HI, BOYS and girls! Today, we will begin learning about paragraph writing.

At the end of the lesson you will be able to

1. Define the term paragraph.

2. Identify the different parts of a paragraph.

3. Arrange the sentences of a paragraph in the correct order.

Prerequisite knowledge: In our previous lesson you learnt that

• The main idea of a text is what the text is mostly about.

• The main idea is usually stated in the first sentence of a paragraph.

• Supporting details are the other sentences in a paragraph that supports the main idea.

• A topic is a word or phrase that tells what a text is going to be about

You will come across these terms in today’s lesson. They will help you understand the lesson as you go along.

ENGAGE

Can you arrange the following words in a meaningful sequence?

In the same way that you arrange letters correctly to spell or write words and you arrange words in a logical order to make sentences, so, too, we should arrange sentences in a meaningful order to form paragraphs. Do you know what a paragraph is? A paragraph is a group of sentences that talk about one topic or main idea.

EXPLORE

When writing paragraphs, you must ensure that the sentences are written in a logical sequence. Logical means that it makes sense and can be understood by the reader. Do you enjoy eating a burger? You can use the “Hamburger Paragraph Organiser” to help you write good paragraphs, including the three important parts of a paragraph. Observe the diagram carefully. Do you see the three main parts of a paragraph? The Hamburger Paragraph Organiser shows you how to outline your sentences to write a good paragraph and can help you to visually organise your thoughts. Each part of a real-life hamburger plays its own part to help make the hamburger tasty, therefore, each part of a paragraph also plays its part in making up a good paragraph.

EXPLAIN

A paragraph is a group of sentences that are organised, related, and support one main idea. A paragraph is generally made up of six to eight sentences. Each sentence in a paragraph must relate to the topic or main idea. There are three main parts of a paragraph as you saw in the Hamburger Paragraph Organiser above. These are the topic sentence, supporting details or sentences and the concluding sentence.

TOPIC SENTENCE

The topic sentence is the first sentence in a paragraph. It is represented by the top bun on the hamburger paragraph organiser. It is the sentence that clearly expresses the main idea that you are going to speak about in your paragraph.

SUPPORTING DETAILS/SENTENCES

The other sentences that give more information about the topic sentence are called supporting details. They are also called supporting sentences. These sentences are like the cheese, tomato, burger meat, etc, that are in the middle of a real hamburger. They make the hamburger tasty and enjoyable. In these sentences, you use examples to explain your points that relate to the topic sentence and support the main message you wrote in the topic sentence. Just as a cheerleader is supported by the rest of the team, the supporting details support the main idea.

CONCLUDING SENTENCE

The final sentence in a paragraph is called the concluding sentence. The concluding sentence sums up all that was written in the paragraph and repeats the main message that was expressed in the topic sentence.

EXTEND

Now that you know what a paragraph is and the different parts that make up a paragraph, you should be able to identify them. Read the paragraphs below. Can you identify which paragraph is properly written? Share with your friend or classmate which paragraph you think is written properly and why.

PARAGRAPH ONE

They can work with information much more quickly than a person. First, they are fast. Computers are helpful in many ways. Second, computers can work with lots of information at the same time. Third, they can keep information for a long time. There are many reasons why computers are useful to us. They do not forget things the way people do.

PARAGRAPH TWO

Computers are helpful in many ways. First, they are fast. They can work with information much more quickly than a person. Second, computers can work with lots of information at the same time. Third, they can keep information for a long time. They do not forget things the way people do. There are many reasons why computers are useful to us.

EVALUATE

Use the Hamburger Paragraph template to arrange the following sentences in the correct order to write a paragraph.

1. Secondly, they are used to cut stones that make beautiful jewellery.

2. Diamonds are costly for many reasons.

3. First of all, they are very rare and can only be found in a few places in the world.

4. These unique qualities are some of the reasons why diamonds are expensive.

5. Finally, diamonds can stay the same for millions of years.