A paragraph is a basic unit of organization in writing in which a group of sentences develops one main idea. The number of sentences a paragraph contains is not important. It can be as short as one sentence or as long as nine sentences, the most important thing is that the idea stated at the beginning is clearly developed.

Parts of a Paragraph

Three essential parts compose any paragraph: a topic sentence, supporting sentences and a concluding sentence.

1. Topic Sentence: it states the main idea of the paragraph. It contains the name of the topic that is to be carried out. This sentence has to be precise, but avoid telling everything in the first sentence or your reader will lose interest. The topic sentence serves to limit the topic to one or two areas that will be discussed entirely in the space of one paragraph. The area is what we call the controling idea.
2. Supporting Sentences: they come after the topic sentence, making up the body of a paragraph. they help develop the topic sentence. It means that these sentences explain the topic by giving reasons, examples, facts, statistics, and quotations.
3. Closing Sentences: it´s the last sentence in a paragraph, it indicates that the paragraph is ending and sums up important points to remember or reprises the main idea. You write it restating the main idea of a paragraph but using different words.

Kinds of Paragraphs

Definition Paragraph: When writing a definition paragraph, you take a thing or an idea and explain what it is.

Classification Paragraph: When writing a classification paragraph, you group things or ideas into specific categories.

Description Paragraph:In a description paragraph, you are writing about what a person, place, or thing is like. Sometimes, you may describe where a place is located.

Compare and Contrast Paragraph:In a compare and contrast paragraph, you write about the similarities and differences between two or more people, places, things, or ideas.

Writing Practice Exercise #1

General Instructions: Please read the instructions for each part of the exercise. 

(a)Write one topic sentence for each of the following topics: 

• Your hometown 

My hometown is Carora. It`s a city with very  hot climate and gentle people.

• A place you would like to travel to.

I would like to travel to Mexico because it is a religious country  and it has a attractive culture for tourists. 

Our family is big and we like to enjoy together on vacations, when we decide  travel we share nice moments.

(b)Choose one of the above topics and write ONE complete paragraph about it. You should use a good topic sentence and adequately detailed supporting sentences. You do not have to include a concluding sentence if you do not wish to do so.

My hometown is Carora. It  is a city of hot climate and gentle people. Carora has one of the most beautiful colonial zones and the best conserved of Venezuela . The cattle ranch is one the main economical activities,  actually it has its own cattle race that it is one of the best milk producer; in the last few years wine manufacture has been developed as other economical activities. 

Writing Practice Exercise #2

Write paragraphs: 

(a) One Definition paragraph of at least seven sentences. 

The Earth is the third planet of the Solar System, considering its distance to the Sun, and fifth of them according to its size. It is the only planet of the universe that knows in that it exists and the life is originated. The Earth formed at the same time that the Sun and the rest of the Solar System, was made 4,570 million years ago.

The 71% of the Earth surface are covered with water. It is the only planet of the Solar System where the water can exist permanently in liquid state in the surface. The water has been essential for the life and has formed a system of circulation and unique erosion in the Solar System. The Earth has an only natural satellite, the Moon.

(b) One Classification paragraph with seven or more sentences.

A system is a set of related elements that interact to each other. The concept has two differentiated uses, that respectively talk about to the systems of concepts and the real objects more or less complex and equipped with organization. We can speak of three types of systems: Real, conceptual and isolated.

A real system is a material organization formed by organized parts.

An isolated system is a part or region of the separated universe of the others.

A conceptual system or ideal system is a set organized of definitions, names, symbols and other instruments of thought or communication.

(c) One Description paragraph with seven or more sentences.

Mariel is a girl. She is ten years old. She is smart girl, she loves to play in the computer. She teaches her sister to read and write. She likes to navegate  on Internet. She looks for information about her studies. She has a dog that name is Drago.

(d) One Comparison paragraph with seven or more sentences.

I want to buy a car but I haven´t decided which one I will buy.

I like a Ford one. the agency has a Toyota one. The Toyota is more expensive than the Ford one. The Toyota is more quality than Ford.

But my husband likes as Toyota as Ford. We decided to buy the Toyota one.   

 (e) One Constract paragraph with seven or more sentences.

Vanessa my cousin is thinner than me but I am nicer than her. Our friends prefer to talk to me. Because she is lazy. Vanessa gets good marks in English but she doesn’t go to the parties. Vanessa´s mother does not leave her leaves so much as me. I feel happier than her.