Types of paragraph

Expository paragraph

In an expository paragraph you give information. You explain a subject, give directions, or show how something happens. In expository writing, linking words like first, second, then, and finally are usually used to help readers follow the ideas (except for our purposes those words cannot be used).

Example:

The price of study

Going to college can be expensive. College tuition and room can cost anywhere from L. 500.00 to more than L. 1,000.00 per month, but other expenses make going to college even more expensive. Notebooks, writing utensils, and other supplies required often cost more at the college bookstore than at any local discount department store. For example books typically cost between L. 300.00 and L. 500.00 each term. Materials are also very expensive. A package of notepaper costing L. 90.00 at a discount store might cost L. 105.00 at a college bookstore. In addition, there are all kinds of special fees added onto the bill at registration time. A college student might have to pay a L. 70.00 tuition fee, a L. 20.00 DISE fee, a L. 130.00 fee to the student government association and anywhere from L. 50.00 to L. 100.00 for parking. There is another fee if a student decides to add or drop classes after registration. The fees never seem to end.

Persuasive paragraph

Tries to convince the reader about something and may make recommendations.

Example:

Buying a pet

Buying a pet has many advantages. First of all, a child feels good about having a new animal and giving it a whole new life. Having a pet also means lots of responsibilities. A child has to feed, clean up after brush, and exercise the pet.

Once you buy a pet from the pet store, it will quickly become a part of your family. If you are thinking of buying a pet, you might consider choosing a dog or a cat. Dogs and cats can bring lots of happy times to a family, and they can be excellent companions for a person who lives alone or someone who has lost a loved one. Dogs are also a wonderful source of protection. Cats are funny, and they may help to calm people down when they are sad or mad.

Please consider buying an animal. If you remember all of the advantages of buying a pet from the pet store, you might find the bird, mouse, hamster, dog or cat of your choice.

Descriptive paragraph

This type of paragraph provides information.

Example:

The mirror

I am Francisco Brizuela and I’m 22 years old, rather tall and I have black eyes and short black hair. I wear almost always uniform because of my work; I must wear the uniform at work because we need to be very presentable at the moment to help the clients. On Sundays I always wear jeans and T-shirts. I am a very happy person. I enjoy my job because I love to be an accountant and to work with numbers. I enjoy play football in my free times. I often play football on Saturdays evening, because at night I go to the church. I also like studying English and to write some paragraph in English, because that´s one way I can improve my knowledge. I live in San Manuel, Cortes. People from San Manuel are very reliable. I enjoy living here because I have many friends and also because almost my whole family live here.

Narrative paragraph

It is also descriptive, but tends to give background information, that is, an account or description of past events perhaps.

Example:

A beautiful night

Yesterday evening I got home from work at 5 o'clock. My wife had prepared dinner which we ate immediately. After I had cleaned up the kitchen, we watched TV for about an hour. Then we got ready to go to the church with some friends. Our friends arrived at about 7:15 p.m. we were waiting to them about 15 minutes. We went to the church and spend a beautiful time praying to our Lord. When we got out from the church we went home and my wife prepared snacks, it was around 10 o'clock. When we ate the snacks my friends leaved the house and we rested a few minutes before go to sleep. It was a good day¡ thanks God.