Paragraph Writing

Writing is not an innate gift – it is a craft that must

be learned.
(Hugh Robertson)
Topic Sentence
 a complete sentence
 neither too general nor too specific
 two parts

Topic + controlling idea

Topic sentence

Gold, a precious metal, is prized for

two important characteristics.
Paragraph Structure
 Topic sentence
 Supporting sentences

specific details, examples, facts…

 Conclusive statement
Gold, a precious metal, is prized for two important
characteristics. First of all, gold has a lustrous beauty
that is resistant to corrosion. Therefore, it is suitable for
jewelry, coins and ornamental purposes. Gold never
needs to be polished and will remain beautiful forever.
For example, a Macedonian coin remains as
untarnished today as the day it was made 25 centuries
ago. Another important characteristic of gold is its
usefulness to industry and science. For many years, it
has been used in hundreds of industrial applications,
such as photography and dentistry. The most recent
use of gold is in astronauts’ suits. Astronauts wear
gold-plated heat shields for protection when they go
outside spaceships in space. Thus, gold is treasured not
only for its beauty but also for its utility.
Gold (supporting ideas)
I.Gold is prized for two characteristics
1. Beauty
1.1 jewelry
1.2 coins
1.2.1 Macedonian coin
1.3 ornamental purposes
2. Usefulness to
2.1 industry
2.1.1 photography
2.1.2 dentistry
2.2 science
2.2.1 astronaut suits
Topic sentence
1. American food is terrible.
2. Terrible American food.
3. American food is tasteless and greasy
because Americans use too many
canned, frozen, and prepackaged foods
and because everything is fried in oil or
butter.
4. American food is tasteless and greasy.
Topic vs Concluding sentence
Gold, a precious metal, is prized for two
important characteristics.

Thus, gold is treasured not only for its beauty

but also for its utility.
Cohesion
 Repetition of key nouns
 Use of consistent pronouns
 Transition signals
 Logical order
Key nouns
Gold, a precious metal, is prized for two important
characteristics. First of all, gold has a lustrous beauty
that is resistant to corrosion. Therefore, it is suitable for
jewelry, coins and ornamental purposes. Gold never
needs to be polished and will remain beautiful forever.
For example, a Macedonian coin remains as untarnished
today as the day it was made 25 centuries ago. Another
important characteristic of gold is its usefulness to
industry and science. For many years, it has been used
in hundreds of industrial applications, such as
photography and dentistry. The most recent use of gold
is in astronauts’ suits. Astronauts wear gold-plated heat
shields for protection when they go outside spaceships in
space. Thus, gold is treasured not only for its beauty but
also for its utility.
BE AWARE OF PRONOUNS!
 I put the book in the car and then left
it there all day.
- the car?
- the book?

 I put the book in the car and then left

the book there all day.
Pronouns
Gold, a precious metal, is prized for two important
characteristics. First of all, gold has a lustrous beauty
that is resistant to corrosion. Therefore, it is suitable for
jewelry, coins and ornamental purposes. Gold never
needs to be polished and will remain beautiful forever.
For example, a Macedonian coin remains as untarnished
today as the day it was made 25 centuries ago. Another
important characteristic of gold is its usefulness to
industry and science. For many years, it has been used
in hundreds of industrial applications, such as
photography and dentistry. The most recent use of gold
is in astronauts’ suits. Astronauts wear gold-plated heat
shields for protection when they go outside spaceships
in space. Thus, gold is treasured not only for its beauty
but also for its utility.
Transition signals
Gold, a precious metal, is prized for two important
characteristics. First of all, gold has a lustrous beauty
that is resistant to corrosion. Therefore, it is suitable for
jewelry, coins and ornamental purposes. Gold never
needs to be polished and will remain beautiful forever.
For example, a Macedonian coin remains as
untarnished today as the day it was made 25 centuries
ago. Another important characteristic of gold is its
usefulness to industry and science. For many years, it
has been used in hundreds of industrial applications,
such as photography and dentistry. The most recent use
of gold is in astronauts’ suits. Astronauts wear gold-
plated heat shields for protection when they go outside
spaceships in space. Thus, gold is treasured not only for
its beauty but also for its utility.
Adding cohesion
Adults tend to cherish soft values. Soft values are
family, health, and career satisfaction. Soft values
are hard to put a monetary value on. In contrast,
children take for granted soft values that apply to
their lives. Children put more importance on material
objects, such as a favourite toy. Material objects
become less important to children as they become
more interested in best friends.
(The paragraph lacks coherence)
Cohesion
Adults tend to cherish soft values that are hard to
evaluate monetarily. Such values include family,
health, and career satisfaction. In contrast, children
take these for granted and place more importance
on material objects, such as a favourite toy. Such
things become less important to them as interest in
relationships increases.
 Paragraph 1
Getting tattoos is a massive social trend; however, it
has both advantages and disadvantages. To begin with
the pros, tattoos are a form of art. Firstly, by getting
tattooed people get a chance to express their
individuality and to show who they truly are. For
instance, tattooing has been practiced across the world
for thousands of years now, tattoos have been used
mainly to express your religious beliefs. Nowadays,
tattoos can help you to find like-minded people who
has a similar attitude towards style. However, getting
tattoos has cons as well. You might feel like a social
outcast because some people think tattoos are weird;
furthermore, employers might consider you as too
eccentric so it can cause difficulty finding a job. Thus,
tattoos is a great form of self-expression, yet it might
make you less “understandable” to others.
 Paragraph 1
Getting tattoos is a massive social trend; however, it
has both advantages and disadvantages. To begin
with the pros, tattoos are a form of art. Firstly, by
getting tattooed people get a chance to express their
individuality and to show who they truly are. For
instance, tattooing has been practiced across the
world for thousands of years now, tattoos have
been used mainly to express your religious beliefs.
Nowadays, tattoos can help you to find like-minded
people who has a similar attitude towards style.
However, getting tattoos has cons as well. You
might feel like a social outcast because some
people think tattoos are weird. Furthermore,
employers might consider you as too eccentric so
it can cause difficulty finding a job. Thus, tattoos is
a great form of self-expression, yet it might make you
less understandable to others.
 Paragraph 2
Healthy living, useful way of life, which is based on two
most main features. First of all, diet is very important for
human health and disease resistance. Secondly,
exercising helps to stay fit, increases energy levels and
also higher sleep and relaxation quality. Healthy lifestyle
is one of the natural way to protect the body from
infectious diseases for example, when eating well
balanced food organism receives enough vitamins to
build strong immunity therefore possibility to get sick is
lower. Another healthy living consequence increased
working capacity because of the recreation after being
active. When doing sports human do not think of any
business, work or studies, body automatically focuses on
the technique of the exercise, in this of time mind rests.
Consequently, healthy living is often chosen lifestyle for
its assumed well-being and benefits of providing the
energy.
 Paragraph 2
Healthy living, useful way of life, which is based on two
most main features. First of all, diet is very important for
human health and disease resistance. Secondly,
exercising helps to stay fit, increases energy levels and
also higher sleep and relaxation quality. Healthy lifestyle
is one of the natural way to protect the body from
infectious diseases for example, when eating well
balanced food organism receives enough vitamins to
build strong immunity therefore possibility to get sick is
lower. Another healthy living consequence increased
working capacity because of the recreation after being
active. When doing sports human do not think of any
business, work or studies, body automatically focuses on
the technique of the exercise, in this of time mind rests.
Consequently, healthy living is often chosen lifestyle for
its assumed well-being and benefits of providing the
energy.
 Paragraph 3
Smartphone, a device, that makes all of our lives easier,
is appreciated for two main purposes. Primarily, it is a
communication tool for calls, messages, and video
chats. Lately, people tend to choose writing messages
over calling as new technology allows expressing one’s
thoughts in text as well as in ideograms called emoji,
photos and videos. Another prominent purpose of a
smartphone is to be used as a minicomputer. It
combines a calculator, a camera, a notepad, and other
programs, including applications for entertainment, such
as music, games and social media. The latter one is
becoming an inseparable part of personal image creation
and lifestyle, leading to increased focus on the
capabilities of a smartphone. Thus, smartphones are
valued not only for possibility to stay reachable but also
as a multi-tool gadget.
 Paragraph 3
Smartphone, a device, that makes all of our lives easier,
is appreciated for two main purposes. Primarily, it is a
communication tool for calls, messages, and video
chats. Lately, people tend to choose writing messages
over calling as new technology allows expressing one’s
thoughts in text as well as in ideograms called emoji,
photos and videos. Another prominent purpose of a
smartphone is to be used as a minicomputer. It
combines a calculator, a camera, a notepad, and other
programs, including applications for entertainment, such
as music, games and social media. The latter one is
becoming an inseparable part of personal image creation
and lifestyle, leading to increased focus on the
capabilities of a smartphone. Thus, smartphones are
valued not only for possibility to stay reachable but also
as a multi-tool gadget.
Summary
Structure of a paragraph
• topic sentence
• developing sentences
• conclusive statement

Means of cohesion