How to write good and effective paragraphs

1. The Building Block of Writing
Grunge Textures, & Flickr (n.d.). Brick with Black Mortar [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013
http://www.flickr.com/photos/grungetextures/4132752889/sizes/s/in/photostream/

2. The Importance of a Good
Paragraph
 Paragraph = the building block of writing
 Work together to make effective essays
 Without them, our essays would fall
apart.
Donna62, & Flickr (n.d.). Replica of First Brick House West of Rocky Mountains [Photograph].
Retrieved June 10, 2013 from
http://www.flickr.com/photos/disneyite/2748573870/sizes/s/in/photostream
Grunge Textures, & Flickr (n.d.). Brick with Black Mortar [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013

3. What is a paragraph?
 A paragraph is a
group of sentences
sharing and
explaining a
complete thought.
 Sentences should
be about the same
topic.
Kehrig, G. (n.d.). Paragraphs and Hamburger Metaphor [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013
from http://www.flickr.com/photos/looking_and_learning/6216415392/sizes/s/in/photostream/

4. What does a good paragraph
look like?
 Debatable
 Good rule: 6 to 12 sentences
 Remember, the sentences should be
related.
Jjpacres, & Flickr (n.d.). Writing [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jjpacres/3293117576/sizes/s/in/photostream/

5. The Sandwich Analogy
The Casual Paragraph The Academic Paragraph
Bucking Bull, & Flickr (n.d.). Bucking Bull Works Burger [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013
http://www.flickr.com/photos/buckingbull/3386325673/sizes/s/in/photostream/
Cl_03, & Flickr (n.d.). Ham and Cheese Sandwich [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cl_03/8538204017/sizes/s/in/photostream/

6. The Parts of a Paragraph
Bucking Bull, & Flickr (n.d.). Bucking Bull Works Burger [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013
http://www.flickr.com/photos/buckingbull/3386325673/sizes/s/in/photostream/

7. The Topic Sentence
 Important
 Usually one sentence
 Contains the topic and main idea
 Controls the content of the rest of the
paragraph
Bucking Bull, & Flickr (n.d.). Bucking Bull Works Burger [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013
http://www.flickr.com/photos/buckingbull/3386325673/sizes/s/in/photostream/
Williamfehrphoto, & Flickr (n.d.). Isolated Hamburger Bun [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 20
http://www.flickr.com/photos/williamfehrphotography/8881226389/sizes/s/in/photostream/

8. The Body Sentences
 The Majority of your Paragraph
 At least 4 sentences
 Share the Main Ideas
 Give Details
Bucking Bull, & Flickr (n.d.). Bucking Bull Works Burger [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013
http://www.flickr.com/photos/buckingbull/3386325673/sizes/s/in/photostream/
Williamfehrphoto, & Flickr (n.d.). Burger Patty [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from
http://www.flickr.com/photos/williamfehrphotography/8881730906/sizes/s/in/photostream/

9. The Transitions
 The Glue
 Makes sentences flow
 Keeps the paragraph from sounding
robotic
Bucking Bull, & Flickr (n.d.). Bucking Bull Works Burger [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2
http://www.flickr.com/photos/buckingbull/3386325673/sizes/s/in/photostream/
Davidson, S., & Flickr (n.d.). Condiments [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from h
ttp://www.flickr.com/photos/susannedavidson/7111286157/sizes/s/in/photostream/
S., I., & Flickr (n.d.). Curious Robot [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from h
ttp://www.flickr.com/photos/81657830@N05/7489691810/sizes/s/in/photostream/

10. The Concluding Sentence
 Completes the thought
 Finishes the paragraph
 Answers “So What?”
Bucking Bull, & Flickr (n.d.). Bucking Bull Works Burger [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 201
http://www.flickr.com/photos/buckingbull/3386325673/sizes/s/in/photostream/
JasperYue, & Flickr (n.d.). Gift Bow [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasperyue/1961590799/sizes/s/in/photostream
Williamfehrphoto, & Flickr (n.d.). Isolated Hamburger Bun [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 20
http://www.flickr.com/photos/williamfehrphotography/8881226389/sizes/s/in/photostream/

11. Common Mistakes
 Road Signs
 “I am going to be explaining _________”
 “So now you can see _________”
 “This is the part where I explain
__________”
 Forgetting to conclude
 Repeating
MyCELLmyTERMS, & Flickr (n.d.). 3 Common Mistakes [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013
from http://www.flickr.com/photos/mycellmyterms/6638795337/sizes/s/in/photostream

12. Checklist
 Plan ahead
 Narrow your topic
 Brainstorm
 Cut the fat
 Finalize topic
sentence
 Answer “So What?”
 Edit and Proofread
Irinakostyuk1, & Flickr (n.d.). Checklist [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30358826@N03/5026729965/sizes/s/in/photostream

13. Your turn!
Bucking Bull, & Flickr (n.d.). Bucking Bull Works Burger [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013
http://www.flickr.com/photos/buckingbull/3386325673/sizes/s/in/photostream/

14. References
Bucking Bull, & Flickr (n.d.). Bucking Bull Works Burger [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from
http://www.flickr.com/photos/buckingbull/3386325673/sizes/s/in/photostream/
Cl_03, & Flickr (n.d.). Ham and Cheese Sandwich [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cl_03/8538204017/sizes/s/in/photostream/
Davidson, S., & Flickr (n.d.). Condiments [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from
http://www.flickr.com/photos/susannedavidson/7111286157/sizes/s/in/photostream/
Donna62, & Flickr (n.d.). Replica of First Brick House West of Rocky Mountains [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013
from http://www.flickr.com/photos/disneyite/2748573870/sizes/s/in/photostream/
Grunge Textures, & Flickr (n.d.). Brick with Black Mortar [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from
http://www.flickr.com/photos/grungetextures/4132752889/sizes/s/in/photostream/
Irinakostyuk1, & Flickr (n.d.). Checklist [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30358826@N03/5026729965/sizes/s/in/photostream/
JasperYue, & Flickr (n.d.). Gift Bow [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jasperyue/1961590799/sizes/s/in/photostream/
Jjpacres, & Flickr (n.d.). Writing [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jjpacres/3293117576/sizes/s/in/photostream/
Kehrig, G. (n.d.). Paragraphs and Hamburger Metaphor [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from
http://www.flickr.com/photos/looking_and_learning/6216415392/sizes/s/in/photostream/
MyCELLmyTERMS, & Flickr (n.d.). 3 Common Mistakes [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mycellmyterms/6638795337/sizes/s/in/photostream/
S., I., & Flickr (n.d.). Curious Robot [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from
http://www.flickr.com/photos/81657830@N05/7489691810/sizes/s/in/photostream/
Williamfehrphoto, & Flickr (n.d.). Burger Patty [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from
http://www.flickr.com/photos/williamfehrphotography/8881730906/sizes/s/in/photostream/
Williamfehrphoto, & Flickr (n.d.). Isolated Hamburger Bun [Photograph]. Retrieved June 10, 2013 from
http://www.flickr.com/photos/williamfehrphotography/8881226389/sizes/s/in/photostream/