Paragraph Structure lesson 1+2

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 3

Today's Programme

- Paragraph Structure

Lesson Objective:

- You know what a paragraph is and how it's usually built up.

What is a paragraph?

A paragraph is a piece of text that "should be long enough to develop the main idea clearly". Therefore, it can be anywhere between a few sentences and an entire page. Nevertheless, to keep your text readable and not too wordy, I would advise you to limit your paragraphs to the length of the model on the next page, more or less, of course.

Assignment

1. Open the document 'Paragraph Structure' 

on the ELO and read the first page (=page 2).

2. Then, answer the first question on the next slide

Read the paragraph and answer the following questions in groups of four. 

1. What is the topic of the paragraph?

2. What is the topic sentence of this paragraph?

3. What two main points does the writer make about the topic?

4. What is the concluding sentence of this paragraph?

!!  1 member: type/copy the answers, as they are to be submitted in LessonUp  !!

Gold, a precious metal, is prized for two important characteristics. First of all, gold has a lustrous beauty that is resistant to corrosion. Therefore, it is suitable for jewelry, coins, and ornamental purposes. Gold never needs to be polished and will remain beautiful forever. For example, a Macedonian coin remains as untarnished today as the day it was made 25 centuries ago. Another important characteristic of gold is its usefulness to industry and Science. For many years, it has been used in hundreds of industrial applications, such as photography and dentistry. The most recent use of gold is in astronauts’ suits. Astronauts wear gold-plated heat shields for protection when they go outside spaceships in space. In conclusion, gold is treasured not only for its beauty but also for its utility.

1. What is the topic of the paragraph?

The topic is 'gold'.

2. What is the 'topic sentence' of this paragraph?

Gold, a precious metal is prized for two important characteristics.

3. What two main points does the writer make about the topic?

Sentence number 2 contains the first main point and sentence number 6 presents the other point.

Please note the use of 'First of all' and 'Another important characteristic'.

1. gold has a lustrous beauty that is resistant to corrosion.

2. its usefulness to industry and science.

4. What is the concluding sentence of this paragraph?

In conclusion, gold is treasured not only for its beauty but also for its utility.

BONUS QUESTION (which is linked to last year’s lessons on essay writing AND links to your future assignment):

What is the difference between a topic sentence and a thesis statement?

A topic sentence is the main argument of a paragraph, whereas a thesis statement is the main argument of an entire essay.  

Assignment 

Write a paragraph that has a very clear buildup. 

1. Topic sentence

2. Supporting sentences

3. Examples (if necessary)

4. Concluding sentence

Gold, a precious metal, is prized for two important characteristics. First of all, gold has a lustrous beauty that is resistant to corrosion. Therefore, it is suitable for jewelry, coins, and ornamental purposes. Gold never needs to be polished and will remain beautiful forever. For example, a Macedonian coin remains as untarnished today as the day it was made 25 centuries ago. Another important characteristic of gold is its usefulness to industry and Science. For many years, it has been used in hundreds of industrial applications, such as photography and dentistry. The most recent use of gold is in astronauts’ suits. Astronauts wear gold-plated heat shields for protection when they go outside spaceships in space. In conclusion, gold is treasured not only for its beauty but also for its utility.

Possible subjects (T3)

- Fossil fuels influence/increase climate change.

- Vaccines should be mandatory during a pandemic.

- Social media should be monitored or banned. 

- Students should wear a schooluniform in the Netherlands.

- ... 

Also...

You will be writing an essay again soon. Think of a topic for this mock essay.

E.g. climate change, politics, Corona, lockdown, education, etc.

Today's Programme

- Peer Review Paragraph

- Best Practices

Lesson Objective:

- You know how a paragraph is built up and can recognise its structure in the work of your peers.

Send in your homework assignment

Peer review paragraph

Work in pairs, present your paragraphs to each other

 and try to recognise the 'required' elements.*

Choose the clearest example and write it down in the next slide.

*You can find these on the next LessonUp page.

1. Topic sentence

2. Supporting sentences

3. Examples (if necessary)

4. Concluding sentence

Gold, a precious metal, is prized for two important characteristics. First of all, gold has a lustrous beauty that is resistant to corrosion. Therefore, it is suitable for jewelry, coins, and ornamental purposes. Gold never needs to be polished and will remain beautiful forever. For example, a Macedonian coin remains as untarnished today as the day it was made 25 centuries ago. Another important characteristic of gold is its usefulness to industry and Science. For many years, it has been used in hundreds of industrial applications, such as photography and dentistry. The most recent use of gold is in astronauts’ suits. Astronauts wear gold-plated heat shields for protection when they go outside spaceships in space. In conclusion, gold is treasured not only for its beauty but also for its utility.

Submit your clearest examples here