This document provides guidance on writing paragraphs. It explains that a paragraph is a group of sentences about one main idea, called the topic. It shows an example paragraph written in the correct form, with rules for paragraph structure: indenting the first word, capitalizing the first word of each sentence, ending sentences with periods, and not starting new lines for each sentence. The document includes exercises for writing a paragraph about things enjoyed doing and finding active verbs related to a chosen noun.

1. Writing Workshop
November 2012
margo.hernandez@nisd.net
GETTING READY TO WRITE A PARAGRAPH
What is a paragraph?
A paragraph is a group of sentences about one main idea. This main idea is called the topic.
What does a paragraph look like?
An English paragraph has a special form. Look at the paragraph below. It is written in the
correct form.
My name is Christine Baker. I am 32 years old. I am from Boston,
Massachusetts. My native language is English. I am an author and a
teacher.
RULES OF PARAGRAPH WRITING
1. Indent the first word of a new paragraph.
2. Begin each sentence with a capital letter.
3. End each sentence with a period.
4. Do not start each new sentence on a new line.
What is wrong with this paragraph?
my name is Karen Lourie
i am 30 years old
i am from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
my native language is English
i am a fashion designer
Write the above paragraph correctly.
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2. WRITING A PARAGRAPH: Things I Enjoy Doing
A. Circle the things you enjoy doing Bake Cook Dance
Draw Exercise Shop
Museums Parties Movies
Read Music Paint
Golf Swim Games
B. Answer the following questions
1. What do you like to do in your free time?
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2. What are some things you would like to learn how to do?
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C. Write a short paragraph about the things you like to do.
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3. FINDING ACTIVE VERBS IN YOUR WRITING
Let’s build on the concept of "nouns as stuff" and verbs as "what stuff does."
Choose a NOUN, and then write the active verbs for this noun.
Noun Active Verb
Dog Faithful, companion, barks,
plays, yelps, talks, sleeps,
whines, loves
Example paragraph of the “Dog” NOUN:
The dogs are faithful human companions. Dogs play
and sleep next to their masters every day. Although some
dogs bark, whine and yelp, most humans consider them a
valuable part of the family. Dogs have become an integral
part of human’s loving nature for thousands of years.
Now, you write a paragraph using your noun:
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