Once your child becomes comfortable with outlining his ideas, writing supportive sentences that provide details, developing a strong concluding sentence, and composing an attention-grabbing topic sentence, the next step is to teach him about organizing and writing different types of paragraphs.  For the child with attention difficulties, it is helpful to teach him:

• The purpose of different types of paragraphs.
• The structure of different types of paragraphs.
• The use of transition words to help your ideas flow from one idea to another.

 By teaching him the organization of different types of paragraphs, you help your child develop his own internal structure for writing. Start with these examples.

 The Example Paragraph is one of the easiest paragraphs to write.  Specific, concrete, and carefully selected examples are used in this type of paragraph.  For example, your child may wish to write about the different types of paragraphs (with transition words in bold type.)  Here’s an example of an example paragraph.

Have you ever thought about how many different types of paragraphs there are? Although there are too many to describe in one paragraph, there are five paragraph types writers commonly use to express their thoughts and ideas.  For example, a narrative paragraph is used to tell a story with events arranged in the order they occurred.  Likewise, a process paragraph explains how to complete a task, step by step following a sequence.  Of course, a descriptive paragraph provides specific details about what something looks, smells, tastes, sounds, or feels like. Moreover, a classification paragraph explains the various parts of a topic by separating them into groups.  Finally, an illustration provides examples and explains how those examples prove your point. What other types of paragraphs can you describe?

The Process or Sequential Paragraph details a series of events in time order.  This paragraph may begin by describing materials needed.  Then it can go on to describe the many different steps involved in making or doing something.  Point of view must remain consistent—writing cannot change from I to you in midstream.  A good process paragraph might describe how to write a paragraph.  Good transition words include: first, second, third, then, next, also, after, at last, finally, and afterwards.

 Writing paragraphs can be fun if you know how.  First, generate ideas by making a list of possible summer jobs or excuses for not doing assignments.  Second, use the ideas you’ve listed to write three (or more) supporting sentences for your main idea. Next, write a good concluding sentence to summarize your thoughts, make a request for action, or give an opinion. Finally, compose the topic sentence last after you have developed your main idea: this sentence should attempt to get the reader’s attention so he or she wants to read more. Try this step-by-step approach and enjoy writing better paragraphs.

Now, you try using the descriptions in the next post to help your child start writing better paragraphs while developing her own internal structure for writing.

 (c) 2010, flexiture, monte w.davenport, ph.d.