Topic and Detail Paragraphs

Paragraph Writing
In order to write a paragraph you should have your main idea and your supporting details.
Very often a paragraph will start with the main idea but sometimes you will find key words elsewhere in the paragraph.
Key words might be repeated in a paragraph.
Ask yourself – what is the main idea in my paragraph?
Ask yourself – what details would I like to discuss in this paragraph about this topic?
If you choose to use the template to write your speech you will write a topic sentence about each of the topics chosen and then you will add your detail.
Paragraphs should have one main idea or topic. I would recommend you leave a blank line at the end of each paragraph to break up your writing and make it easier to read.
After you have written your paragraph reread what you have written. Can you identify the main idea? Is your idea supported with detail?
We will follow the following steps
Remember the steps are
Topic Sentence – Details – Put it together - Reread and check that it makes sense.
Everyone together
Topic Sentence – Details – Put it together - Reread and check that it makes sense.
Tell your partner
Topic Sentence – Details – Put it together - Reread and check that it makes sense.

Watch me as I show you an example.
The topic is hobbies.
I have a number of hobbies but the one I love the most is playing the flute. Every night I do one to two hours of music practice. I start off with scales and arpeggios and then go one to sheet music. My music teacher usually gives me three pieces of music to work on. I like to use my metronome to get my speed and accuracy up as quickly as possible and I often play the difficult bits over and over by themselves until I get it right. I also spend at least ten minutes just sight reading because I find that the most difficult. I hope to be able to join a local band when I get better.
What is the topic sentence?
What details have been added in?
Are they relevant to the topic sentence?
Okay let’s do the next one together.
Remember the steps are
Topic Sentence – Details – Put it together - Reread and check that it makes sense.
The topic is Christmas Day…
Who can give me a topic sentence?
Who can give me some details?
Who can put this together to make a paragraph?
The topic is camping…
Remember the steps are
Topic Sentence – Details – Put it together - Reread and check that it makes sense.
Who can give me a topic sentence?
Who can give me some details?
Who can put this together to make a paragraph?

Okay, now in your pairs write a paragraph each on the following topics:
Holidays
Topic Sentence – Details – Put it together - Reread and check that it makes sense.
Sport
Topic Sentence – Details – Put it together - Reread and check that it makes sense.
Show your partner. Can you see what the main idea is? Can you see detailed information about the idea? Was your partner able to write a good paragraph?

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