Effective Paragraph Effective Paragraph OrganizationOrganization

The parts of a paragraphThe parts of a paragraph

Parts of a ParagraphParts of a Paragraph

The Main Idea (not actually part of The Main Idea (not actually part of the written paragraph)the written paragraph)

The Topic SentenceThe Topic Sentence Supporting SentencesSupporting Sentences The “Clincher Sentence”The “Clincher Sentence”

The Main IdeaThe Main Idea

Is the central focus of the paragraph.Is the central focus of the paragraph. (not actually part of the written (not actually part of the written

paragraph)paragraph)– Ex. Differences among North American Ex. Differences among North American

Indian tribes.Indian tribes.

The Topic SentenceThe Topic Sentence

A single sentence that states the main idea.A single sentence that states the main idea. Often found in the first or second sentence Often found in the first or second sentence

(sometimes following a catchy, inviting (sometimes following a catchy, inviting sentence)sentence)

Ex. “In the past forty years, Ex. “In the past forty years, anthropologists have done some digging anthropologists have done some digging into the the life of Native Americans and into the the life of Native Americans and discovered a bewildering variety of cultures discovered a bewildering variety of cultures and societies beyond anything the and societies beyond anything the schoolbooks have taught.”schoolbooks have taught.”

Supporting SentencesSupporting Sentences

Support or prove the topic sentence Support or prove the topic sentence by adding detail.by adding detail.– Ex. “Some lived in caves, others in Ex. “Some lived in caves, others in

tepees of bison skins, others in cabins.”tepees of bison skins, others in cabins.” Details normally take the form of:Details normally take the form of:

Supporting Sentence DetailsSupporting Sentence Details

Details normally take the form of:Details normally take the form of:– Sensory DetailsSensory Details: images of sight, sound, : images of sight, sound,

taste, smell, and texture.taste, smell, and texture.

Supporting Sentence DetailsSupporting Sentence Details

Details normally take the form of:Details normally take the form of:– Facts or StatisticsFacts or Statistics

Supporting Sentence DetailsSupporting Sentence Details

Details normally take the form of:Details normally take the form of:– Examples: Examples: specific instances, or specific instances, or

illustrations of a general idea.illustrations of a general idea.

Supporting Sentence DetailsSupporting Sentence Details

Details normally take the form of:Details normally take the form of:– Anecdotes: Anecdotes: Little stories that illustrate Little stories that illustrate

the main ideathe main idea

The “Clencher Sentence”The “Clencher Sentence”

Final sentence that emphasizes or Final sentence that emphasizes or summarizes the main idea.summarizes the main idea.– Ex. “In short, there was a great diversity Ex. “In short, there was a great diversity

of Indian nations, speaking over five of Indian nations, speaking over five hundred languages.”hundred languages.”

Sometimes is written in a bold or Sometimes is written in a bold or clever way, to close a thought with clever way, to close a thought with some pizazz.some pizazz.