AMOUD SCHOOL OF LANGAUGES, SCIENCE AND ISLAMIC STUDIES.

School Location: Waqooyiga Isgoyska If-iyo-Akhiro

Paragraph Structure
A paragraph is a series of sentences that are
organized and related to a single topic.
The sentences in the paragraph focus on a single idea
or topic.
In many languages, the fundamental unit of composition is
the paragraph. A paragraph consists of several sentences
that are grouped together. This group of sentences together
discuss one main subject.
A well-written paragraph often has the following
structure:
1. Topic Sentence: This sentence outlines the main idea that
will be presented in the paragraph.
a. The topic sentence is usually found at the
beginning of the paragraph.
b. A topic sentence tells the main idea of a paragraph.
c. The topic sentence consists of two things: the topic and a
controlling idea about that topic. For this reason, the
topic sentence often contains the writers opinion or point
of view.
- Every topic sentence will have a topic and controlling
idea. The controlling idea shows the direction the
paragraph will take.
d. The topic sentence is all about the main idea of the
paragraph
Example of Topic Sentences:
i.
Mexico is a wonderful place to visit.
Here, the topic is Mexico, and the controlling idea is that it is a
wonderful place to visit.
Page | 1
Course Instructor: Ahmed Omaar

AMOUD SCHOOL OF LANGAUGES, SCIENCE AND ISLAMIC STUDIES.

School Location: Waqooyiga Isgoyska If-iyo-Akhiro

ii.
Cooking requires a number of different skills.
Here, the topic is Cooking and the controlling ides is many
different skills.
iii.

Teen pregnancy may be prevented by improving

education.
Here, the topic is teen pregnancy may be prevented and the
controlling idea is improving education
iv.

Graduating from high school is important for many

different reasons.
Here, the topic is graduating from high school and the
controlling idea is many different reasons.
2. Supporting Sentences: The second part of a
paragraph is the body of the paragraph, the
supporting sentences.
Support Details or Examples: This is the part of the
paragraph that presents details, facts, examples, quotes and
writers point of views that support the main idea.
- Every paragraph should have adequate and relevant
supporting details.
- If a paragraph has adequate details, this means it has
enough details to thoroughly support the main idea.
- If a paragraph has relevant details, this means that all
the supporting sentences relate back to the main idea;
there are no unrelated, random sentences.
3. Concluding Sentence: The last sentence in the
paragraph is the concluding sentence which
summarizes the paragraph.
- This sentence summarizes the main idea of the
paragraph.
Page | 2
Course Instructor: Ahmed Omaar

AMOUD SCHOOL OF LANGAUGES, SCIENCE AND ISLAMIC STUDIES.

School Location: Waqooyiga Isgoyska If-iyo-Akhiro

TYPES OF THE PARAGRAPH

There are many different types of paragraphs, depending
on what you are writing:
1. Descriptive Paragraph: This paragraph describes
something or someone. For example, you can write a
descriptive paragraph describing your best friend, including
what she likes and dislikes, where she lives, what she wants
for her birthday, and her favorite food.
Type
Descriptive
Paragraph

Purpose

Example

To describe

A paragraph
describing
something or
someone

2. Expository Paragraph: This paragraph explains an idea; it

is also called an information paragraph. For example, you
can write as expository paragraph explaining how to make
chocolate cookies.
Page | 3
Course Instructor: Ahmed Omaar

AMOUD SCHOOL OF LANGAUGES, SCIENCE AND ISLAMIC STUDIES.

School Location: Waqooyiga Isgoyska If-iyo-Akhiro

Type
Expository
Paragraph

Purpose

Example

To explain or give
information

Writing about how to

make chocolate
cookies

3. Persuasive Paragraph: This paragraph tries to convince

the reader of something. This type of paragraph may start
with a phrase like: I think that The support section may
include sentences that start with, One reason is, or For
example It may end with something like, This is why I
think that For example, you can write a persuasive
paragraph telling why people should vote for you for class
president.
Type
Persuasive
Paragraph

Purpose

Example

To persuade

A paragraph
persuading students
to keep the school
cafeteria clean

4. Narrative Paragraph: This paragraph describes an event

or tells a story, usually in chronological order. For example,
you can write a narrative paragraph detailing what you did
on your first day of school.
Type
Narrative paragraph

Purpose

Example

To tell a story

A paragraph telling
what happened in
the school cafeteria
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Course Instructor: Ahmed Omaar

AMOUD SCHOOL OF LANGAUGES, SCIENCE AND ISLAMIC STUDIES.

School Location: Waqooyiga Isgoyska If-iyo-Akhiro

today

Exercise:
1.

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Course Instructor: Ahmed Omaar