Page 90 - DENG103_English - I

Unit 8: Paragraph Writing

such as chronological (time) or structural order can help link paragraphs. The reader can Notes
guess what is coming next by knowing how time works, or by following along as you
describe items in a series.
• Development—make sure your topic sentence is adequately discussed in the paragraph.
While it is possible to have a one-sentence paragraph, you will usually need several
sentences to discuss the topic. Use facts, statistics, and details. Cite what other people
have said about the topic (remember to use quotes and give credit where due). Give a
timeline if possible. Give examples in a story or anecdote. Define terms and explain
similarities and differences. Describe causes and consequences.
• Transitions and Signposts—you can use words and phrases to alert your readers and let
them know what’s going on in your paragraph. Transition words and sentences help
your ideas flow from one paragraph to another, and contain phrases like “in addition,”
“another point,” or “afterwards.” Signpost words and sentences “point the way” to let
your readers know where your arguments and descriptions are headed—a signpost could
be a bold word or phrase, a dot or arrow, or even an indentation. Signposts are another
way to “tell them what you are going to tell them” and “tell them what you just told
them.”

Notes Use a “hook” or interesting fact to make people want to read your paragraphs.

8.2 Descriptive Paragraphs

Descriptive paragraphs let the reader touch, taste, see, hear and smell what you are describing.
The reader should feel as if they can see what you are describing clearly. You want to paint
a picture as you write the descriptive paragraph. Here are a few guidelines to help you write
a great descriptive paragraph.
Instructions
• Describe particular smells and tastes in the paragraph. Use the most descriptive words
possible to allow the reader to smell or taste what you are describing. For example: “The
homemade cookies filled the air with the scent of warm chocolate, and the chocolate
morsels filled your mouth with the taste of cocoa.”
• Add the senses of touch and hearing to your paragraph wherever possible. Describe
certain textures and sounds. For example: “The silk garment felt smooth and fluid over
my skin, and it had the sound of a gentle breeze.”
• Use similes and metaphors when you write your descriptive paragraph. These literary
devices strengthen your paragraph if used properly.
• Insert descriptive adjectives to modify your nouns. Don’t just say “blue ocean.” Describe
the actual colours you see in the ocean. Use more descriptive words such as aquamarine
or indigo to describe the shade.
• Try personification to give human characteristics to inanimate objects. For example:
“The tree stood proudly with her arms stretching toward the sky.”
• Be sure to make your paragraph long enough to give an adequate description. Describe
the scene or object in as many ways as you can, but check that your paragraph is
coherent.

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