TYPES OF PARAGRAPHS

TYPES OF PARAGRAPHS
A.DESCRIPTIVE PARAGRAPH
1 .DESCRIPTIVE PARAGRAPH is a paragraph that describes how a person

,a place or a thing looks or feels. You create a sensory image on the readers’s
mind when you write your paragraph. Descriptive paragraphs let the readers
touch, taste, see, hear and smell what you are reading.
2.DESCRIPTIVE PARAGRAPH ORGANIZATION
Title your paragraph
Topic sentence:-Introduce the item that you are going to describe
-Include your general feeling or opinion about that item.
Supporting sentences
-give some background information
-give descriptive details
-say how you feel about the item.
Concluding sentence
-Restate the topic sentence in different words.
3.SOME TIPS FOR DESCRIPTIVE PARAGRAPH
1. Use spatial order to organize your ideas (top to bottom, near to far)
2.Use specific language
3. Use descriptive adjective


1
2
3
General Specific Size
opinion opinion

4
Shape

5
Age

6
Color

7
8
Nationality Material

4.Use linking verbs to describe the items
5.Use dominant impression to describe a person
B.EXPLAINING BY SHOWING SIMILARITIES &DIFFERENCES
-Comparison
-Contrast
-Comparing and Contrasting
B.1.Comparison
MODEL PARAGRAPH
TWO MESSENGERS
Once when I was looking at an African mask belonging to a friend of mine. I
thought that all societies can produce great works of art. I could not help
comparing the mask to the famous Greek sculpture ò the head of the god
Apollo. The African mask represents someone from the spirit world of the
forest. It is an abstraction: it is not a real person. It has been admired by
many people , especially modern artists. The Apollo of Belvedere, likewise,
is from the spirit world of Mount Olympus. Similarly, it is an abstraction: it
is not a real person . Also, it was the most admired piece of sculpture in the
world for 400 years after it was found. Both are clearly great works of art.

OUTLINE
Topic Sentence: Comparing two sculptures shows that all societies can
produce great works of art.
I.

The African mask
A. Represent s a spirit
B. Is an abstraction , not real
C. Is greatly admired

II. Apollo of Belvedere
A. Represents a spirit
B. Is an abstraction , not real
C. Was greatly admired
Concluding Sentence: Both are clearly great works of art.
SOME TIPS FOR COMPARING PARAGRAPH
Using comparative structures
-and
-both
-both….and….
-too
-neither……nor….


-similar to …
-similarly,
-likewise
-the same as
-in the same way

C.CONTRAST PARAGRAPH
MODEL PARAGRAPH
CHANGES
People in towns and cities are certainly different. When I was young, I lived
in a small town. Everyone was friendly. In the evening, people would sit on
their front porches and talk. They would smile and wave to others walking
by. The front doors were open, and you could hear those inside talking and
laughing. I knew the names of everyone in the neighborhood. Now I live in
the city. People do not seem to be as friendly here. Instead of sitting out
front ,they go in their backyards behind walls. The front doors are shut and
locked. Even the curtains in the windows are closed . I do not even know the
name of my neighbor next door. Have people changed, or have I?

OUTLINE
Topic Sentence: People in towns and cities are certainly different
1.Describing small town people
-everyone was friendly


-people sit on their front porches and talk
-they smile and wave to others walking by
-they know clearly each other
2.Describing city people
-Instead of sitting out front, they go in their backyards behind walls
- the doors are shut and locked
-the curtains of the windows are closed
-they do not know their neighbor’s names
Concluding Sentence: Have they changed or have I changed?

SOME TIPS FOR CONTRASTING PARAGRAPH

Using contrasting structures
-more/less + adj /adv + than
-adj+er +than
-but, while, whereas, though
-not the same as
-not as… as
-different from
-in contrast


-however
-on the other hand
-in spite of
-despite
-unlike
-rather
-except
D.COMPARING AND CONTRASTING PARAGRAPH
MODEL PARAGRAPH
THE ELDERLY
Although old people in the United States and in my country ; Japan are
treated the same in some ways, in other ways they are treated differently.
In Japan, the young people will give an older person a seat on a bus or train.
The young open doors for the old. The elderly get lower prices on buses and
tickets to shows. In Japan, the grandparents live with the family. They help to
raise the grandchildren. If someone needs advice, the first person to be asked
is the grandfather because he is the wisest. In the United States,the young
will offer their seat on a bus or train to an older person. They will open doors
for the elderly,too. Older people in the United States also get lower costs for
transportation and entertainment. However, in the United States, older people

rarely live with their families. They do not help to raise the grandchildren or
give advice . They live with other older people in senior citizen places . I
think that it is better for families to live all together in companionship.


OUTLINE
Topic Sentence: Old people are treated similarly and differently in Japan and
in the United States.
I.

Treatment in Japan
A.Similarities
1.given seats on buses or trains
2.doors open
3.given lower costs
-transportation
-entertainment
B.Differences
1.live with their family
2.help raise grandchildren
3.give advice
II.Treatment in the United States
A.Similarities
1.given seats on buses or trains
2.doors open


3.given lower costs
-transportation
-entertainment

B.Differences
1. do not live with their children
2.do not give advice
3.live with other older people
Concluding Sentence: I think living with the family is better.