Steps for Writing a Paragraph

Answer these planning questions

Step #1

Topic

What or who am I writing about?

Purpose

Why am I writing about this? What is my point?

Audience
Type

Who will be reading it? How does that affect how I write?

What type of paragraph will work best, considering all these

things?

Step #2

Collect/brainstorm information and ideas

For a
paragraph
that is

Descriptive

Narrative

You need to find/think of

sensory detailshow things look, feel, sound, smell and

taste
details about the situationhow it began, what happened
in the middle, how it ended

Persuasive

facts, evidence and examples to back up or prove your

opinion

Expository

a list of details, facts or steps to explain the idea or

process

Knowledge and Employability Studio

English Language Arts
Alberta Education, Alberta, Canada (www.LearnAlberta.ca)

Writing/Paragraph Writing/
Steps for Writing a Paragraph

1/2
2006

Step #3

Put your ideas in order/fill in a planner

Basic Paragraph
A basic paragraph of any type begins with an introductory sentence
to open the topic. It is followed by three or four supporting sentences
that explain the idea more or provide evidence for the topic, and a
concluding sentence that sums up and closes the topic.
Examples of linking words
that show time order:

Time Order Paragraph

Narrative, descriptive and expository
paragraphs can all be written in time
order. This means that the events or
steps are told in the order that they
happen.

when, first, second, next,

then, after, later, until, at,
finally, as soon as,
meanwhile
Examples of linking words
that show place order:

Place Order Paragraph

above, below, between,

on, over, near, under, by,
against, inside, through

Descriptive and expository paragraphs

can be written in place order. This
means that the details are described in
the order that they are found (from
top to bottom, left to right, outside to
inside).
Importance Order Paragraph

Persuasive and expository paragraphs, along with narrative paragraphs

that tell news stories, can all be written in importance order. This means
that the paragraph begins with the most important or main idea and the
supporting details are organized from the most to least important.

Step #4

Write a first draft

Step #5

Revise and edit the first draft

Step #6

Write a final draft

Knowledge and Employability Studio

English Language Arts
Alberta Education, Alberta, Canada (www.LearnAlberta.ca)

Writing/Paragraph Writing/
Steps for Writing a Paragraph

2/2
2006