38
Beginning Writing 2
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NAME DATE
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GETTING COMFORTABLE WITH PARAGRAPHS: W
RITING

TO
C
OMPARE
One good way to develop a paragraph is to
compare
two things—to show how
they are alike. The topic sentence sets up the comparison. Paragraph details
support the topic sentence. The following topic sentence might begin a paragraph
of comparison:
Both Mexico and Hawaii are good vacation choices.
A.
Read each pair of sentences. Then circle a letter to show the topic
sentence that could begin a paragraph of comparison.
1. a. Trumpeter Miles Davis and actor James Dean both added “cool”
to the cool generation of the 1950s.
b. Miles Davis showed what the fifties were all about in his record
album Birth of the Cool.
2. a. Americans must conserve their natural resources to prevent a fuel crisis.
b. Natural gas and electricity are equally important resources that fuel
America.
3. a. Speed-Rite and LifeSafe are equally fine brands of auto tires.
b. An automobile’s tires are among its most important safety features.
4. a. Certain types of people seek high-risk adventure.

Writers sometimes build paragraphs by
contrasting
two things—pointing out their
differences.

The topic sentence sets up the contrast, and detail sentences develop
that idea. The following topic sentence might begin a paragraph of contrast:
The
Tuttlesville Turtles and the Hollyton Hares play very different styles of basketball.
A.
Check the two sentences that could begin a paragraph of contrast.
1. _____ The Republican and Democrat candidates expressed contrary
views.
2. _____ The states of Alaska and Minnesota have similar climates.
3. _____ I’ve heard that opposites attract, and my girlfriend Deb is surely
different from me!
B.
Certain words and phrases are useful in
paragraphs of contrast. Circle the hidden
words and phrases where you find them
in the puzzle. Words may go up, down,
across, backward, or diagonally. Check
off each word as you find it.
___ INSTEAD OF ___ YET
___ ON THE CONTRARY ___ WHILE
___ NEVERTHELESS ___ RATHER
___ IN SPITE OF ___ WHEREAS
___ ON THE OTHER HAND ___ BUT
___ IN CONTRAST ___ ALTHOUGH
___ HOWEVER ___ STILL

NAME DATE
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GETTING COMFORTABLE WITH PARAGRAPHS: T
HE
N
ARRATIVE
P
ARAGRAPH
A
narrative paragraph
tells a story that may be true or imaginary. This kind of
paragraph answers the question, “What happened?” The details in a
narrative are usually told in chronological order.
A.
When you write a personal narrative, you tell the story of something that
happened to you. Read each question below. Then answer the question by
writing a topic sentence that could begin a narrative paragraph.
1. What is your earliest memory as a child? ______________________________
____________________________________________________________________
2. What is the most frightening situation you’ve been in? _________________
____________________________________________________________________
3. What happened to make you feel proud of yourself? ____________________
____________________________________________________________________
4. What was one of the happiest days of your life? ________________________
____________________________________________________________________
5. What situation makes you laugh to recall? ____________________________
____________________________________________________________________
6. What childhood experience will you tell to your children? _______________
____________________________________________________________________
B.

TRANSITIONS
THATTHAT
THATTHAT
THAT
SHOWSHOW
SHOWSHOW
SHOW
TIMETIME
TIMETIME
TIME
TRANSITIONS THAT SHOW HOW ONE IDEA RELATES TO ANOTHERTRANSITIONS THAT SHOW HOW ONE IDEA RELATES TO ANOTHER
TRANSITIONS THAT SHOW HOW ONE IDEA RELATES TO ANOTHERTRANSITIONS THAT SHOW HOW ONE IDEA RELATES TO ANOTHER
TRANSITIONS THAT SHOW HOW ONE IDEA RELATES TO ANOTHER
at the same time once then as a result therefore another
before long at last first in conclusion however indeed
meanwhile soon today in addition even so also
afterward after next for example most importantly
finally as later fortunately
A.
Complete the transitional words by filling in the missing letters.
1. O__ __e the people of North America had to carry their own belongings

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GETTING COMFORTABLE WITH PARAGRAPHS: C
ONCLUDING

A
P
ARAGRAPH
Paragraphs that stand alone usually have a concluding sentence. This final
sentence does not add new details. Instead, it summarizes and restates the
main idea of the paragraph.
A.
Circle a letter to show the best concluding sentence for the following
paragraph.
In the early 1900s, American reformers fought for greatly needed child
labor laws. Children were working long hours in dangerous factories. They
breathed the dust of coal mines. They worked 12-hour days in cotton mills.
Each year, thousands of working children were killed or injured.
a. Indeed, the time had come to pass laws that would protect these children.
b. One child, for example, sweated from 5:00
P
.
M
. to 5:00
A
.
M
. each night
in front of a glass blower’s furnace.
B.
Transitional words or phrases can signal the reader that the writer is