How do I write a good paragraph?

 

A good place to start is making things simple. 

For paragraphs, this means understanding clearly what is expected. Once you know that, then you can focus on getting your big, most impressive points out under the pressure of exams.

You will have probably heard your teachers talk about PEE paragraphs. 

Point. (Or you may hear it called a Topic Sentence.) This is the subject of your paragraph. For example, "Writing essays is difficult".

Evidence. You need to back up your point and give your readers a reason to believe you. For example, "Students study writing for five years in preparation for their GCSEs". (If you can, it really helps to include a statistic here).

Explanation. This is the difficult part. While theoretically, you should be able to write a paragraph in three sentences, this section is where you should be detailed. Pick apart your evidence - how does it link to your 'Point' sentence? What does it mean? For example, why are five years specifically important? This section is your chance to show off to examiners so have some fun with it!

Most importantly, your paragraphs should cover ONE POINT. If you find yourself talking about something unrelated to your Point sentence - then you need a new paragraph!

For extra practice, why not make paragraph arguments with your family around the dinner table? One of you argue for why broccoli is the best vegetable, another for carrots, another for no vegetables at all. 

Give your point, back it up and say why your evidence is relevant. That's all there is to it.