Writing: Paragraphing & Text Organization (Essays/Reports) (B2) - Lesson 1: Developing Well-Structured Paragraphs
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Hello B2 Writers! 👋
At the B2 level, you're ready to develop your paragraphs with more depth and clarity. A well-structured paragraph not only presents a main idea but also supports it effectively with evidence, examples, and explanations.
This lesson will guide you on how to build strong paragraphs that are convincing and easy for your reader to follow, which is essential for essays, reports, and other types of structured writing.
In this lesson, you will:
- Review the basic components of a paragraph.
- Learn about using evidence and explanations to support your topic sentence (e.g., the P.E.E. model).
- Analyze and practice structuring paragraphs effectively.
Quick Review: What Makes a Good Paragraph?
Remember from B1, a good paragraph typically has:
- A Topic Sentence: This states the main idea or argument of the paragraph. It's often the first sentence.
- Supporting Sentences: These provide details, explanations, reasons, or facts that develop and support the topic sentence. All supporting sentences must directly relate to the main idea.
- (Optional but good) A Concluding Sentence: This might summarize the main point or provide a transition to the next paragraph.
At B2, we focus on making those supporting sentences even stronger by using clear evidence and providing good explanations.
Developing Support: The P.E.E. Model
A helpful way to structure your supporting details within a paragraph is the P.E.E. model (or similar variations like P.E.E.L. where L is Link).
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P = Point (Topic Sentence):
Make your main point for the paragraph. This is your topic sentence.
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E = Evidence / Example:
Provide evidence to support your point. This could be a fact, a statistic, a quote (if you are using sources), a specific example from your experience, or an observation.
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E = Explanation / Elaboration:
Explain how or why your evidence supports your point. Don't just give evidence; explain its significance and connect it back to your main idea (topic sentence). Elaborate on the evidence.
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(L = Link - Optional, or part of Explanation):
Sometimes, you might add a sentence that links this point to the next paragraph or back to the overall argument of your text (especially in essays). For now, focus on P.E.E.
A paragraph might have more than one piece of evidence and explanation for a single point (topic sentence).
Example of a Paragraph using P.E.E.
Let's look at a paragraph about the benefits of learning a musical instrument.
Playing a musical instrument offers significant cognitive benefits, particularly for young learners. (Point/Topic Sentence)
For example, numerous studies have shown that children who learn music tend to perform better in subjects like math and science. (Evidence/Example)
This is likely because learning an instrument involves understanding patterns, developing discipline through practice, and improving memory skills, all of which are transferable to other academic areas. (Explanation)
Therefore, encouraging music education can be a valuable way to support overall intellectual development. (Further Explanation/Concluding thought for the paragraph)
In this example:
- The Point is that playing an instrument has cognitive benefits.
- The Evidence is that studies show better performance in math/science.
- The Explanation tells us *why* this might be (patterns, discipline, memory) and links it back to development.
Practice Developing Well-Structured Paragraphs!
Activity 1: Identify P.E.E. Components
Read the paragraph below. Click on each sentence and identify if it's mainly the Point (Topic Sentence), Evidence/Example, or Explanation.
Activity 2: Write Supporting Sentences (Evidence & Explanation)
You are given a topic sentence (Point). Write one sentence providing Evidence/Example and one sentence providing an Explanation for it.
✨ Tips for Well-Structured Paragraphs ✨
- Start with a Clear Topic Sentence: Make sure your main idea for the paragraph is clearly stated.
- Provide Specific Support: Use concrete examples, facts (if you have them), or clear reasons as your evidence. Avoid vague statements.
- Explain Your Evidence: Don't assume your reader understands how your evidence supports your point. Explain the connection.
- Stay Focused: All sentences in the paragraph (evidence and explanation) must directly support the topic sentence.
- Use Transition Words: Words like "For example," "Therefore," "Because," "Furthermore," can help link your ideas smoothly within the paragraph.
- Concluding Thought: A good concluding sentence can wrap up the paragraph's idea nicely.
Building Stronger Paragraphs! 🎉
By learning to develop your topic sentences with clear evidence and thoughtful explanations, you can write much more convincing and well-structured paragraphs, which is essential for essays, reports, and many other types of B2 level writing!