt for food, but the animals had taken shelter from the falling snow and were impossible to find. Lastly, we got lost on the way back. Because the unexpected snow had fallen, we could not find the trail we used to get to our camp. It will be a long time before I will want to go camping again after this horrible experience.

My camping trip was a total disaster! The weather was less than suitable for even a bear. I hardly slept that night because it was so cold. I was also afraid that my tent would collapse under the foot of snow that fell and collected on the roof of the tent. As if that wasn’t bad enough, we had no access to food. We planned on fishing for our food, but the lake had frozen over. We tried to hunt for food, but the animals had taken shelter from the falling snow and were impossible to find. Lastly, we got lost on the way back. Because the unexpected snow had fallen, we could not find the trail we used to get to our camp. It will be a long time before I will want to go camping again after this horrible experience.

My camping trip was a total disaster! The weather was less than suitable for even a bear. I hardly slept that night because it was so cold. I was also afraid that my tent would collapse under the foot of snow that fell and collected on the roof of the tent. As if that wasn’t bad enough, we had no access to food. We planned on fishing for our food, but the lake had frozen over. We tried to hunt for food, but the animals had taken shelter from the falling snow and were impossible to find. Lastly, we got lost on the way back. Because the unexpected snow had fallen, we could not find the trail we used to get to our camp. It will be a long time before I will want to go camping again after this horrible experience.

My camping trip was a total disaster! The weather was less than suitable for even a bear. I hardly slept that night because it was so cold. I was also afraid that my tent would collapse under the foot of snow that fell and collected on the roof of the tent. As if that wasn’t bad enough, we had no access to food. We planned on fishing for our food, but the lake had frozen over. We tried to hunt for food, but the animals had taken shelter from the falling snow and were impossible to find. Lastly, we got lost on the way back. Because the unexpected snow had fallen, we could not find the trail we used to get to our camp. It will be a long time before I will want to go camping again after this horrible experience.

My camping trip was a total disaster! The weather was less than suitable for even a bear. I hardly slept that night because it was so cold. I was also afraid that my tent would collapse under the foot of snow that fell and collected on the roof of the tent. As if that wasn’t bad enough, we had no access to food. We planned on fishing for our food, but the lake had frozen over. We tried to hunt for food, but the animals had taken shelter from the falling snow and were impossible to find. Lastly, we got lost on the way back. Because the unexpected snow had fallen, we could not find the trail we used to get to our camp. It will be a long time before I will want to go camping again after this horrible experience.

My camping trip was a total disaster! The weather was less than suitable for even a bear. I hardly slept that night because it was so cold. I was also afraid that my tent would collapse under the foot of snow that fell and collected on the roof of the tent. As if that wasn’t bad enough, we had no access to food. We planned on fishing for our food, but the lake had frozen over. We tried to hunt for food, but the animals had taken shelter from the falling snow and were impossible to find. Lastly, we got lost on the way back. Because the unexpected snow had fallen, we could not find the trail we used to get to our camp. It will be a long time before I will want to go camping again after this horrible experience.

Your Turn!

• Highlight the paragraph you were given.

Topic SentenceSupporting Details

Explanations-3 Es Conclusion

• Circle the transitions.

There are a few favorite menu items at the Italian restaurant in town. The first favorite on the menu is the buffalo chicken pizza. The sauce is thick so that it doesn’t run off the crust and down your arm as you eat it. It is also spicy enough for those who like fire hot sauces but not too spicy for those who prefer mild hot sauces. The chicken is perhaps the best part; it is not the processed chicken you normally get. Pulled chicken is mixed in with the sauce they spread on the pizza crust. Add a little blue cheese dressing and you’ve got a buffalo pizza that is perhaps the best in the county. Next on the favorites menu is the turkey hoagie. Made on freshly baked Italian rolls, these sandwiches are stuffed with roasted turkey meat rather than the sliced lunchmeat you usually find on a hoagie. These hoagies are in a class of their own! Last of the top three menu items is the fruit and veggie salad. This salad is made with a variety of healthy greens, topped with colorful strawberries, mandarin oranges and blueberries. This salad is completed with a sprinkling of cheese crumbles and drizzling of a delicious house dressing. There are other top-notch dishes, but these three are favorites within our community.