Paragraphing

A paragraph contains three parts:

1. Topic sentence: Topic and your main idea

2. Supporting sentences

3. A concluding sentence

1. Topic Sentence:

· Topic + Controlling Idea (Your main idea)

· Is not too broad, narrow or vague

· Tells the reader what to think, know, or do

2. Supporting Sentences: Provide support for your topic sentence:

· Narrate: A short “story” that illustrates your main idea

· Describe: Sensory details to illustrate your main idea

· Explain: Examples, compare/contrast, show cause/effect

· Argue: Reasons why reader should agree with main idea

3. Concluding Sentence: Could do any of the following:

· Remind the reader of your overall main idea

· Tell the reader what to do with this new information

· Make the reader think about what you have said (apply message to him/herself)