How to Write a Paragraph

Many people need help writing a paragraph. If you don't know how to write a paragraph, it can be a difficult thing to do. Here is a way to make it easier.

Getting started on your paragraph

Before you start writing a paragraph, you need to decide two things. What are you writing about? What do you want to say? The purpose of any paragraph is to express an idea. Most paragraphs consist of a few related sentences.

You can write a successful paragraph by starting off with a plan. The key to doing a successful paragraph is to break down the writing into short, simple steps.

• Subject of your paragraph
  Write down the subject of your paragraph. To express your subject, write only a word or phrase. Who or what are you writing about? 
  
  
• Pre-writing for your paragraph
  Begin by brainstorming. Brainstorming doesn't involve writing complete sentences or paragraphs. Brainstorming involves coming up with ideas using words or short phrases. 
  
  
• One popular way to to create pre-writing ideas is to ask yourself questions about your subject.
  Here are some questions you might ask yourself:
  What do I know about this subject? How does this subject relate to me? What do I like or dislike about this subject? What words best describe it?
  
  
  
  

  Building the body of your paragraph

  Reread all your words and phrases. Now, organize your thoughts. Decide if your brainstorming ideas are related. Do you want to add a new word or phrase or take something out? Next, decide if you like the order of your brainstorming ideas, or want to change the order.

  Writing a paragraph draft

  A lot of people get nervous when it's time to write. Don't worry. This is going to be your first draft. The important thing is to take your brainstorming ideas, add to them, and turn them into sentences.
  • Topic sentence
    Reread the word or phrase about the subject of your paragraph. You are going to expand this into the first sentence of your paragraph.
    This first sentence, which comes at the beginning of a paragraph, is called the topic sentence. Remember that its job is to introduce your paragraph.
  • Paragraph body
    Reread your brainstorming words or phrases for the body of your paragraph. Expand each brainstorming word or phrase into a complete sentence. These sentences explain your topic sentence by offering facts, details, or examples.
    Remember that the job of your paragraph body is to share an idea with your reader.
  • Concluding sentence
    Reread your paragraph and then add another sentence that sums up the paragraph. This sentence ends your paragraph.
  Write only a word or phrase in response to each question.