TYPES OF PARAGRAPHS

Depending on the purpose for writing, a writer must develop one of the four types of
paragraphs: expository (to explain or inform), persuasive (to persuade), descriptive (to
describe), or narrative (to tell a story).

The Persuasive Paragraph

The persuasive paragraph is an attempt by the writer to convince the audience (readers) to
agree with an opinion on a debatable issue or to perform a specific action. The writer uses
details, facts, or examples to form his argument. The argument should be a direct, precise,
logical presentation of the issue. The persuasive paragraph answers "why" questions - Why
should the reader agree? - Why should the reader do what the writer asks?

The purpose of this type of writing is to convince the reader to accept a particular point of
view or to take a specific action.

In well-written persuasion, the topic or issue is clearly stated and elaborated as necessary to
indicate understanding and conviction on the part of the writer.
 Steps to follow when writing a persuasive essay
 Present a topic sentence that identifies the main claim or claims that you will prove
in the paragraph.
 Present the first supporting fact and explain how the fact helps prove the claim or
claims in the topic sentence.
 Present the second supporting fact and explain how the fact helps prove the claim or
claims in the topic sentence.
 Present the third supporting fact and explain how the fact helps prove the claim or
claims in the topic sentence.
 After proving the claim or claims in the topic sentence, end with a transitional
sentence that shows how the main idea in this paragraph is logically related to the
main idea in the next body paragraph.

This paragraph type is not used for: Doing anything that takes your reader out of
the plane of reality-such as by going into a detailed description of places, circumstances or
events or into a deep narrative.

Persuasive Paragraph Example

“‘I’m too lazy’ or ‘It’s too late to change’ are nothing but limiting beliefs. Like any other
beliefs, they’re fully under your control and are totally replaceable. In the end, you’re the
one who truly runs the show, as much as you’re taught to believe the opposite. When it
comes to making changes in your life, you have the ultimate say. If you end up doing what
others think you should, it’s only because on some level you’ve made the decision to believe
that their ideas are more worthy than your own.

If you want to change, you have to start believing in what you want to do, no matter what
other people’s ‘opinions’ are. And you have to believe that the changes you want to make
are worth it, regardless of your circumstances.

Life consists of a collection of ‘moments.’ This very moment and every moment after it are
what your life is made of. If you live your life worrying about the future, regretting the past
or even living how others tell you to live, then you aren’t living ‘your’ moments.

All it really takes to become in charge of your own life is to simply decide to do so. Your
process of reinvention is 100% yours. Don’t be afraid to use it fully to our advantage. Don’t
be afraid to think big thoughts. Remember, you can make a difference: you are the
difference!”

The Expository Paragraph

The expository paragraph is a paragraph that explains or informs. The writer must identify
the topic and the purpose for writing. The information is arranged in the order which best
develops the topic. Details, facts, examples incidents, similarities, differences, etc. are
included to explain the topic.
 What to consider when writing an expository essay
 What process are you trying to explain? Why is it important?
 Who or what does the process affect?
 Are there different ways of doing the process? If so, what are they?
 Who are the readers? What knowledge do they need to understand this process?
 What skills/equipment are needed for this?
 How long does the process take? Is the outcome always the same?
 How many steps are there in the process?
 Why is each step important?
 What difficulties are involved in each step? How can they be overcome?
 Do any cautions need to be given?
 Does the process have definitions that need to be clarified?
 Are there other processes that are similar and could help illustrate the process that
you are writing about?
 If needed, tell what should not be done or why something should be done.
 Expository papers are often written in the second person (you).

This paragraph type is not used for: This paragraph type is not used to express your
opinion or to influence your reader. Try to stay away from “loaded words” that carry a high
emotional charge, since they will create a conflict with the factual nature of the type.

Expository Paragraph Example

“The fundamental question of studying and leisure raised by Semir is particularly relevant as
a grade twelve (12) student.” I know many students and in general they are hard-working,
passionate young men and women who are eager to pursue a higher success, but they want
to enjoy and draw meaning from their works.
Most students are sensible enough to have an anxiety of what they’re doing to live a life
they want, but many have a hobby or an idea into which they pour their passion and hope to
one day monetize.

Semir recognizes this in students, but an interesting disconnect between Semir’ article and
today is the discussion of self-improvement. Semir notes that self-improvement is vital for
students in their future life to be the man they aspire, but also makes the observation that
self-improvement has significantly declined in most students.

The Descriptive Paragraph

The descriptive paragraph is a piece of writing that develops a "picture" of one idea by using
sensory (ones that appeal to the senses) or concrete (ones that represent things seen or
touched) details. The topic sentence reveals the main impression of the topic by using only
those details that enhance the single idea.

A Descriptive Essay is used to create a vivid image of a person, place, or thing. It draws on
all of the senses, not merely the visual. Its purpose is to enable the reader to share the
writer's sensory experience of the subject.

Descriptive writing portrays people, places, things, moments and theories with enough vivid
detail to help the reader create a mental picture of what is being written about.

Things to consider as you write your descriptive essay

 Think of an instance that you want to describe.
 Why is this particular instance important?
 What were you doing?
 What other things were happening around you? Is there anything specific that stands
out in your mind?
 Where were objects located in relation to where you were?
 How did the surroundings remind you of other places you have been?
  What sights, smells, sounds, and tastes were in the air?
 Did the sights, smells, sounds, and tastes remind you of anything?
 What were you feeling at that time?
 Has there been an instance in which you have felt this way before?
 What do you want the reader to feel after reading the paper?
 What types of words and images can convey this feeling?
 Can you think of another situation that was similar to the one you are Writing about?
How can it help explain what you are writing about?
 Is there enough detail in your essay to create a mental image for the reader?

This paragraph type is not used for: This paragraph type is not used to narrate. In
other words, the descriptive type is never used to tell a story or to give insights into the
thoughts or the emotional state of characters.

Descriptive Paragraph Example

“Coming down to Bridge Park had been a good idea, he decided. Leaving the crowded mass
of the city behind he’d ridden the train south, through the razed land and out onto the delta.

Rice paddies stretched to every horizon, blurring the line between land, river and sea. And
then, in the shadow of the ruined supports of the bridge, the park rose like a garden oasis
above the lowlands.

He obviously wasn’t the only person with the same idea today, and the park was lifted by
the shrieks of children playing on the bridge replica fun zone behind him.”

The Narrative Paragraph

The narrative paragraph is a piece of writing intended to tell a story, real or imaginary. The
narrative paragraph may entertain, or it may make a point. Narrative paragraphs do not
always contain topic sentences. Details in a narrative paragraph are obtained by using the
Who? What? When? Where? Why? How? method of questioning and should be arranged in
chronological (the order in which they happened) order.

A Narrative paragraph tells a story. It has character, setting, and action. The characters, the
setting, and the problem of the narrative are usually introduced in the beginning. The
problem reaches its high point in the middle. The ending resolves the problem.

The purpose of this type of writing is to recount a personal or fictional experience or to tell a
story based on a real or imagined event. In well-written narration, a writer uses insight,
creativity, drama, suspense, humor, or fantasy to create a central theme or impression. The
details all work together to develop an identifiable story line that is easy to follow and
paraphrase.

Writers first need to select an incident worthy of writing about and, second, find relevance in
the incident. Once an incident is chosen, the writer should keep three principles in mind.
 Principles of writing narrative paragraph
 Remember to involve readers in the story. It is much more interesting to actually
recreate an incident for readers than to simply tell about it.
 Find a generalization which the story supports. This is the only way the writer's
personal experience will take on meaning for readers. This generalization does not
have to encompass humanity as a whole; it can concern the writer, men, women, or
children of various ages and backgrounds.
 Remember that although the main component of a narrative is the story, details must
be carefully selected to support, explain, and enhance the story.

This paragraph type is not used for: The narrative paragraph type is not used to
introduce facts and figures and it’s not used to influence or persuade your audience.

Narrative Paragraph Example

“Christopher Reeve was one courageous person who fully accepted an unexpected change
in direction in his life. The icon of superhuman strength in the 80’s, he was the
quintessential Superman. An actor of great appeal and talent, he represented the ideal
combination of manliness, strength, seeker of justice, and savior of humankind.

In May 1995, he was riding his horse and had a serious fall. The accident damaged his spinal
cord such that he was left a quadriplegic and had to use a machine to help him breathe. The
accident sent shock waves around the world. How could Superman be rendered a
quadriplegic? It was unfathomable.

After many months of grueling physical therapy, he learned how to function in this new
altered state. The emotional toll was great as he and his family struggled with the changes
this accident brought into their lives.

Within a year, however, he had founded a charitable organization called the Christopher
Reeve Foundation in order to raise money for research on spinal cord injuries and made it
his mission to find a way for all victims of these devastating injuries to walk again.”
 Letter-writing
LETTER-WRITING is an important channel of communication between people who are
geographically distant from one another. In earlier times when the telephone and e-mail
were not available, the only means of communication between people was through letters.

Letter-writing is a skill that has to be developed. In general, there are two types of letters:
formal, that are written to convey official business and information and informal, which are
personal letters to communicate with friends and family. Formal letters are sent out when
we need to write to various public bodies or agencies for our requirements in civic life. For
example, we might have to ask for a certificate or to inform a change in our address. A letter
is usually one in a series of exchanges between two people or parties.

Formal Letters
Let us now examine some of the steps in writing formal letters.

1. (i) Introducing oneself if it is the first time you are writing

(ii) Referring to an earlier letter if you are responding to it.

2. Stating the purpose of the letter

3. (i) Stating action/information required from the addressee

(ii) Explaining action taken/supplying information

4. (i) Urging action to be taken

(ii) Offering assistance in future

This is the basic structure of a letter. It will have to be modified according to the purpose for
which it is written and the person to whom it is addressed

When you write a letter you should keep in mind the following points.

1. Purpose
2. Person to whom it is addressed
3. Tone you should adopt
4. Completeness of the message
5. Action required
6. Conciseness of expression

Informal Letters
Informal letters include personal letters. If it is a personal letter the format is flexible. We
might just write the name of our city on top, followed by the date. The flexible format of the
informal letter may also be used to seek information from concerned authorities.
Given below is the format of the informal letter.

 Your address (but not your name) usually goes in the top righthand corner, but may
go on the left too.
 The name and/or job title (if you know them) and the address of the person you are
writing to goes on the left.
 To address someone whose name you do not know you can write: Dear Sir, Dear
Madam, Dear Sirs, Dear Sir/Madam.
 To address someone by name, use their title and surname e.g. Dear Dr Balakrishnan.
 To end a letter, use ‘Yours sincerely’, if you have addressed the person by name;
‘Yours faithfully’, if you have begun the letter with ‘Dear Sir’ or ‘Madam’, etc.

A well-composed letter, like a good composition in English, usually has three basic
components:

1. A salutation, corresponding to the introduction;

2. A general message, corresponding to the body; and

3. A closing and signature, corresponding to the conclusion of the composition.

Letter writing can be an effective means of introducing and reinforcing the principles of good
composition in English; the writer must first organize his or her thoughts logically to convey
the intended message.