The Art of Writing Paragraphs

Purposeful Paragraphs

Writing a strong paragraph is crucial in explaining important ideas. It is also the foundation for writing essays and other longer responses. Finally, it is important that you write well-developed paragraphs on the Citywide ELA test.

Writing a paragraph is like assembling a delicious peanut butter (or sunflower butter if you are allergic like my son is) and jelly sandwich. There should be a lot to bite into. Here are the ingredients:

1. Top slice of bread (like cinnamon raisin):

Start the paragraph with the main idea, or the topic sentence. What point do you want to make? This point should not be an obvious observation or fact. It should be an inference, interpretation, or connection. Also, if the paragraph is in a longer response, the topic sentence should also include a transitional word or phrase.

2. Layer of peanut butter on top slice:

Give context. Set up the quote by giving the reader background about who is speaking and what is happening.

3. Middle layer of jam (I like strawberry):

Provide quote/evidence that best supports your main idea. Make sure the quote is correctly incorporated into the paragraph.

4. Another layer of peanut butter on the other slice of bread: Elaborate on quote. Explain what it means and how it relates to your main idea. Go deeply into the layers of meaning.

5. The bottom slice of bread: Conclude the paragraph. The final sentence should complete the explanation of the main idea. If there is a paragraph after, the final sentence should smoothly flow into the next.

• Remember, the outer layers of bread are crucial to keep all the yumminess contained.  
• For further reading: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/606/01/

Here is an example of a strong paragraph on Charlotte’s Web:

One problem that Wilbur faces is being lonely and bored. In the beginning of the book when he had just moved to the Zuckermans’ barn, he had no friends and Fern was not always around to visit him. He didn’t have anything to do in the barn: “He didn’t feel like going to sleep, he didn’t feel like digging, he was tired of standing still, tired of lying down. 'I’m less than two months old and I’m tired of living'” (16). This emphasizes his boredom and shows that what Wilbur really needs is to be loved. Unlike other young children, he has no parents or family to love and nurture him. Also, he is new to the barn and hasn’t had time to make friends yet. It is understandable that he is so lonely.