Paragraph Writing

The Paragraph
A paragraph is a group of
sentences that develop one main
idea. The length of a paragraph
ranges from 7 to 15 sentences.
The length of a standard
paragraph in an exam essay is 5-
8 sentences.
Topic sentence:
- tell the main idea of the whole
paragraph;
- is usually the first sentence in the
paragraph;
- controls and limits the ideas that can be
discussed in a paragraph;
- has two parts: the topic and the
controlling idea;
- should not be too specific or too
general.
The controlling idea expresses
the focus of the paragraph and
the writer’s idea or attitude about
the topic.
The topic is the subject of the
paragraph.
Example: The colour yellow is
the colour of the mental activity.
The controlling idea limits or
controls your topic to one aspect
that you want to write about.
Example: The brown colour shows
a desire for stability.
Studying in a foreign country can
be a challenging experience.
There are several reasons why I
like my native town.
The controlling idea expresses
the focus of a paragraph and the
writer’s idea or attitude about the
topic.
There are several stages in
writing the topic sentence:
- brainstorming
- narrowing the topic(choosing the
focus/attitude to the topic)
- formulating the topic sentence
An example of narrowing down
the topic is provided below.
Television - Entertainment –
Reality shows – effects on the
young adults
Identify the topic and the controlling idea in the following
sentences.

Travelling is my favourite
pastime.
Life in a small town has several
advantages for me.
Television commercials can have
negative effects on children.
The kitchen space has varied
meanings in different cultures.
Support Sentences
Support sentences explain, elaborate,
extend and justify the topic sentence.
They include examples and clarifications
in support of the topic sentence.
Supporting sentences develop the topic
by directly relating to the controlling
idea. Support includes a) supporting
ideas and b) specific details such as
facts/ arguments, statistics, data,
examples, illustrations, reasons and
quotations
Concluding sentence
The concluding sentence is the
last sentence in a paragraph. Its
function is to remind the reader
of the focus of the paragraph.
This can be done in two ways:
- by providing a
hindsight(flashback) summary of
the main ideas developed in the
paragraph
- by rephrasing the topic sentence
Unity
A paragraph is unified when all
sentences relate to the main idea
expressed in the topic sentence
(consisting of the topic +
controlling idea). To achieve
unity:
write an effective outline/plan
(written in short noun phrases)
omit off-topic or irrelevant
sentences.
Coherence
Coherence is arrangement of
ideas into a logical order. To
achieve coherence:
- arrange ideas in logical order
going from general to specific
- use transitions
- use verbal bridges
- use clear method of organization
Logical ordering of ideas
The text is logically ordered when
the movement from one sentence
to the next is logical and smooth.
There should be no unexpected
illogical leaps, and each sentence
should flow smoothly into the
next one.
Transitions
Transition signals ‘are like traffic sign.’
They tell the reader about the movement
and direction of the argument. The reader
is informed whether a similar idea
follows (e.g. similarly, and, in addition), an
opposite idea is introduced (e.g. on the
other hand, but, in contrast), an example
is provided (e.g. for example, to
illustrate), results/effects are discussed
(e.g. therefore, as a result, thus) or
conclusion is drawn (e.g. in conclusion,
to sum up).
Transitional words and
expressions are used to link
ideas within a paragraph and
between paragraphs in a longer
piece of writing. Transitions are
classified by their function. Some
types of transitions include the
following:
To introduce and add
information: also, and, besides,
first, in addition, finally,
furthermore, moreover, next,
second, etc.
To give
examples/support/emphasis:
in other words, to put it
differently, in this case, for this
reason, in fact

Use of verbal bridges
Besides transitions, other means
that help to connect ideas in the
text are the following:
- repetition of key words
- use of synonyms
- use of pronouns
Clear Method of
Organization
To achieve coherence, supporting
ideas have to be organized using
one the following principles:
- emphatic order( from the least
important to the most important
idea or vice versa)
- time order (chronological
presentation of events)
- spatial order( organizing
information in order of space or
Internet
 The Internet has become really important for three main
reasons. First, it enables people to access more
information than ever before. That is, people can read
books, newspapers, or magazines online for free. Second,
thanks to the Internet, people can communicate with
others in every part of the world via social networking
websites like Facebook, WhatsApp, WeChat, Twitter,
Skype, Viber, Snapchat, LinkedIn, Reddit, etc. Third, the
Internet is a perfect tool to study and get certificates from
well-known top universities. In other words, now more
than ever, anyone can do free online courses in a variety
of subjects. In short, the Internet is, beyond doubt, an
essential and valuable tool nowadays.
A Good Friend
There are three qualities that I need to see in a
good friend. First, a good friend should not tell
lies. I need to trust him so that I can talk to him.
Second, a good friend should be there when I
need him. I should be able to find him near me
when I am in a bad mood or when I have a
problem. Finally, when it is necessary, he
should criticize me so that I can change my
undesirable behaviour or see where I am wrong.
In short, these three qualities are the basic
properties in a good friend.
Best Country
 There are three reasons why Canada is one of the
best countries in the world. First, Canada has an
excellent health care system. All Canadians have
access to medical services at a reasonable price.
Second, Canada has a high standard of
education. Students are taught by well-trained
teachers and are encouraged to continue studying
at university. Finally, Canada’s cities are clean
and efficiently managed. Canadian cities have
many parks and lots of space for people to live.
As a result, Canada is a desirable place to live.
There are three reasons why I chose
nursing as my profession. First, from a
young age, I’ve been drawn to helping
others. Nursing allows me to make a
tangible difference in people’s lives
during their most vulnerable
moments. Whether it’s comforting a
patient, administering medication, or
advocating for their well-being, the
opportunity to provide compassionate
care motivates me every day.
Second, nursing is a dynamic
field with a wide range of
specialties. Whether I’m working
in a hospital, community clinic, or
research setting, there’s always
room for growth and
specialization. The versatility of
nursing ensures that I’ll never be
bored, and I can continually learn
and adapt to new challenges.
Finally,nurses play a crucial role in
promoting public health. By educating
patients, preventing diseases, and
advocating for health policies, we contribute
to the overall well-being of communities.
Knowing that my work extends beyond
individual patients and contributes to a
healthier society is incredibly fulfilling.
Therefore, my passion for caring, the diverse
opportunities within nursing, and the chance
to impact public health all led me to choose
this noble profession.
Types of Paragraphs
Descriptive: Descriptive paragraphs give
vivid details of people, places, things or
ideas.
Narrative: Narrative paragraphs give
details of an event or events in the form of
a story.
Expository: Expository paragraphs give
facts or explain ideas in a nonfiction
format.
Persuasive: Persuasive paragraphs express
an opinion and try to convince readers that
this opinion is correct.
Title
A title gives the reader information about
what is in a book, magazine or paragraph.
Here are some rules to follow when you write
a title for your paragraph.
A good title is usually short. Sometimes it is
only one word. Titanic and Help are titles.
A good title is usually not a complete
sentence. It never has a full stop at the end.
A good title catches a reader’s interest. It
tells the reader about the main topic, but it
doesn’t tell about everything included in the
paragraph.
Essay Writing
The essay is a group of
paragraphs that develops one
central idea stated in the thesis
statement.
In an essay, the thesis statement
has the same function as the
topic sentence in a paragraph.
Introduction
Hook: general sentence to get the
reader’s attention
Background Information: more specific
ideas to provide background
information about the topic
Thesis statement: states what the
entire essay will be about. It has two
parts:
The first part informs about the topic;
the second part states the controlling
idea.
The controlling idea does the
following:
- expresses the writer’s attitude or
opinion
- gives reasons in the argument
- gives the plan of development of
the entire essay.
The thesis statement can be
undivided and divided:
The undivided thesis statement
states the topic but does not
present the main reasons why
the writer takes the position
discussed in the essay.
For example:
Topic Opinion
My country is a tourist attraction.
The divided thesis statement has
three parts:
- States the topic
- Presents the maid ideas/reasons
- Indicates the plan of development
- For example:
- Topic Opinion Plan
My country is a tourist attraction for
three reasons: beautiful nature,
hospitable people and good weather.
The Body
The body is the main part of the
essay that lies between the
introduction and the conclusion.
The body of a typical five-
paragraph essay consists of three
paragraphs.
The Concluding Paragraph
The concluding paragraph
summarises the ideas developed
in the entire essay.
A good conclusion:
- starts with a transitional word or
expression
- wraps up your essay by taking it
to a logical end
- restates the main points and/or
the main idea expressed in the
The Best Exercise
People need exercise to stay
healthy. Adults should exercise 20
minutes daily, but most people
do not. Activities like swimming,
lifting weights, and playing sports
are often inconvenient or too
expensive. The best type of
exercise is walking because it is
easy, convenient and usually
done outside.
First, walking is an ideal exercise
because it is easy. When exercise
is too difficult, people stop doing
it. However, when exercise is
simple, people often enjoy it and
continue to do it. Also, easy
activities cause fewer injuries and
less pain than hard activities.
Walking is great exercise because
it is simple and pleasant to do.
Secondly, walking is the best exercise
because it is convenient. A person
can walk anywhere-in the city,
country or mountains. Many other
forms of exercise require special
equipment or locations. For example,
swimming requires a pool, lifting
weights requires barbells and
benches. In a nutshell, walking can
be done anytime and anywhere
without special preparation.
Perhaps most importantly, walking is
a great activity because it is often
done outside. During exercise, the
body produces chemicals called
endorphins and serotonin, which
calm stress and make people feel
happy. Scientists found that people
who spend time outdoors in nature
feel happier than people who do not.
As a result, walking helps mental
and physical health.
Walking is an ideal exercise. It is
easier than many other sports. It
is also more convenient than
many other activities, as a person
can do it at almost any time or
place. Finally, walking is usually
done outside, which helps people
feel happy and less stressed. For
these reasons, everyone who
wants regular exercise should try
walking.
Genetically Modified Food
Today one of the biggest problems is
world hunger. Millions of people are
suffering from it. Scientists search for
ways to stop hunger and see
genetically modified(GM) food is a
means to prevent it. Despite the fact
that GM food can reduce world
hunger, it raises questions such as
possible negative effects on human
health, damage to the environment
and ability to survive in bad weather
conditions.
Firstof all, the effects of GM food on
human health still need to be
investigated. Some studies show that
GM can cause allergies with symptoms
such as sneezing and watery eyes.
Allergies in turn, can lead to asthma and
even death. There have also been
studies which show that GM foods can
be one of the causes of new types
cancer. Therefore, the factor of health
shows that GM food is not a simple
solution to the problem of world hunger.
GM food can not only have a negative
effect on human health but also on the
environment. Chemical materials from
GM crops can reach the soil and change
its structure. It has also been found that
pollens of GM plant confuse insects and
cause their destruction. For example,
having collected pollen from GM crops,
bees are not able to find the way back
to their hives. As a result, many farmers
are unwilling to grow GM crops.
Finally, research is being carried
out to determine whether GM
crops can survive in changing
weather conditions. There is not
enough evidence that GM crops
are stronger than ecological
crops. Again, a question arises
why a huge amount of money
should be spent on planting GM
crops if they may not survive in
rapidly changing weather
In conclusion, GM food is unlikely
to end world hunger because the
side effects of genetically
modified organisms are still to be
discovered. The effects of human
health, the environment and
plant durability can then be
estimated. Thus, other ways to
help people in need have also to
be considered.