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Grade 7 English Language Arts — Writing a paragraph

Build a paragraph from a topic sentence, supporting sentences and a closing sentence, and keep everything in it about one idea.

Name: ________________________

Before you start

A finished paragraph, drawn as the sentences it is built from. Find out what job each sentence is doing.

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  1. 1. The topic sentence, opening the idea
  2. 2. A supporting sentence — a reason
  3. 3. A supporting sentence — an example
  4. 4. A supporting sentence — a detail
  5. 5. The closing sentence, tying it off

The first and last sentences do a different job from the three in between: one opens the idea and one looks back over it, while the middle three are the only ones carrying anything new.

  1. 1.How many main ideas should one paragraph have?

    • a) Two
    • b) As many as you like
    • c) One
    • d) Three

  2. 2.Which sentence would make the best topic sentence for a paragraph about why reading is useful?

    • a) My favorite book is about a dog.
    • b) Reading helps us in more ways than one.
    • c) I read a book last night.
    • d) Books are made of paper.

  3. 3.Put these sentences in order to make one good paragraph.

    • The library is my favorite place in the school.
    • For all these reasons I go there whenever I can.
    • Second, it has shelves of books I could never afford to buy.
    • First, it is quiet enough to think in.
    • Best of all, nobody there ever hurries you.

  4. 4.Write one word: The sentence that tells the reader what the whole paragraph is about is called the ____ sentence.

  5. 5.Where does the topic sentence of a paragraph usually come?

    • a) It changes every time
    • b) In the middle
    • c) At the beginning
    • d) At the end

  6. 6.Match each linking word to what it tells the reader is coming.

    • however
    • for example
    • therefore
    • in addition
    • finally
    • because
    • a reason
    • a contrast with what came before
    • an example of the point just made
    • the last point in a list
    • a result of what came before
    • one more point of the same kind

  7. 7.Put these sentences in order to make one good paragraph.

    • Then pour in milk and sugar and stir.
    • First, boil some water in a pan.
    • Finally, strain the tea into a cup and drink it.
    • Making tea is easy if you follow four steps.
    • Next, add the tea leaves and let them brew.

  8. 8.A paragraph is linked so that each sentence leads naturally into the next. What is that quality called?

    • a) Coherence
    • b) Repetition
    • c) Unity
    • d) Contrast

Answer key — Grade 7 English Language Arts — Writing a paragraph

  1. 1. c) One
  2. 2. b) Reading helps us in more ways than one.
  3. 3. 1. The library is my favorite place in the school. 2. First, it is quiet enough to think in. 3. Second, it has shelves of books I could never afford to buy. 4. Best of all, nobody there ever hurries you. 5. For all these reasons I go there whenever I can.
  4. 4. topic
  5. 5. c) At the beginning
  6. 6. however → a contrast with what came before; for example → an example of the point just made; therefore → a result of what came before; in addition → one more point of the same kind; finally → the last point in a list; because → a reason
  7. 7. 1. Making tea is easy if you follow four steps. 2. First, boil some water in a pan. 3. Next, add the tea leaves and let them brew. 4. Then pour in milk and sugar and stir. 5. Finally, strain the tea into a cup and drink it.
  8. 8. a) Coherence