Year 4 English: Paragraphs that group related ideas
Part of the Year 4 English writing stories chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Paragraphs that group related ideas
A paragraph is a group of sentences about one idea, one time or one place. A new paragraph starts when the time, the place or the main idea changes, and when a different speaker begins. Many paragraphs begin with a topic sentence that tells the reader what the paragraph is about. The other sentences add detail to it.
Read the story in the box, and look at the layout. Then answer the questions in exercise 11C.
Biscuit Goes Missing
1The village dog show was held on the green on Saturday morning. Dozens of owners brought their dogs, and the air was full of barking and excited voices.
2Dylan had tied Biscuit's lead to the gate while he signed up for the show. When he turned around, the lead was lying on the grass, and Biscuit had gone. He searched the stalls and called her name, but she did not come.
3Later that morning, Dylan heard a bark from behind the cake tent. There was Biscuit, sitting proudly next to a basket of lemon buns. Dylan hugged her and decided to hold her lead from then on.
Key ideas
- A paragraph groups related ideas.
- The topic sentence tells the reader what the paragraph is about.
- Start a new paragraph when the time, the place, the idea or the speaker changes.
- Every sentence in a paragraph should add detail to the same idea.
Method. The topic sentence is usually the first sentence.
- Read the first sentence. It says where and when the show is held.the green, Saturday morning
- Check the rest of the paragraph. The other sentence adds detail about the owners and the barking.owners and barking
- Name the topic sentence. The first sentence states the topic of the paragraph.The village dog show was held on the green on Saturday morning.
- Write the answer. The village dog show was held on the green on Saturday morning.
Check. The first sentence names the topic. ✓
Method. Find the part of the story that the sentence describes.
- Read the sentence. Dylan hugged her shows that the search is over.the search is over
- Find the time in the paragraphs. Paragraph 3 begins with Later that morning, when Biscuit is found.Later that morning
- Match the idea. The ending of the story is in paragraph 3.paragraph 3
- Write the answer. paragraph 3
Check. The idea of the sentence matches the ending. ✓
Method. Look for a change in time or idea.
- Look at the time. Later that morning shows that time has passed.Later that morning
- Check the idea. The idea changes from searching to finding Biscuit.searching to finding
- Decide. When the time and the idea both change, a new paragraph starts.a new paragraph
- Write the answer. Yes, because the time changes and the idea changes from searching to finding Biscuit.
Check. A change of time and idea starts a new paragraph. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: a paragraph is not a list of unrelated sentences. Every sentence should belong to the same idea, time or place.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask your child to say what each paragraph is about in five words. If two paragraphs have the same answer, ask whether they should be one paragraph.
Exercise 11C Practice: paragraphs and topic sentences
Method. Find the detail that the text states.
- Find the words that answer the question. Scan the text for the detail the question asks about.Biscuit had gone
- Check that the detail is stated, not guessed. The second paragraph says the lead was on the grass and Biscuit had gone.paragraph 2
- Write the answer. paragraph 2
Check. The text states this detail. ✓
Method. Find the detail that the text states.
- Find the words that answer the question. Scan the text for the detail the question asks about.There was Biscuit
- Check that the detail is stated, not guessed. The third paragraph describes Biscuit being found behind the cake tent.paragraph 3
- Write the answer. paragraph 3
Check. The text states this detail. ✓
Method. Find the detail that the text states.
- Find the words that answer the question. Scan the text for the detail the question asks about.The village dog show was held on the green
- Check that the detail is stated, not guessed. The first paragraph says where and when the show is held.paragraph 1
- Write the answer. paragraph 1
Check. The text states this detail. ✓
Method. Find the detail that the text states.
- Find the words that answer the question. Scan the text for the detail the question asks about.The village dog show was held on the green on Saturday morning.
- Check that the detail is stated, not guessed. The first sentence states the topic of the paragraph.The village dog show was held on the green on Saturday morning.
- Write the answer. The village dog show was held on the green on Saturday morning.
Check. The text states this detail. ✓
- Dylan had tied Biscuit's lead to the gate while he signed up for the show.
- The lemon buns on the cake stall cost twenty pence each.
- Biscuit had gone.
Method. Test each choice against the text or the story.
- Read what the question asks for. Decide what the story or the text needs.
- Test the choice. The sentence is about the cake stall, not about Biscuit going missing.The lemon buns on the cake stall cost twenty pence each. fits
- Reject the other choices. The lead at the gate and the words Biscuit had gone are both about Biscuit going missing.Dylan had tied Biscuit's lead to the gate while he signed up for the show. and Biscuit had gone. do not fit
- Write the answer. The lemon buns on the cake stall cost twenty pence each.
Check. The choice fits the text or the story. ✓
Method. Say what the paragraph is about in one sentence.
- Think about the topic. Paragraph 2 is about Biscuit going missing.Biscuit going missing
- Write one sentence. The topic sentence states that topic at the start.Dylan turned round and found that Biscuit had disappeared
- Write the answer. Dylan turned round and found that Biscuit had disappeared.
Check. The topic sentence names the problem. ✓
Method. Find the detail that the text states.
- Find the words that answer the question. Scan the text for the detail the question asks about.Later that morning, Dylan heard a bark
- Check that the detail is stated, not guessed. The third paragraph begins with a time phrase.Later
- Write the answer. Later
Check. The text states this detail. ✓
Method. Look for a change in time or in the main idea.
- Look at the time. Later that morning shows that time has passed.Later that morning
- Look at the idea. The paragraph is about finding Biscuit, not searching for her.finding Biscuit
- Write the answer. the time changes to later that morning, and the story moves on to finding Biscuit.
Check. A change of time or idea starts a new paragraph. ✓
Method. Read the first sentence.
- Find the topic. The first sentence is about the dog show on the green.the dog show
- Write the answer. the dog show
Check. The topic is the dog show. ✓
Method. Read the first sentence of paragraph 3.
- Find the topic. The paragraph is about Dylan finding Biscuit behind the tent.finding Biscuit
- Write the answer. finding Biscuit
Check. The paragraph is about finding Biscuit. ✓
Method. Think about what the reader needs to follow.
- Think about the reader. A reader follows one idea at a time when the ideas are grouped.one idea at a time
- Think about the paragraph. A paragraph groups the sentences that belong to one idea.groups the sentences
- Write the answer. a paragraph keeps related ideas together, so the reader can follow one idea at a time.
Check. Related ideas stay together in one paragraph. ✓
Method. Start with a time phrase, then say what happens.
- Choose a time phrase. After lunch tells the reader when.After lunch,
- Say what Dylan does. He carries Biscuit home, which moves the story on.carried Biscuit home
- Write the answer. After lunch, Dylan carried Biscuit home.
Check. The time phrase opens a new paragraph that moves the story on. ✓