Sample Paragraph and Structure with Outline

Summary

In this educational video, the speaker dissects a sample paragraph on the popularity of running, highlighting its affordability, social benefits, and mental and physical advantages. The script serves as a tutorial on structured paragraph writing, emphasizing the importance of a topic sentence, supporting points, and a conclusion. The speaker also underscores the role of transition words in enhancing the flow and coherence of the paragraph.

Takeaways

• 🏃‍♂️ The video discusses the popularity of running as a sport, focusing on its affordability, social benefits, and health advantages.
• 💡 The instructor uses the phrase 'all the rage' in the title to imply that running is currently a very popular activity.
• 💰 Running is highlighted as an economical form of exercise, especially when compared to gym memberships or specialized classes.
• 👟 The only necessary equipment for running is a pair of shoes, which can be inexpensive, emphasizing its low cost of entry.
• 🤝 Running is described as a social activity that can facilitate bonding and friendships through shared experiences.
• 🌟 The video emphasizes the mental and physical benefits of running, such as improved flexibility, muscle strength, and the release of stress-relieving endorphins.
• 📝 The instructor provides a breakdown of paragraph structure, including a topic sentence, supporting points, and a conclusion.
• 📑 The importance of using transition words and connectors is stressed to ensure the paragraph flows logically and is easy to follow.
• 📈 The script serves as a tutorial for students on how to write a structured and well-developed paragraph, using running as a case study.
• 📚 A handout is mentioned that lists various transition words, which can be used to enhance the organization and clarity of written work.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the paragraph discussed in the script?

The main topic of the paragraph is explaining why running is a popular sport.

What is the title of the paragraph mentioned in the script?

The title of the paragraph is 'Why Running is All the Rage'.

What are the three main reasons provided in the script to support the popularity of running?

The three main reasons are: 1) Running is relatively cheap compared to other forms of exercise. 2) It's an effective way to make friends and bond with others. 3) It offers many benefits both mentally and physically, including improving flexibility, muscle strength, lung capacity, and releasing stress through the runner's high.

How does the script suggest the cost of running compares to other forms of exercise?

The script suggests that running is much cheaper than other forms of exercise, such as gym memberships, CrossFit classes, yoga, and indoor basketball games, which can cost up to one hundred dollars a month.

What is the significance of the 90 minutes of friendly conversation mentioned in the script?

The 90 minutes of friendly conversation refer to the social aspect of running when done with another person, suggesting that it can be a significant amount of time for bonding and social interaction, which is more than some people spend with their family members.

What is the 'runner's high' mentioned in the script, and how does it relate to the popularity of running?

The 'runner's high' is a state of euphoria and well-being that some people experience during or after running due to the release of endorphins. It is mentioned as a reason for the popularity of running because it can make the activity more enjoyable and rewarding.

What is the structure of a well-written paragraph according to the script?

A well-written paragraph should have a topic sentence, at least three supporting points, and a conclusion. The topic sentence introduces the main idea, the supporting points provide details, reasons, or examples, and the conclusion restates the main idea in different words.

How does the script use the hamburger analogy to describe a well-structured paragraph?

The script uses the hamburger analogy to describe a well-structured paragraph by comparing the topic sentence and conclusion to the buns, and the supporting points and details to the ingredients inside the burger. The transition words are likened to the special sauce that holds everything together.

What is the purpose of transition words in a paragraph as explained in the script?

Transition words are used to connect ideas and make the paragraph flow smoothly, helping the reader follow the writer's train of thought. They are used to introduce supporting points, add details, and conclude the paragraph.

How does the script suggest using transition words to introduce supporting points in a paragraph?

The script suggests using transition words such as 'first', 'second', 'next', 'lastly', 'finally', and 'most importantly' to introduce the supporting points in a paragraph, which helps to organize the information and guide the reader through the argument.

Outlines

00:00

🏃‍♂️ Why Running is Popular

This paragraph discusses the reasons why running is a popular sport. It begins by acknowledging that while running may not be ideal for all environments, it has become a preferred method of exercise due to its affordability compared to gym memberships and other sports. The paragraph emphasizes that running is essentially free if done outdoors and requires minimal gear, such as a pair of running shoes available at a low cost. It also highlights the social aspect of running, suggesting that it can be a way to make friends and bond with others through shared activity. The mental and physical benefits of running, including improved flexibility, muscle strength, lung capacity, and stress relief through the release of endorphins, are also mentioned as key reasons for its popularity. The paragraph is structured with a topic sentence, three supporting points, and a conclusion, and it uses transition words to guide the reader through the argument.

05:02

💡 The Structure of a Paragraph

The second paragraph serves as a tutorial on how to write an effective paragraph, using the first paragraph as an example. It explains the importance of including a topic sentence, at least three supporting points, and a conclusion. The paragraph is likened to a hamburger, with the topic sentence and conclusion as the 'buns' and the supporting points and details as the 'filling.' Transition words are described as the 'special sauce' that connects the ideas and makes the paragraph coherent. The paragraph also provides examples of transition words that can be used to introduce supporting points, add details, and conclude the paragraph. The aim is to help the reader follow the writer's ideas more easily and to improve the overall quality of writing.

10:03

📝 Transition Words in Writing

The final paragraph focuses on the use of transition words in writing to enhance the flow and clarity of a paragraph. It provides a handout with various transition words categorized by their function, such as introducing supporting points, adding details, and concluding. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of using these words to connect ideas and make the writing more understandable. Examples of transition words for each category are given, such as 'first,' 'second,' 'for example,' 'in fact,' and 'in conclusion.' The paragraph concludes by encouraging writers to use a variety of transition words to improve their writing and make their arguments more persuasive.

Keywords

💡Running

Running is a form of physical exercise that involves moving fast on foot. In the video, running is presented as a popular sport due to its accessibility and health benefits. The script discusses how running is an ideal way to get exercise because it is relatively inexpensive compared to other forms of exercise, which is a key point in the argument that running is popular.

💡Structured Development

Structured development refers to the process of organizing and presenting information in a logical and coherent manner. The video script uses structured development to explain the components of a well-written paragraph, which includes a topic sentence, supporting points, and a conclusion. This concept is crucial for understanding how to effectively communicate ideas in writing.

💡Paragraph

A paragraph is a section of a text that consists of related sentences dealing with a single topic. The video script provides an example of a paragraph about the popularity of running and breaks down its components, highlighting the importance of a topic sentence, supporting points, and a conclusion in creating a clear and persuasive argument.

💡Topic Sentence

The topic sentence is the first sentence of a paragraph that states the main idea or purpose of that paragraph. In the video, the topic sentence 'although running is not ideal in all environments, it has become an ideal way to get some exercise' sets the stage for the discussion on why running is popular, guiding the reader's expectations for the content of the paragraph.

💡Supporting Points

Supporting points are the details, examples, or reasons provided in a paragraph to back up the main idea stated in the topic sentence. The script illustrates this with three points: the cost-effectiveness of running, its social benefits, and the physical and mental health advantages it offers, all of which support the argument that running is a popular sport.

💡Conclusion

A conclusion is a statement that summarizes the main points of a paragraph or an argument. In the video, the conclusion 'for these reasons, running has become all the rage in many parts of the world' restates the topic sentence in different words, reinforcing the idea that running is popular due to its various benefits.

💡Transition Words

Transition words are connectors used to link ideas within a text, making the flow of information easier to follow. The script highlights the use of transition words such as 'first', 'second', 'most importantly', and 'for example' to guide the reader through the different parts of the paragraph and to connect the supporting points to the topic sentence.

💡Cost-effectiveness

Cost-effectiveness refers to the relationship between the cost of something and its effectiveness or value. The video script uses the concept of cost-effectiveness to argue that running is a popular sport because it is relatively cheap compared to other forms of exercise, requiring minimal investment in equipment or memberships.

💡Social Benefits

Social benefits are the positive outcomes that result from social interactions and relationships. In the context of the video, the script mentions that running can be an effective way to make friends and bond with others, which is a social benefit that contributes to its popularity as a sport.

💡Physical and Mental Health

Physical and mental health refer to the overall well-being of an individual's body and mind, respectively. The video script argues that running is popular because it offers numerous physical and mental health benefits, such as improved flexibility, muscle strength, lung capacity, and stress relief through the release of endorphins, leading to the 'runner's high'.

💡Endophins

Endophins are chemicals in the brain that act as natural painkillers and mood elevators. The script mentions endorphins in the context of running, explaining that they are released during exercise, which can result in a feeling of euphoria known as 'runner's high', adding to the appeal of running as a popular sport.

Highlights

Introduction to structured development and organization in writing.

Title of the paragraph: 'Why Running is All the Rage'.

Running is an ideal way to get exercise despite not being ideal in all environments.

Running is relatively cheap compared to other forms of exercise.

Gym memberships and classes can be expensive, whereas running is free outside.

Running requires minimal gear, primarily a pair of running shoes.

Running is an effective way to make friends and bond with others.

Shared running experiences can lead to meaningful conversations and friendships.

Running offers numerous mental and physical health benefits.

Running improves flexibility, muscle strength, lung capacity, and reduces stress.

Endorphins released during running can lead to a 'runner's high'.

Conclusion that running has become popular for various reasons.

Explanation of the parts of a paragraph: topic sentence, supporting points, and conclusion.

Importance of a topic sentence to set the main point of the paragraph.

Use of at least three supporting points to strengthen the topic sentence.

The conclusion restates the topic sentence using different words.

Demonstration of how to find the topic sentence, supporting points, and conclusion in the sample paragraph.

Emphasis on the use of specific details to support each point.

Highlighting the role of transition words in connecting ideas within a paragraph.

Examples of transition words for introducing points and adding details.

Transition words used to conclude and summarize the paragraph.

Final thoughts on the importance of continuous improvement in writing.

Transcripts

hey students i'm going to show you a

sample paragraph

so we can look at structured development

organization and all those things

so here i'm writing a paragraph of why

about why i think

running is a popular sport why running

is popular okay

so the title of my paragraph is why

running is all the rage

and i'm going to read it to you here and

then i'll break it down although

running is not ideal in all environments

it has become an ideal way to get some

exercise first it's relatively cheap in

comparison to other forms of exercise

many athletes pay for gym memberships

that can cost up to one hundred dollars

a month for crossfit classes

yoga and indoor basketball games while

running is absolutely free if it's done

outside on public streets sidewalks or

trails

and as long as the runner isn't drawn

into expensive trendy road races or

flashy running shoes

the only gear required is a pair of

running shoes that can be found for

under forty dollars at discount stores

the second reason running is such a

popular form of exercise

is because it's an effective way to make

friends and bond with

others as long as it's done with another

person for example

if someone goes on 30 on 3 30-minute

runs each week with the same person

that is a total of 90 minutes of

friendly conversation

which is more than some people spend

with their family members

the most important reason for why

running is such a widespread sport is

because of the many benefits it can

offer a person both mentally and

physically not only does it improve

flexibility

muscle strength and lung capacity but it

also releases stress because it boosts

endorphins

which can result in what is known as the

runner's high

for these reasons running has become all

the rage in many parts of the world

all right so that's a simple basic

paragraph

on a friendly fun topic something i like

so now i'm going to break down the parts

of a paragraph now

you might want to review how to write a

paragraph with an outline

i do have a video that goes over what

needs to go inside of a paragraph but

just to review here

what needs to go inside of a paragraph

is a topic sentence

at least three supporting points it

doesn't always have to be three

three points right to support that topic

sentence and then a conclusion to wrap

it up and

i can show you just a sample of what a

pair an outline would look like just so

you get the idea

you want to have topic sentence which is

your first point that's the point of

your whole paragraph what you're trying

to convince the reader

of and then you have at least three

points it doesn't always have to be

three points but it's a good number

three points point one point two point

three in the body

and then you have a conclusion okay and

your conclusion is basically

let me spell that right

a conclusion basically restates the

topic sentence okay

so you have your topic sentence the body

and then the conclusion at the end okay

so let's look and see if we can find

those parts over here

in this paragraph why running is all the

rage there's the title now notice that's

called a title

it is not the topic sentence it is not

even a sentence it's a phrase

and it relates to the topic of the

paragraph and notice it has capital

letters

at the beginning of each word and that

is because that's what you do with

titles is you use a capital letter

at the beginning of each word in a title

except for

words like articles a and in the

conjunctions and but yet

or prepositions in on about those kinds

of things okay

now let's read the paragraph and see if

we can find those parts

although running is not ideal in all

environments it has become an ideal way

to get some exercise now here

is the topic sentence like i said your

topic sentence is usually the first

sentence of a paragraph

it throws out what the topic is what the

writer is trying to tell you

and now as the reader you should be

thinking hmm

really has running become an ideal way

to get exercise

is it a popular form of exercise really

is that true

and then it's the writer's job to

convince you

okay so this topic sentence is my

opinion

i believe that running is popular and

maybe you would disagree so now i have

to prove to you

that it's true and i have three points

in my paragraph

to prove it to you let's look for those

three points

first it's relatively cheap in

comparison to other forms of exercise

now i'm going to highlight that that is

my

first point to prove to you that it's a

popular sport

and i say a little bit more so let me

read it first it's relatively cheap in

comparison to other forms of exercise

many athletes paid for gym memberships

that can cost up to 100

a month for crossfit classes yoga and

indoor basketball games

while running is absolutely free if it's

done outside on public street sidewalks

or trails

and as long as the runner isn't drawn

into expensive trendy road races or

flashy running shoes

the only gear required is a pair of

running shoes that could be found for

under 40

at discount stores all that

is my specific detail that i want to

give you

about that point i've made my first

point my first point which is that

running is relatively cheap in

comparison to some other sports like

golf or even yoga or um

you know other other sports that that

might cost more money okay

and so i'm giving you details about why

that's true you always want to give

details

support reasons examples

um for your point my point is that it's

cheap

you can't just say that you got to

explain it give examples

be specific okay and here i was very

specific

now let's look for my second point the

second reason

running is such a popular form of

exercise is because it's an effective

way to make friends

and bond with others as long as as it is

done with another

person boom there's my second point i'm

gonna highlight that i'm gonna make it

green because that's my second point i

want to have three of these

green lines here right so here

um okay my second point for why i think

running is popular

is because it's a great way to bond with

people it's a great way to make friends

okay so here let's see what i have to

say about that to be more specific

to convince the reader for example

if someone goes on three 30-minute runs

each week with the same person

that is a total of 90 minutes of

friendly conversation

which is more time than most people send

with their family members

now that is showing you and i'm gonna

make this blue

this is showing you evidence for why

i believe running can help bond people

which is why i think running is popular

because when you make

bonds and friendships with people it's

fun

to want to keep running with them and

then here if i keep reading

the most important reason for why

running is such a widespread sport is

because of the many benefits it can

offer

both people both mentally and physically

and i'm gonna make that

green again okay because that's my third

point it's actually my most important

point

and that's why i've left it for the last

point sometimes we leave the best for

last

i've left my best reason for last

not only does it improve flexibility

muscle strength and lung capacity but it

also releases stress because it boosts

endorphins which can result in what is

known as a runner's high

making this blue because that's my

specific detail

my reasons my examples my facts all that

that i want to be specific about

okay and then the last sentence is for

these reasons running has become

all the rage in many parts of the world

basically what i'm doing here

is i'm concluding this is my conclusion

and i'm making it yellow because i want

to say

that that yellow conclusion is the same

idea

as what was presented up at the top i'm

just using different words

okay you don't want to say the same

exact words in your

topic sentence and your conclusion you

want to use

different words but the same idea so now

if i zoom out

you can see this doesn't it look like a

delicious hamburger

it has the yellow buns on the outside

the topic sentence and the conclusion

are the bread

and inside it has like all the flavors

all the delicious

uh you know the the vegetables the

ingredients

the you know different things that make

it delicious okay

and it's organized it's structured it's

developed it has

detail okay one last thing i want you to

notice

is and really i i mean you don't have to

have this in every time and as you

become

a stronger writer you can get rid of

that so many of them but it really

really helps to glue this together and

make your hamburger delicious

when you add the special sauce and the

special sauce is the

that's the transition words and the

connectors that plug everything together

okay

so what i want to do is point out these

transition words and i'm going to make

them

pink for the sauce first first what

my first point okay over here the second

reason

my second reasons for why you need to

believe me right

and then the most important reason

there's my last transition word

that that shows you my i'm making

i'm making three points and they all

connect together

to support that yellow topic sentence at

the top

okay so now my hamburger is perfect it's

ready to be eaten actually it could

always be better

writing you can always write you can

always make it better always make it

better

but i'm going to stop here because i

have what i needed to do

i have my topic sentence i have my body

i have my conclusion

inside of the body i have three points

and for each point i have specific

facts reasons examples or details and i

connect from one idea to the next

with nice transition words that make it

easy for the reader to follow my ideas

now if you want to know what kind of

transition words are available to you

you can look on this handout that i have

here and you can see

we use these types of transitions when

we want to introduce those supporting

points those three supporting points

inside of the body so here i have the

first point or reason

is or the second point or reason or

first second next the next reason

lastly finally the final point is right

and i actually said

the most important reason is right i use

that one

and then when you want to add details

like i did with that

facts reasons examples details to make

it specific

here's the types of transitions you can

use here you could say

for example or for instance or

to illustrate or in fact or

an example is or i mean you could do

there's so many

in particular right or to be

specific there's so many different ways

to add detail

um and to use these transition words to

help the reader

follow what you're saying finally when

you want to conclude that last sentence

in the conclusion

you could say in conclusion or to

summarize

or in short or overall

or all in all or to conclude

or like i did i said for these reasons

okay and that's it um there's tons more

transitions but this is

just an idea of what you can do for your

basic basic uh paragraph structure

all right i hope that was helpful