Page 190 - (DK) Help Your Kids with Language Arts

188 C OMMUNICA TION SKILLS

Paragraphing SEE ALSO

58–59 Conjunctions
PARAGRAPHS ARE USED TO ORGANIZE A PIECE OF WRITING.   184–185 Making sentences interesting
186–187 Planning and research
Reading and commenting
It’s important to structure a long piece of writing, such as an essay, on texts 192–193 
article, or letter, into paragraphs. This will break the text up into
separate points, which will make it easier to read.

One way of starting a
new paragraph is to This paragraph is
Starting an introduction indent the first line. about the health
with a question will catch benefits of exercise.
the reader’s attention.

What’s your excuse? Perhaps …Thus, regular exercise will not
you don’t like getting sweaty, you only improve your long-term health,
have no time, or you’re just plain but also make you feel happier and

lazy. Whatever the reason, you’re not less stressed out.
alone; fewer and fewer young people In addition to the health
are getting enough exercise. However, benefits, playing sports can improve
sports offer numerous health and your social life. It is an opportunity to
social benefits, so it’s time to stop see your friends on a regular basis and
complaining and get moving. to meet new people by joining a team.

A good start New idea, The next sentences
are about social
The opening paragraph should state what a piece new paragraph benefits, so they
start a new
of writing is about. It also needs to grab the reader’s All the sentences in a paragraph should paragraph.
attention so that he or she wants to read on. The first be related to one another. A new point
line should be something strong and original, such as of discussion requires a new paragraph.
a quotation, a rhetorical question, or a statistic.
Start the new paragraph by indenting
the first few words of the text or by
The great American basketball player Michael skipping a line.
Jordan once said, “I can accept failure, but I can’t
accept not trying.” …Thus, regular exercise will not only
Start an introduction with a improve your long-term health, but
famous or memorable quotation. also make you feel happier and less
Another way
to start a new stressed out.
Are you putting yourself at risk? People who don’t paragraph is to
get enough exercise dramatically increase their skip a line. In addition to the health benefits,
risk of developing heart disease. playing sports can improve your social
life. It is an opportunity to see your
Use a shocking fact friends on a regular basis and to
to make an impact.
meet new people by joining a team.