HOW TO WRITE A PARAGRAPH
Like we did in class together today!
STEP 1: Get a topic
STEP 2: Brainstorm anything you can think of around the topic
STEP 3: For your first sentence of the paragraph, ask a question about the topic.
Example: Why are maps important tools to humans?
Example: Have you ever wondered why everyone needs to celebrate their birthday?
STEP 4: For your second sentence of the paragraph, start with the TOPIC, the word ARE, and then write three things you think are true about the topic.
Example: Maps are navigation tools, helpful for learning about a location, and show scale of larger areas. (three things)
Example: People celebrate their birthdays because they are marking the passage of time, people like gathering with friends, and having celebrations are fun. (three things)
STEP 5: For each of those three things, write 1-2 sentences to add to your paragraph.
Example: Navigation tools like maps give you an overview of the area and allow you to travel to new places.
Example: Since the early ages, we have had a need to mark the passage of time, either with a calendar, a clock, or with special occasions. A birthday is a personal marker of time given it shows how long you have been on the planet and how much life experience you have had.
STEP 6: Write a concluding sentence. This sentence is what the reader walks away with. It is the “SO WHAT?” Why did you write this paragraph and what do you want us to think about the topic. It will be what the reader will remember most.
Example: Next time you are lost or in a country you are unfamiliar with, make sure you check out a map so you can find your way!
Example: On your next birthday, remember that your special day means more than just eating cake and having fun, because it also marks a special moment in your life!
STEP 7: Put it all together into one paragraph that is 7-8 sentences long. Make sure you indent at your first line. Give the paragraph a title.
STEP 8: Have someone edit your work. Make changes. Write a final draft. Put your name on it!!!
