Page 191 - (DK) Help Your Kids with Language Arts

189
P ARAGRAPHING

REAL W OR L D
Once upon a time… Topic sentences
It can be effective to start a paragraph with a topic
Fiction writers need to write good sentence. This is a statement that introduces the
opening lines to draw readers into main idea in the paragraph. The rest of the paragraph
the story. For example, the author needs to expand on the topic sentence or give
J.K. Rowling starts the first chapter evidence to back it up. This method can help
of Harry Potter and the Deathly keep a piece of writing focused.
Hallows with these lines: “The two
men appeared out of nowhere,
a few yards apart in the narrow, The health benefits This bold statement is a topic
sentence. The rest of the
moonlit lane.” of regular exercise paragraph will discuss the
cannot be ignored. health benefits that it refers to.

Overall, there is no excuse. A conclusion
should make a
Getting regular exercise will reduce decisive final • Referring back to points made in
statement. previous paragraphs makes a piece
your chances of developing heart of writing more connected because
it shows that the piece has been
disease and other serious illnesses. considered as a whole.
In the short term, it will make Link a conclusion • Do not make completely new
back to points in
you healthier, happier, and more the introduction points in a conclusion.
to give the piece
energetic. Finally, it’s an excellent cohesion.
way to meet new people, have fun,
and perhaps discover a new talent. Seamless links

A good piece of writing should be cohesive. This means
that the sentences, paragraphs, and ideas are all linked
together in a flowing way. Sentences and paragraphs
A lasting impression A conclusion can be connected using linking words or phrases.
should repeat
However, use these sparingly.
the main points.
A conclusion should summarize the
main points made in a piece of writing
and make a decisive judgment about the on the other hand therefore
topic. It should refer back to the original question by contrast
and, ideally, any points made in the introduction. however thus
A sophisticated conclusion can end by referring nevertheless as a result of
to the wider implications of the question, and accordingly
leave the reader with something to think about.
to contrast one idea
with another to give logical reasons

If you start now, perhaps you could be first also
climbing the Olympic podium one day. next moreover
first of all
A final, memorable furthermore
statement in a piece of finally in addition
writing is sometimes
called a “clincher.”
to order ideas in a sequence to develop an idea