Introduction to the Paragraph - Notes

A paragraph for a school assignment has to be thoughtfully and carefully

constructed. It should never be constructed as you write, but must be planned
before writing. Contrary to what you may have learned in previous grades, a
paragraph in grade 9 should be at least 15 sentences long. In order to plan the
paragraph, you need to know the parts of the paragraph:
1. Introduction
This serves two functions: (1) to make clear to the reader what your topic is, and (2)
to make clear what your position or opinion is on that topic. Generally this last is
written in something called a thesis statement.
2. Body
This part of the paragraph is actually made up of two things: (1) your proof
(sometimes reasons for your opinion) and (2) explanation of the proof. This second
one is harder than the first, because sometimes you think that your proof is enough.
But you need to explain why your reasons or proof support your opinion, and how
you do this can vary greatly with the topic of the paragraph. By the way, the
explanation is often the part most lacking in paragraphs and essays.
3. Conclusion
This is the final thought of your essay and essentially makes your opinion clear
again in different words, AND connects the opinion to the proofs. Under no
circumstances must you ever introduce new information in your conclusion.
Practicing all of the above is important. We are going to practice each one of these
three parts separately, before you actually write a paragraph all at once. In order to
prepare you for planning paragraphs and essays appropriately, we will all use a
common planning tool for the duration of this assignment. Copies of this planning
tool is on the next page. You are to reproduce this planning on the pages your
teacher will provide you.

Topic:

Introduction

Support/Evidence

Support/Evidence
Support

Closing

Support/Evidence

Introductions
Below are a list of guiding statements for writing a paragraph or essay. Your task is
to create thesis statement for each of these. We will do the first two together so
that you can see how this is done.
a. Write about the importance of friendship in having a fulfilling life.

Introduction

b. Write about the importance of being well-prepared in ones success.

Introduction

Do these topics on your own, and then submit these to the teacher. Reproduce the
planning tool on the blank pages provided.
c. Write about the importance of overcoming obstacles in life.
d. Write about the importance of learning in determining the course of ones life.
e. Write about importance of self-respect in shaping a persons character.

Planning your Proof

Remember the format? Point-Proof-Explanation. Your thesis statement is your
Point. Now comes your Proof. The body of a paragraph requires that you have
three reasons or pieces of proof to support your opinion as stated in the thesis
statement. This is the evidence that your point is actually true, and will hopefully
convince the reader or the truth of your pint.
Proof can be examples, negative examples, or reasons. The more specific you can
be in your examples, the better. We will use the same writing assignments as
stated above to plan these.
a. Write about the importance of friendship in having a fulfilling life.

Support/Evidence

Support/Evidence
Support

Support/Evidence

b. Write about the importance of being well-prepared in ones success.

Support/Evidence

Support/Evidence

Support/Evidence

Do the remaining three topics on your own, and then submit these to the teacher.
Add your responses to the planning you have recreated on the blank sheets
provided by the teacher. Be sure to leave extra room after your proof that space
will be needed for the explanation!

Supporting and Explaining your Proof

Remember the format? Point-Proof-Explanation. Your thesis statement is your
Point, and weve practiced coming up with Proof. Now for the hardest and most
important part the Explanation. This is the part where you give details about your
example or reason, and then clearly show how this connects to your Point. If
you do not connect it back to your point and demonstrate the relationship, you will
not have adequately supported your argument.
Detail is significant in this part of your paragraph. Do NOT skimp on this part. In a
paragraph, make it at least a couple of sentences. Details might include any or all
of the following:
Actions of the people involved, in detail
Consequences of the peoples actions
Sensory details, including how it looks, smells, sounds, tastes, feels
Go back to the Planning your Proof section. What details will you include in order to
support and explain your proof? We will do the first two together as a class, and
then you will complete the remaining three on your own, then submit to the
teacher.

Conclusion
Your concluding statement must re-state the thesis statement in a completely new
way. In addition. This concluding statement must also reiterate the mains proofs of
the paragraph, but NOT by listing those reasons or proofs.
We will write concluding statements for the first two topics together as a class, and
then you will do the remaining three on your own, and then submit these to the
teacher.
a. Write about the importance of friendship in having a fulfilling life.
Closing

b. Write about the importance of being well-prepared in ones success.

Closing

Do the remaining three topics on your own, and then submit these to the teacher.
Add your conclusions to the planning you have recreated on the blank sheets
provided by the teacher.