Writing Paragraphs and Essays

By Mrs. JurcaRevised by Mrs. Wolf

The Hamburger ModelWould you eat a hamburger without a bun?What if it had no meat? What if the bun was on the inside and the meat and cheese were on the outside?

NO!

In the same way, you can’t write an essay or a paragraph without making sure you have all the right parts in the right order.

The introduction should grab your reader’s attention and tell what your essay is about.

Your detail paragraphs should give information that supports what you said in your introduction.

The conclusion should summarize what you said in the introduction and detail paragraphs.

The topic sentence should tell the main ideaof the paragraph.

Your supporting details should give information that supports your main idea.

The concluding sentence should restate your main idea.

So here’s the introduction to my paper…

Have you ever admired a folded paper crane? If you know

the art of origami, you can fold many beautiful things. Origami

has been enjoyed by many cultures, but most people believe it

first became popular in Japan. The Japanese especially enjoy

origami because they believe it has educational benefits. But, you

don’t have to be Japanese to enjoy origami and fold beautiful

things.

*REMEMBER*

*Your introduction should GRAB your reader’s attention and make them want to keep reading!

*Share only general details in your introduction. Save your specific information for your detail paragraphs.

*Use your introduction as a guide for the rest of your paper (see the next slide)

Detail Paragraph #1

Your second paragraph is your DETAIL PARAGRAPH #1. This is where you give information about the first detail that you mentioned in your introduction.

For an essay on origami, you might share information here about:•Types of paper used•Shapes you can fold•The meaning of the name origami

Detail Paragraph #2

The third paragraph in your essay will be your DETAIL PARAGRAPH #2. Here is where you share information about the second detail you discussed in your introduction.

Here, an essay on origami would talk about:•When origami originated•Where origami originated•Modern cultures that enjoy origami

Detail Paragraph #3

The fourth paragraph in your essay will be your DETAIL PARAGRAPH #3. Here is where you share information about the third detail you talked about in your introduction.

Here, an essay on origami would discuss:•Reasons people enjoy origami•Superstitions and origami•Educational benefits of origami

Conclusion

The fifth paragraph in your essay will be your CONCLUSION. Here is where you summarize what you said in the introduction and body.

Writing your conclusion may be a simple as rewriting your introduction using different words.

Here is a sample conclusion….

It is obvious that many different people enjoy origami for

many different reasons. Some enjoy folding beautiful things.

Some like it because they believe it makes them smarter.

Whatever the reason, the art of folding paper has been around

for hundreds of years and will be around for many more.

Be an EXPERT!*Extra Credit*

Choose a part of an essay or paragraph and become an expert. Make a mini-poster (markers and paper are in the back of the room) about the part you choose.

For example, if you decide to be an expert on Conclusion, you would make a mini-poster about the conclusion. Turn in your mini-poster to be displayed in the room.