Writing Application
Learn
Now that you can analyze paragraph structure, it is time to apply these skills to your own writing. This lesson will guide you through the process of drafting well-organized paragraphs from start to finish.
The Paragraph Writing Process
- Brainstorm: Generate ideas about your topic
- Focus: Narrow your ideas to one main point
- Draft topic sentence: Write a clear statement of your main idea
- Gather supporting details: Find facts, examples, and explanations
- Organize: Arrange details in a logical order
- Draft body sentences: Write sentences that develop your main idea
- Add transitions: Connect ideas smoothly
- Write concluding sentence: Wrap up your paragraph effectively
- Revise and edit: Improve clarity and fix errors
Writing Strong Topic Sentences
A strong topic sentence should:
- Express one clear main idea
- Be specific enough to develop in one paragraph
- Be broad enough to require supporting details
- Engage the reader's interest
Topic Sentence Comparison
Too broad: "The environment is important."
Too narrow: "Recycling bins are green."
Just right: "Reducing plastic use at school can significantly decrease our community's environmental impact."
Developing Supporting Details
Each supporting detail should directly relate to your topic sentence. Ask yourself these questions:
- Does this detail explain, prove, or illustrate my main idea?
- Is this detail specific and concrete?
- Have I provided enough details to fully develop my point?
- Are my details from reliable sources (if using facts or statistics)?
Paragraph Templates
Use these templates as starting points for different types of paragraphs:
Argumentative Paragraph Template
- Topic sentence: State your claim/position
- Reason 1: Provide your first reason with evidence
- Reason 2: Provide your second reason with evidence
- Counterargument acknowledgment: Address an opposing view briefly
- Concluding sentence: Reinforce your position
Explanatory Paragraph Template
- Topic sentence: Introduce the concept or process
- Definition/Background: Provide necessary context
- Key details: Explain the main components or steps
- Example: Give a concrete illustration
- Concluding sentence: Summarize the significance
Examples
Follow along as we develop paragraphs using the writing process.
Example 1: Building an Argumentative Paragraph
Topic: School start times
Brainstorm: Sleep deprivation, bus schedules, after-school activities, academic performance, health effects
Focus: Schools should start later to improve student health
Draft topic sentence: "Middle schools should delay start times to at least 8:30 a.m. to support student health and academic success."
Supporting details gathered:
- American Academy of Pediatrics recommends 8:30 or later start times
- Adolescents naturally fall asleep later and need 8-10 hours of sleep
- Schools that shifted to later starts saw improved attendance and fewer car accidents among teen drivers
- Sleep-deprived students have higher rates of depression and anxiety
Final paragraph:
Middle schools should delay start times to at least 8:30 a.m. to support student health and academic success. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends this change because adolescents experience a biological shift that makes falling asleep before 11 p.m. difficult, yet they still need eight to ten hours of sleep nightly. Research supports this recommendation: schools that have shifted to later start times report improved attendance rates and, notably, fewer car accidents among teen drivers. Furthermore, sleep-deprived students experience higher rates of depression and anxiety, which directly impact their ability to learn. While some argue that later starts complicate after-school activities and parent schedules, the documented health benefits far outweigh these logistical challenges. By prioritizing adequate sleep through later start times, schools can create healthier, more successful learning environments.
Example 2: Building an Explanatory Paragraph
Topic: How photosynthesis works
Focus: The basic process of photosynthesis
Draft topic sentence: "Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert sunlight into food, making life on Earth possible."
Final paragraph:
Photosynthesis is the process by which plants convert sunlight into food, making life on Earth possible. This remarkable process takes place primarily in the leaves, where special cells contain chloroplasts filled with a green pigment called chlorophyll. During photosynthesis, chlorophyll absorbs sunlight energy, which powers a chemical reaction combining carbon dioxide from the air with water absorbed through the roots. The result is glucose, a sugar that provides energy for the plant's growth and survival, along with oxygen released as a byproduct. For example, a single large tree can produce enough oxygen through photosynthesis to support two people for an entire year. Without this process, plants could not grow, animals would have no food source, and the oxygen we breathe would not exist. Photosynthesis, therefore, forms the foundation of nearly all food chains on our planet.
Practice
Complete the following exercises to develop your paragraph writing skills.
Practice 1
Improve each weak topic sentence to make it stronger and more specific.
- "Video games are bad."
- "There are many animals."
- "School is important."
Practice 2
Read the topic sentence below. Brainstorm at least four supporting details you could use to develop this paragraph.
Topic sentence: "Regular exercise provides significant benefits for mental health."
Practice 3
The supporting details below are listed randomly. Put them in logical order and identify which organizational pattern you are using.
Topic: How to prepare for a test
- Get a good night's sleep before the test
- Review your notes each day after class
- Create flashcards for key terms a week before the test
- Take a practice test two days before
- Eat a healthy breakfast the morning of the test
Practice 4
Write a complete paragraph using the following information. Include a topic sentence, at least three supporting details with transitions, and a concluding sentence.
Topic: Benefits of reading for pleasure
Details to include:
- Improves vocabulary and writing skills
- Reduces stress and promotes relaxation
- Enhances empathy by exposing readers to different perspectives
- Strengthens memory and concentration
Practice 5
Write a paragraph explaining one of the following processes. Use chronological order and include transition words.
- How to make your favorite simple meal
- How to organize your backpack for school
- How to train a pet to do a simple trick
Practice 6
Write a paragraph arguing for or against one of the following positions. Include at least two reasons with supporting evidence.
- Students should/should not have homework on weekends
- Schools should/should not require uniforms
- Cell phones should/should not be allowed in classrooms
Practice 7
Revise the following paragraph to improve its structure. Add a stronger topic sentence, improve supporting details, add transitions, and write a better concluding sentence.
Pets are good. Dogs are loyal. Cats are independent. Fish are easy to care for. Having a pet teaches responsibility. Pets make people happy.
Practice 8
Write a topic sentence and three supporting details for a paragraph comparing and contrasting two of the following:
- Reading a book vs. watching the movie
- Learning in a classroom vs. learning online
- Team sports vs. individual sports
Practice 9
Write a paragraph describing a place that is meaningful to you. Use spatial organization (describe what you see in order from one point to another) and include sensory details.
Practice 10
Choose a current event or topic you find interesting. Write a complete informational paragraph that:
- Opens with an engaging topic sentence
- Includes at least three specific supporting details
- Uses at least two different types of supporting details (facts, examples, statistics, quotations, or anecdotes)
- Employs appropriate transitions
- Ends with a strong concluding sentence
Practice 11
Exchange paragraphs with a partner (or review your own work after taking a break). Use the following checklist to evaluate the paragraph:
- Does the topic sentence clearly state the main idea?
- Do all supporting details relate to the topic sentence?
- Are details arranged in a logical order?
- Are transitions used to connect ideas?
- Does the concluding sentence provide closure?
Practice 12
Timed writing challenge: In 10 minutes, write the best paragraph you can on this prompt:
What is one change you would make to improve your school, and why?
After writing, use two minutes to check your paragraph against the elements we have learned.
Check Your Understanding
Reflect on these questions to assess your writing skills.
- What are the key characteristics of an effective topic sentence?
- Describe two different ways to organize supporting details in a paragraph.
- What questions should you ask yourself when evaluating whether a supporting detail belongs in your paragraph?
- Why is it important to vary the types of supporting details you use?
- What role does the concluding sentence play in a paragraph?
Next Steps
- Practice writing one paragraph per day on topics that interest you
- Apply these paragraph skills to longer writing assignments
- Move on to the Editing Workshop to learn how to polish your paragraphs