How to write a paragraph
An overview for writing teachers

Until they know how to write a paragraph, students don't feel they are doing "real writing," even though the hardest part of writing is the preparation.

Below is an overview of concepts and ideas that you need to teach paragraph writing, with particular emphasis on so-called expository paragraphs, which are paragraphs developed using the thesis-and-support strategy characteristic of persuasive essays.

Essential paragraphs

Learning how to write a body paragraph is the most important part of learning to write persuasive-pattern essays because the body paragraphs contain the evidence to support the thesis.

The introduction paragraph prepares the reader to understand the thesis, which is the last sentence of the introduction.

The conclusion paragraph lets the reader know the writer has finished.

Body paragraph organization

In the persuasive pattern, body paragraphs typically begin with a topic sentence that tells what the paragraph is about. If the topic sentence isn't the opening sentence of a body paragraph, it is most likely to be the last sentence.

Transitional words and phrases are like road signs in writing. They show readers how one idea is like or unlike the previous one.

Linking devices are the glue that makes sentences into paragraphs. They include such things as repeating important words, using synonyms for important words, and using pronouns as substitutes for important words.

Transitional expressions and linking devices may be combined to create transition sentences.

When you teach how to write a paragraph, teach linking devices. Links are the most basic way for students to achieve reasonable fluency.

Summary is best way to give evidence

Evidence is information that comes from an identifiable source. Evidence is only as reliable as its source.

Quotation is the least desirable of all methods of using sources. It can easily lead to plagiarism and copyright violations.

The preferred way of presenting evidence is to summarize it. Writing a summary means condensing a bucketful of ideas so they fit in a teaspoon.

The best time for writers to summarize is when they are doing research. The best summary size is a single sentence.

If the order of ideas in the original work is important, writers may paraphrase, summarizing the author's ideas in their words and following the same order as the original. Paraphrase is rarely necessary.

Using citations, writers thank their sources for letting them use evidence and document where readers can find the original material.

Evidence presentation in academic writing is a three-step process that students are familiar with from everyday conversation.

Like all other components of writing skills, paragraph writing needs to be taught repeatedly in short sessions over many months.

Don't forget to use reading comprehension activities and grammar study as part of that package to help you teach how to write a paragraph.