Organize Strong Paragraphs

Group related ideas, choose topic sentences, order supporting details, use transitions, and close a paragraph or section coherently.

How the lesson starts: Organize Strong Paragraphs

Chef Amara's sandwiches
Chef Amara the elephant makes the best sandwiches in town. She says a paragraph is built just like a sandwich. And every sandwich starts with the top bun: the topic sentence!
The top bun
The topic sentence is the top bun. It tells the big idea, and it covers every detail underneath. Bees carry pollen. Flowers with pollen make fruit. Without bees, crops grow less food. The top bun: bees play a big part in helping plants grow.
A just-right top bun
A topic sentence must be just right. Bees carry pollen is only one detail. Too small! Insects live almost everywhere is way too big. Honey is sweet is off target. Bees play a big part in helping plants grow covers every detail.