✏️ WritingGrade 3Lesson 1
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Review Paragraph Parts — Topic, Detail, Closing

  1. 1Print it first. Read it once together and talk it through.
  2. 2Exercises on paper, then correct together with the answer key.
  3. 3Next day: a 10-minute review here on screen saves progress.

What you will learn

  • 1Identify the three parts of a paragraph — topic sentence, detail sentences, and closing sentence
  • 2Arrange mixed-up sentence strips into a correctly ordered paragraph
  • 3Keep every sentence in a paragraph connected to the same main idea
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Mini Lesson

Every time you write more than one sentence about the same idea, you are writing a paragraph. Every good paragraph has three parts that work together like a team.

The Topic Sentence

  • Always comes first in the paragraph.
  • Tells the reader the main idea — what the whole paragraph is about.
  • Example: Dogs make wonderful pets.

Detail Sentences

  • Come in the middle, right after the topic sentence.
  • Support the topic with facts, examples, or reasons.
  • A strong paragraph has at least two detail sentences.
  • They answer the question: How do you know?

The Closing Sentence

  • Always comes last in the paragraph.
  • Wraps up the paragraph and reminds the reader of the main idea — often in a fresh way.
  • Example: That is why dogs are such great companions.

The One-Idea Rule

  • Every sentence in a paragraph must connect to the same main idea.
  • If a sentence wanders off-topic, it does not belong.

Words to know

Paragraph

A group of sentences that are all about the same main idea

e.g. A paragraph about butterflies has a topic sentence, detail sentences, and a closing sentence.

Topic sentence

The first sentence of a paragraph — it states the main idea

e.g. Butterflies are truly amazing insects.

Detail sentence

A sentence in the middle of a paragraph that supports the topic with a fact, example, or reason

e.g. They start life as tiny caterpillars hatched from eggs.

Closing sentence

The last sentence of a paragraph — it wraps up the main idea, often in a fresh way

e.g. That is why watching butterflies is one of nature's greatest wonders.

Paragraph structure diagramA stacked diagram showing topic sentence on top, two detail sentences in the middle, and closing sentence at the bottom, connected by downward arrows.A Paragraph Has 3 Parts1. Topic SentenceStates the main idea — comes FIRST2. Detail SentenceSupports the topic with a fact2. Detail SentenceAdds another supporting fact3. Closing Sentence — wraps it up
Paragraph structure — topic sentence first (blue), two detail sentences (green), closing sentence last (orange).
Example paragraph with labeled partsA sample paragraph about dogs with the topic sentence highlighted in blue, detail sentences in green, and closing sentence in orange, each with a numbered label.Example Paragraph1. TOPICDogs make wonderful pets.2. DETAILThey are loyal and love to play.3. DETAILDogs can be trained to help people.4. CLOSINGThat is why dogs are such greatcompanions for families.
A sample paragraph about dogs — topic (blue), details (green), closing (orange) — each labeled with its part number.
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Ask yourself: Can I name the three parts of a paragraph in order and explain what each one does?

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Guided Practice

Pick a word from the Trace menu and look at the model. Use Copy mode to write it yourself on the lined pad, or switch to Trace if you want to pass over the ghost letters. Tap 🔍 Bigger for a fullscreen practice canvas.

Tracing Pad

Tip: After copying each word, cover it and try writing it from memory. Can you spell "paragraph" without looking?

Now type any 2 different sentences from the Trace menu above. Look back if you need to — this is typing practice, not a memory test.
1.
2.
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Exercises

These four sentence strips about butterflies are mixed up. Put them in paragraph order: the topic sentence first, then the two detail sentences in the order they happen, then the closing sentence.

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2
3
4

1. What is the purpose of a topic sentence?

2. Where does the topic sentence appear in a paragraph?

3. What do detail sentences do in a paragraph?

4. Where do detail sentences appear in a paragraph?

5. What does a closing sentence do?

6. Which sentence would make the best topic sentence for a paragraph about summer?

7. Which sentence works best as a detail sentence in a paragraph about healthy eating?

8. Which sentence would make the best closing sentence for a paragraph about books?

9. How many main ideas should one paragraph have?

10. What is the correct order of the parts in a paragraph?

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Parent Checklist

For the parent: after correcting together, check off what your child has really understood

Lesson 2: Use Strong Opening Sentences →
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