Type of Paragraph:           

To reveal the character of a human being, using selective details and imagination.

For Good Results:   

1. Have a dominant impression of your character in mind.

2.Describe a character familiar to you.

3.Describe character, not just appearance.

4.Use some of the techniques listed below.

5.Use some order in description.

6.Use vivid action verbs, accurate adjectives, and a the saurus if available.

List of Suggested Characters:

a teammate        an old man       

a surgeon          a businessman

a teacher            a child               

a criminal            a judge                     

a scientist            a grandfather   

a policeman        an old woman     

an employer        an odd neighbor

Techniques for Describing Character:

1. By showing the character in action   

2. By clothing                             

3. By personal appearance                   

4. By nervous habit, trait, or mannerism   

5. By environment                     

6. By his or her thoughts                 

7. By what he or she says               

8.  By what others say to him or her

9.  By what others say about him or her

10.  By describing facial expression

11.  By directly telling and explaining

12.  By describing an injury or handicap

13.  By using metaphor and simile

14.  By the character’s possessions

Sample Paragraph:

                                Midge

Some Irish grandmother must have given her the sparkling dark-blue eyes and the lashes “laid with a sooty finger.” Perhaps from this same relative had come the slightly tilted nose with its drifts of gold freckles across the bridge, and perhaps, too, her air of gaiety. Even when Midge moved, she had a light, happy quality. The gaiety danced along ahead of her like sunlight glinting on the ripples of a stream. Strangers were drawn to her immediately. When she walked down the sidewalk in town, people who passed her sometimes followed her with their eyes and smiled to themselves. Someone might say, “Did you see that girl?” or “I wonder what makes her so happy.”  Midge was one of the very special people who was not only beautiful on the outside but also on the inside where it counts the most.

Paragraph Writing:

In general, the purpose of a paragraph is to express one point, idea or opinion.

For example:

Students require more recreational time in order to better focus on lessons in class.

This main idea is expressed through three sections of a paragraph:

1.  Beginning —— Introduce your idea.

2.  Middle —— Explain your idea.

3.  End ——Make your point again, transition to next paragraph.

Here is a paragraph taken from an essay on various strategies required for an overall improvement of student performance:

Students require more recreational time in order to better focus on lessons in class. In fact, studies have shown that students who enjoy a recess of more than 45 minutes consistently score better on tests immediately following the recess period.

Clinical analysis further suggests that physical exercise greatly improves the ability to focus on academic materials. Longer periods of recess are clearly required to allow students the best possible chances of success in their studies. Clearly, physical exercise is just one of the necessary ingredients for improving student scores on standardized tests.

There are four sentence types used to construct a paragraph:

1. Topic sentence

One sentence which states your idea, point, or opinion.

This sentence should use a strong verb and make a bold statement.

For example:

Students require more recreational time in order to better focus on lessons in class.

NOTE:

Notice the strong verb 'require' which is a call to action.

A weaker form of this sentencemight be:

I think students probably need more recreational time ...

This weaker form is inappropriate for a topic sentence.

2. Supporting sentences

Supporting sentences (notice the plural) provide explanations and support for the topic sentence (main idea) of your paragraph.

For example:

In fact, studies have shown that students who enjoy a recess of more than 45 minutes consistently score better on tests immediately following the recess period. Clinical analysis further suggests that physical exercise greatly improves the ability to focus on academic materials.

NOTE:

Supporting sentences provide the evidence for your topic sentence.

Supporting sentences that include facts, statistics and logical reasoning are much more convincing that simple statements of opinion.

3. Concluding sentence

The concluding sentence restates the main idea (found in your topic sentence) and reinforces the point or opinion.

For example:

Longer periods of recess are clearly required to allow students the best possible chances of success in their studies.

NOTE:

Concluding sentences repeat the main idea of your paragraph in different words.

4.Transitional sentence

The transitional sentence prepares the reader for the following paragraph.

For example:

Clearly, physical exercise is just one of the necessary ingredients for improving student scores on standardized tests.

NOTE:

Transitional sentences should help readers logically understand the connection between your current main idea, point or opinion and the main idea of your next paragraph.

In this instance, the phrase 'just one of the necessary ingredients ...'prepares the reader for the next paragraph which will discuss another necessary ingredient for success.

注：图片为院子里春天开放的玫瑰花和我家JOHNNY.