Paragraphs

Go to Paragraph Builder - Writer's Den and review paragraph structure.

Go to: TOEFL-Prep Site and complete lessons 1-4.


Consider what the purpose of your paragraph will be. Below are some different purposes for paragraphs. Please review.

Stating: Making an assertion.

Restating: Putting into different words an assertion already made for purposes of clarification and/or adjustment or emphasis.

Supporting: Providing evidence for an assertion.

Concurring: Agreeing with another author's assertion.

Qualifying: Restricting the meaning of an assertion already made.

Conceding: Acknowledging the presence of a fact or perspective that calls into question that author's own assertions.

Negating: Offering reasoning or evidence to demonstrate the falsehoold of an assertion.

Expanding: Stating at great length or more comprehensively an idea or assertion already expressed.

Analyzing: Breaking an assertion down into its constituent parts in order to clarify or evaluate it.

Defining: Stating the meaning of a word or words previously or subsequently used.

Describing: Naming one or more features of an object or concept, to help the reader imagine it precisely or understand it fully.

Exemplifying: Giving an illustration of what is meant by a previous statement or giving a concrete instance that will help make the point credible.

Comparing and constrasting: Examining objects alongside each other for the purpose of clarifying their features, evaluating them or noting differences and
similarities.

Narrating: Telling a story describing an event or series of events

Evaluating: Making judgement about something discussed previously

Synthesizing: Combining elements of previous paragraphs into a coherent whole; often this includes presenting a new perspective on the subject.

Summarizing: Restating the principal idea or the outline of an argument or point already introduced.

Transitioning: Moving from one aspect of the argument to another by connecting the points for the reader.


Assignment: Select five types of paragraphs above and write that type of paragraph.