WRITING WORKSHOP 1: HOW TO WRITE A STRUCTURED PARAGRAPH

Learning outcome: Students will be able to identify the parts of a paragraph and write a structured paragraph.

I. What is a paragraph? Fill in the gaps and find out the definition of a paragraph:

A paragraph is a group of s______________ that are placed together and relate to the same
t__________ or i______________.

II. What are the parts of a paragraph?

A well-structured paragraph should have the following parts:

1. What is a topic sentence?

A topic sentence tells the m_______ i_________ of the paragraph as well as what the author wants to say
about the topic.

The topic sentence has two parts:

The invention of the light bulb changed the world in different ways.
Subject Controlling idea

Identify and underline the Subject and Controlling ideas in the following topic sentences:

a. There are benefits to making your own ice cream.

b. Easter is my favourite holiday for several reasons.
c. Dogs can help you live longer.
d. The most effective and most injury-free aerobic exercise you can do is swimming.
e. Cats are good pets for several reasons.

English III – 2018-02: Writing Workshop 1 (Student’s material) 1/4

 2. What are the supporting sentences?

They come after the t____________ s_________________, making up the body of a paragraph. They give
d_____________ to develop and support the main idea of the paragraph. You should give supporting facts, details
and examples.

3. What is the concluding sentence?

It closes or finishes the paragraph and should be related to the topic sentence. The concluding sentence can
r_____________ the topic sentence in other words and it can s_________________ the information.

Example:

College is very important Topic sentence

You learn how to Teachers teach you how You learn how to Suporting sentences
study. to organize your work. use computers.

Concluding sentence (repeating

It is important to go to college. topic sentence)

or

So it is important because you learn to study, to Concluding sentence (as a

organize your work and to use computers. summary)

College is very important.

First, you learn how to study.
Students become aware of the
importance of study. Second,
teachers teach you how to
organize your work. Finally, you
learn how to use computers
because they become an essential
tool during your college life. In
conclusion going to college is
important because you learn to
study, to organize your work and
to use computers.

English III – 2018-02: Writing Workshop 1 (Student’s material) 2/4

 III. What are transition words?
They are words and phrases used to help organize paragraphs. They connect ideas together creating sequence and
flow to the writing. These are some of the most common transition words divided into four categories:

Concluding
First detail Middle detail Last detail
sentence
• First • Also • Finally • In conclusion
• For example • Next • Last • To summarize
• To start • Plus • Last but not least • As you can see
• To begin • In addition
• Second
• Third

IV. Task

1. Write the controlling ideas for the following subjects:

a. Learning English __________________________________________________________

b. Mobiles phones in class ____________________________________________________
c. Fast food ________________________________________________________________
d. Summer _________________________________________________________________

2. Choose your favourite Subject and complete the following chart:

English III – 2018-02: Writing Workshop 1 (Student’s material) 3/4

 3. Join your ideas using transition words and create a structured paragraph.

_______________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________________

English III – 2018-02: Writing Workshop 1 (Student’s material) 4/4