How do you make your paragraphs flow and

connect?

In this lesson, you will learn how to make your paragraphs

flow by using transition phrases to connect your

examples to your opinion.

Let’s ReviewLet’s Review

In each body paragraph of your essay, you will explain a reason that supports your opinion.

Thesis Statement

1st Body Paragraph: Reason 1

2nd Body Paragraph: Reason 2

3rd Body Paragraph: Reason 3

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Within each of your paragraphs, you will use examples and experiences to explain your reason.

ReasonExamples Experiences

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Writing Process

Generate Ideas

Write Drafts

Revise & Edit

1 2 3

Let’s ReviewA Common Mistake

Not connecting your reason, examples and experiences to your thesis

statement.

ReasonExamples and Experiences

Thesis

How does this paragraph relate to your opinion?

Let’s ReviewCore Lesson

Reread your reason and write it as a topic sentence.

1

2 Use transition phrases before the examples to connect sentences within your paragraph.

Let’s ReviewCore Lesson

Reread your reason and write it as a topic sentence..

1

If people recycle, there will be less trash. Less trash means smaller landfills.

• Many items that can be recycled, like bottles and boxes, take up a lot of space. If people recycle these items, they are saving landfill space.

• When I visited a landfill, I was surprised by the size, and amount of waste. If you combine all the landfills around the world, that’s a lot of waste!

Let’s ReviewCore Lesson

If more people recycle, we will have less trash and smaller landfills on our planet.

Topic Sentence:

Let’s ReviewCore Lesson

2 Use transition phrases before the examples to connect sentences within your paragraph.

If people recycle, there will be less trash. Less trash means smaller landfills.

• Many items that can be recycled, like bottles and boxes, take up a lot of space. If people recycle these items, they are saving landfill space.

• When I visited a landfill, I was surprised by the size, and amount of waste. If you combine all the landfills around the world, that’s a lot of waste!

Let’s ReviewCore Lesson

If more people recycle, we will have less trash and smaller landfills on our planet. For example, many items that can be recycled, like bottles and boxes, take up a lot of space. If people recycle these items, they are saving landfill space. I experienced this when I visited a landfill. I was surprised by the size and amount of waste. If you combine all the landfills around the world, that’s a lot of waste!

Let’s ReviewCore Lesson

Reread your reason and write it as a topic sentence.

1

2 Use transition phrases before the examples to connect sentences within your paragraph.

In this lesson, you will learn how to make your

paragraphs flow by using transition phrases to

connect your examples to your opinion.

Let’s ReviewGuided Practice

Read the following thesis statement and body paragraph.

Try adding transition words or phrases to connect the ideas in this paragraph.

Let’s ReviewGuided Practice

Thesis Statement: If you want to have more energy and have a healthier life, you should choose to eat healthy foods.

Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains give your body vitamins and nutrients that your body needs to function properly. This can keep you from getting sick, so you don’t have to miss school or playtime! Last summer, I ate a lot of junk food and got sick with the flu. I was home sick for a whole week!

Let’s ReviewExtension ActivitiesBrainstorm a new thesis statement and create an outline for the first body paragraph, using the organizer below.

Thesis Statement

Reason: Personal Example:

Personal Experience:

What transition words will you use to

make it flow?

Let’s ReviewExtension Activities

Now, take your outline and draft your practice body paragraph!

Let’s ReviewQuick Quiz

Read the following thesis statement and reasons. Choose one of the reasons and draft a body paragraph using a topic sentence, example, and experience. Use transition words to make your paragraph flow.

Let’s ReviewQuick Quiz

Reasons:• Less trash means smaller landfills.• Reusing containers can save families a lot of

money!• Recycling conserves natural resources.

Thesis: All people and the earth would benefit from everyone choosing to recycle.