Paragraph Types

You should do the following:

Unit Four: Paragraph Types
Paragraphs can be classified into various types.
Classification is due to purpose (function).
Types: Descriptive, process, narrative, opinion,
etc.
No matter what the type is, the three sentence
types ( topic, support, and concluding) should
be used.
Descriptive Paragraph

A Descriptive Paragraph is one

whose purpose is to explain how
somebody or something looks or
feels.
We use adjectives in such type of
paragraphs.
What is an Adjective?

An adjective is a word that modifies a noun.

It does so by making its meaning clearer
and its referent more limited.
Ex. Give me a pen.
Give me a red new pen.
Types & Position of Adjectives
Two types:
1- Attributive Adjectives ( comes before the noun in
the noun phrase)
2- Predicative Adjectives ( comes after the verb
within the predicate)
Verb is either Be (is, am, are, etc.) or Linking Verb
( seem, look, appear, etc.
Examples
• The new student is my cousin.
• I bought a blue shirt.
• She is a clever student.
• -------------------------------------------------------------
• She is noisy.
• These students look smart.
• I thought her (to be)clever.
4- Read this description from a travel brochure. Circle the adjectives.

Niagara Falls, popular destination for thousands of

visitors each year, is a beautiful place. When you
stand at the edge and look down at the 188 feet of
white waterfalls, you feel amazed at the power of
nature. The tree-lined river that leads into the falls is
fast-moving, pouring over the edge of the falls and
crashing to the bottom in a loud roar. If you want to
experience the falls close up, go for a boat ride. You’ll
come near enough to look up at the roaring streams
of water flowing over the edge and feel the cold mist
that rises as the water hits the rocks below. Seeing
Niagara is an unforgettable experience
Niagara Falls, popular destination for thousands
of visitors each year, is a beautiful place. When you
stand at the edge and look down at the 188 feet of
white waterfalls, you feel amazed at the power of
nature. The tree-lined river that leads into the falls is
fast-moving, pouring over the edge of the falls and
crashing to the bottom in a loud roar. If you want to
experience the falls close up, go for a boat ride.
You’ll come near enough to look up at the roaring
streams of water flowing over the edge and feel the
cool mist that rises as the water hits the rocks
below. Seeing Niagara is an unforgettable
experience
Prepositions

A preposition is a word governing, and usually

preceding, a noun or pronoun and expressing a
relation to another word or element in the
clause, as in ‘the man on the platform’, ‘she
arrived after dinner’, ‘what did you do it for ?’.
Prepositions

Spatial (Place) Temporal (Time)

Spatial prepositions are used in

descriptive paragraphs
Read this paragraph that describes
someone's favourite place. Underline the
prepositions.
My favourite place to relax is a small café down the
street from where I live. This café is on a small side
street and as soon as you see it, you feel like going in.
There are three windows on either side of the door, and
each window has a small window box with brightly
couloured flowers. There is a small wooden door that
opens into the café, and as soon as you go in, you can
see a dozen small tables all around the room. Even
though it isn’t a big place, its size makes it very cosy and
comfortable. I always like to sit at a small table in the
corner near the front windows. From here, I can look at
the artwork on the walls and at the pretty green plants
hanging from the ceiling. With a strong cup of coffee
and a good book, I feel very happy and relaxed in my
favourite café.
My favourite place to relax is a small café down the
street from where I live. This café is on a small side street
and as soon as you see it, you feel like going in. There are
three windows on either side of the door, and each
window has a small window box with brightly couloured
flowers. There is a small wooden door that opens into
the café, and as soon as you go in, you can see a dozen
small tables all around the room. Even though it isn’t a
big place, its size makes it very cosy and comfortable. I
always like to sit at a small table in the corner near the
front windows. From here, I can look at the artwork on
the walls and at the pretty green plants hanging from the
ceiling. With a strong cup of coffee and a good book, I
feel very happy and relaxed in my favourite café.
Write six sentences to describe
the place where you are right
now. Try to answer some of the
questions under 'Using
adjectives' on page 25. Use
adjectives and prepositions.
Page 25 Questions
• Where is the place?
• How big is it?
• How warm or cold is the place?
• How does the place make you feel? Why?
• What things can you see in this place?
• What colours do you see?
Describing a Character: describing people
Here are some common adjectives far describing people:

• Personality • Physical characteristics

happy, satisfied big, large, tall
relaxed small, tiny, short
exciting thin
nervous heavy
angry strong
serious weak
sad, depressed brown-, black-, blond-,
outgoing red-haired
light-, dark-skinned
• A description of a person may answer some
of the following questions:
• Who is the person?
• What does the person do?
• What does he or she look like?
• How does the person act-what is his or
her personality like?
• How does he or she make others feel?
• 6- Read this description written by
a young woman about her
grandmother. Circle the adjectives
that describe the grandmother
When I was young, I admired my grandmother for her
strength and kindness. She was not very big. In fact, she was tiny
and very thin. She was strong, though. She lived by herself and
still did a lot of the chores around her house. When I was a child,
I saw her almost every day, and she and I would talk about
everything. She was a very happy person and was always smiling
and joking, and she often made me laugh . My grandmother
was also very patient, and she would listen to all of my
problems. She gave me very good advice whenever I needed it. I
didn’t need to be afraid to tell her anything, because she never
got annoyed with me. She just listened and tried to help. I also
liked to spend time with her because she had interesting stories
to tell me about her own childhood and life experiences. When I
was young, my grandmother was my best friend.
When I was young, I admired my grandmother for her
strength and kindness. She was not very big. In fact, she was
tiny and very thin. She was strong, though. She lived by herself
and still did a lot of the chores around her house. When I was a
child, I saw her almost every day, and she and I would talk
about everything. She was a very happy person and was always
smiling and joking, and she often made me laugh . My
grandmother was also very patient, and she would listen to all
of my problems. She gave me very good advice whenever I
needed it. I didn’t need to be afraid to tell her anything,
because she never got annoyed with me. She just listened and
tried to help. I also liked to spend time with her because she
had interesting stories to tell me about her own childhood and
life experiences. When I was young, my grandmother was my
best friend.
This is Mr. Smith. He is a ………. He is a ………
man. His has no hair; he is ……….. He always acts
………….. . His wearing style is …………

----------------------------------------------------------------
This is Linda. She is a ……….. She (looks )…………
She always wear ………….. She often carry a ………
purse with her.
8
Assignment 3a : Write a paragraph
In this paragraph describe a person
you know well.
Process paragraphs

A process paragraph is a description

of how to do something. It explains
the steps you need to follow to
complete an activity.
A-Underline the topic sentence & concluding sentences:

Brown rice and vegetables is a simple and delicious meal to make.

First, cook the rice, following the directions on the packet. Then, cut
the vegetables into one-inch pieces. Next, heat the oil, chili sauce, and
garlic in a frying pan. After that, add the vegetables and fry them until
they are soft, but still a little crunchy. Now it is time to stir in the
cooked rice. After stirring the rice and vegetables together, add salt
and pepper to your own taste. Finally put the rice and vegetables into a
large bowl and serve it with freshly chopped tomatoes and onions on
top. Now you are ready to enjoy your delicious brown rice and
vegetables!
B-
1. Cook the rice.
2. Cut the vegetables into one-inch pieces.
3. Heat the oil, chili sauce, and garlic.
4. Add the vegetables and fry them.
5. Stir in the cooked rice.
6. Add salt and pepper.
7. Put the rice and vegetables into a bowl and
serve with tomatoes and spring onions on top.
C- How are the steps in the paragraph connected
together? What words do you see that help show the
sequence to follow? Underline them.

Transition words and phrases connect the

sentences together.
First; Then ; Next; After that; Now; After;
Finally; Now
Read this recipe and do
the exercises below
1O Add other transition words you know to
the list above.

now; when; while; at first; to

begin / start with; first of all;
afterwards; later; lastly
11 Choose appropriate transition words to connect the steps in this paragraph about
preparing for a trip.

Planning a holiday abroad? Here are some suggestions to make your trip successful.
ª· ............, find out if you need a visa for the country that you want to visit.
Make sure you have enough time to apply for it b. .... ............ .... . you buy your ticket.
c . ...... ....... .... .... you've found out about visas, you should research airfares and timetables.
d. ... ............., look for the best flight for you . Remember, the cheapest flight may stop
over in several cities and reduce the amount of time you have to spend at your
destination. You might want to fly direct. e .... ....... .. .. you're researching flights, you
can also ask your travel agent about getting a good deal on a hotel. lt's a good idea to
book your flight and hotel early if you're sure of your destination. lf you haven't already
done it, the f. ... .... ... ........... step is to learn about places to visit, the weather, the food,
and other details about the country. The Internet can be a very useful source of
information. g. .. .......... ......... ., on the day of your flight, make sure you go to the airport at
least two hours before your flight. Now you are ready to start enjoying your holiday !
• 11
Answers will vary. Possible answers:
a. First / First of all
b. before
c. After
d. Next
e. While / When
f. next
g. Finally
• Ordering sentences
12 Order the steps to form a process
paragraph. Write 1 next to the first step, 2
for the
second step, and so on.
• 12
a. 2
b. 4
c. 6
d. 5
e. 3
f. 7
g. 1
Assignment 3 b(13)

Write a process paragraph about a topic that

you know well. First, brainstorm all the
steps that need to be followed. Then write the
paragraph. Remember to use transitions.
14
Paragraphs will vary. One possible answer:

I live next to a beautiful park. The park is quite large and

has a lot of nice, green trees and grass. There is a small lake
in the park where you can see people enjoying many
different activities, such as swimming, fishing, boating, and
other outdoor sports. In addition, there are many
comfortable places to sit and relax. If you feel like walking or
jogging, there are a lot of well-planned paths that you can
take, and everywhere you go you can see beautiful flowers
in all sorts of colours. I really enjoy spending time in this
park.