Parts of a Formal Paragraph

1) Topic sentence
• This is when you state, in one sentence, the argument/position you will prove throughout
your paragraph. It basically introduces the topic and main idea you will be discussing.
• In grade 7, this topic sentence will usually be given to you in the topic.
2) Argument Point
• In your own words, state the first overall idea or argument or reason (not example) that
supports your thesis. This should be a general statement. Begin with a transition word.
Consider: Initially, First… Ex. Initially, hats allow students to express themselves as individuals.
**Basically, a clear sentence of your argument to support your topic sentence. YOU MUST BE
ABLE TO PROVE THIS!
3) First Proof/ Example/ Quote
• This is when you include a specific example and/or quotation from a text that proves the
more general point you said you would argue. Begin with a transition word that suggests you
are about to get more specific. This should be specifically from the novel Ex. “In the novel….” Or
“For Example…”
OR…a specific quotation from the novel that supports or proves your point. Include page
number and who said it.
Also Consider: “Specifically”, “To be more specific”… Ex. Specifically, a student who is a fan of
hockey should be able to share her enthusiasm with other students by wearing a hat with the
logo of her favourite hockey team. OR Ex. “Specifically, a student who has an interest in fashion
should be able to accessorize her outfit with a complementary hat.”
Either of the above examples would work since they are two different specific examples to
prove the more general point that students should be able to express themselves.
4) First Explanation
• Make the connection for your reader between the point and the proof/example.
• Clearly explain how and/or why the proof/example or quote help you to prove your point and
thesis.
• Aim for a minimum of two sentences here – this is where you build your argument and it is
challenging to convince someone of your position in fewer than three sentences.
Ex. High school is a time when teenagers are beginning to discover their identity. As such, they
deserve the freedom to express that identity in ways that are creative and visible, especially
when they do no harm to others. Wearing a Montreal Canadiens hat provides a student with a
harmless way to support her team and share, with her peers, her passion for a sport. It provides
a positive method of expressing something that matters to her and allows her the opportunity
to connect with other students who share her interests.
5) Conclusion
• Summarize the two main points of the paragraph and very clearly make a connection back
to your thesis. Use different words than you did in your original thesis but keep the idea the
same. Begin with a transition word that suggests that you are finished your argument.
Consider: Evidently, Clearly, Overall…

Based on what you just read above and class discussions…..

a) Label the parts of the paragraph below.
b) Underline transition words.

Sample Paragraph
Life Lessons from a Cat

Every teenager should read Doctor Seuss’ The Cat in the Hat because the story exposes
the reader to valuable life lessons. Initially, Seuss teaches the reader a life lesson that through
creativity, it is possible to turn a negative situation into a positive one. Specifically, Seuss
demonstrates this at the point in the story where the Cat in the Hat arrives at the home of two
children on a rainy day when the children are bored because they cannot go outside to play.
The Cat, through the use of creative imagination, creates entertaining situations and despite
the fact that they cannot leave their house, the children end up having fun. Both the children in
the story and the reader learn that the Cat was able turn the children’s boring day into a fun
one simply by thinking creatively. This life lesson is valuable for teenagers to learn so that they
realize that their life is not controlled by external forces but rather, by their power of
imagination. As the above example demonstrates, Doctor Seuss’ Cat in the Hat teaches valuable
life lessons to the reader.