Paragraph

What is a paragraph?
It is a group of sentences that talks about one
single main idea.
Topic vs. Main idea
Topic is what the whole paragraph about, such
as schools, sports, health, education, ; but
main idea is one aspect of the topic we talk
about, e.g., how to be healthy, the problems
of primary education, the benefits of sports,

The organization of the paragraph:

1. The introductory sentence
2. The supporting sentences
3. The concluding sentence

1. The introductory sentence

It is the sentence that introduces the topic

and the main idea. It is generally called the
topic sentence.
Topic: soccer
Today the most popular sport in the world is
soccer.
Today soccer is the most popular sport in the
world.
Soccer is not just a sport; it is also an
important business enterprise.
Soccer is the most political sport.
Soccer is a historical sport in some countries.
Soccer is a sport. (Too general)
There are eleven players on a soccer team.
(Too specific)

TS: Topic + a limiting statement/main

idea/controlling idea

2. Supporting sentences:
They are sentences that the writer provides to
convince the readers that his/her main idea is
valid.
Ways of support:
Examples, details, statistics, facts, narratives,

Types of supporting sentences:

a) Major supporting sentences
b) Minor supporting sentences

3. The concluding sentence

It sums up your paragraph; here we restate
the main point of the paragraph.
NO NEW IDEAS IN THE CONCLUDING
SENTENCE.

Essay
It is a multi-paragraph writing. Like a
paragraph, there is only one topic. Unlike the
paragraph, there is more than one main idea.

Topic: Smoking (Health, Financial, and Social

Problems)

The organization of an essay:

1. The introductory paragraph (Introduction)
2. The supporting paragraphs (Body)
3. The concluding paragraph (Conclusion)

1. Introduction
It introduces the topic and the main ideas.
1.1. Warm-up = the motivator
Smokers believe that smoking is cool and
relaxing. It helps them think and concentrate

better. Also, they think that smoking helps

them forget about their problems.
1.2. The thesis statement
It is a/some sentence(s) that introduce(s) the
main ideas of the essay.
Smoking causes health problems, financial
problems, and social problems.
First of all, smoking causes certain health
problems. Second, smokers may run into
serious financial problems. Finally, these
people might face family and other social
problems.
Smoking causes three kinds of problems:
health problems, financial problems, and
social problems.

Smokers believe that smoking is cool and

relaxing. It helps them think and concentrate
better. Also, they think that smoking helps
them to forget about their problems.

However, they are not aware that this

behavior may bring about some serious
problems. First of all, smoking causes certain
health problems. Second, smokers may run
into serious financial problems. Finally, these
people might face family and other social
problems as well.

2. The supporting paragraphs (Body)

They are paragraphs which support the main
ideas we presented in our introduction.
Remember that each paragraph MUST have a
clear topic sentence supported by details,
facts, statistics and other ways. It could have
a concluding sentence too.
Here we have three main ideas and therefore,
we are going to have three body paragraphs.

2.1. Health problems

First of all, smoking causes certain health
problems, such as cancer and heart disease.

For example, the number one cause of lung

cancer is believed to be smoking. Medical
reports in 2011 by the Ministry of Health
indicated that 80% of patients suffering from
lung cancer were smokers. In addition to
cancer, heart disease another serious side
effect of smoking which can be fatal at times.
2.2. Financial problems
The second type of problems brought about
by smoking is financial ones. Each year,
smokers spend hundreds of thousands on
their smoking. Plus, they have more frequent
visits to the dentists for whitening their teeth
and, in some cases, operating their gums
compared to non-smokers. As can be seen,
smoking is one of the most expensive
behaviors.
2.3. Social problems
Finally, smokers may run into problems in
their relationships with their family members
and friends. Psychologists maintain that these

people are repelled from social groups. In

addition, most people do not like to have
smoker friends and they may even limit their
relationships with such people. In certain
situations, this behavior might result in
divorce as well.

3. Concluding paragraphs (Conclusion)

It is the paragraph that sums up the main
points and gives the final opinion of the writer.
ABSOLUTELY NO NEW IDEAS IN THE
CONCLUSION
3.1. Restatement of the thesis statement
*In conclusion, as discussed in the previous
paragraphs, smoking is a dangerous,
expensive, and unsocial behavior.
**In conclusion, as discussed in the previous
paragraphs, smoking is a
multifaceted/multidimensional problem. These
problems include health, financial, and social.

3.2. The clincher

It is the part that includes the writers
contribution to the main ideas.
It is usually a personal opinion, suggestion,
prediction,

Therefore, it is imperative that the

government set up certain plans to encourage
people to quit smoking. Furthermore, families
need to be more aware of their children so
that they can prevent them from smoking.

Smokers believe that smoking is cool and

relaxing. It helps them think and concentrate
better. Also, they think that smoking is a way
to forget about their problems. However, they
are not aware that this behavior may bring
about some serious problems. Firstly, smoking
causes certain health problems. Secondly,
smokers may run into serious financial
problems. Finally, these people might face
family and other social problems as well.
First of all, smoking causes certain health
problems, such as cancer and heart disease.
For example, the number one cause of lung
cancer is believed to be smoking. Medical
reports in 2011 by the US Ministry of Health
indicated that 80% of patients suffering from
lung cancer were smokers. In addition to
cancer, heart disease is another serious side
effect of smoking which can be fatal at times.
The second type of problems created by
smoking is financial ones. Each year, smokers
spend hundreds of thousands on their
smoking. Plus, they have more frequent visits

to dentists for whitening their teeth and, in

some cases, operating their gums compared
to non-smokers. As can be seen, smoking is
one of the most expensive behaviors.
Finally, smokers may run into problems in
their relationships with their family members
and friends. Psychologists maintain that these
people are repelled from social groups.
Additionally, most people do not like to have
smoker friends and they may even limit their
relationships with such people. In certain
situations, this behavior might result in
divorce as well.
In conclusion, as discussed in the previous
paragraphs, smoking is a dangerous,
expensive, and unsocial behavior. Therefore,
it is imperative that the government set up
certain plans to encourage people to quit
smoking. Furthermore, families need to be
more aware of their children so that they can
prevent them from smoking.