Discover the different types of paragraphs including descriptive, narrative, cause and effect, comparison, contrast, and listing paragraphs with clear definitions and examples.
What Are the Different Types of Paragraphs?
There are many types of paragraphs used in writing depending on the purpose. The major types include descriptive, narrative, cause and effect, comparison, contrast, expository, argumentative, persuasive, and listing paragraphs.
What Is a Descriptive Paragraph?
Description is that kind of writing that pictures a place, a person, or an object. In learning to write description, you should sharpen your powers of observation i.e. train your five senses- sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste. Try to picture for your reader the people, places or objects you are familiar with and have observed carefully. This will help you describe them vividly by using details that would appeal to your reader.
When you write a descriptive paragraph, tell who or what you are describing in your topic sentence. Here is an example for you. Read the paragraph below and look for details that appeal to the senses.
What Is a Narrative Paragraph?
The purpose of narration is story telling. Narrative paragraphs narrate or tell about some past incidents or events. The simplest kind of story is the kind of writing that tells us about a series of actions, usually in time order, in a single paragraph. A good narrative paragraph often tells us not only 'what happened' but also 'how it happened'. While writing a narrative paragraph you should keep in mind the following rules:
- present the subject in a topic sentence
- include information about the people and the setting
- tell the action in chronological order
- use transitional words, such as, first, soon, next, then, later, etc.
- write a concluding sentence to bring the incident to a definite end
How Does a Cause and Effect Paragraph Work?
This type of paragraph begins with a statement of the effect first, and then goes on to give the causes that contribute to that effect.
What Is a Listing Paragraph?
Listing paragraph provides a list of items in support of the topic sentence. The following paragraph provides a list of the major fruits of Bangladesh.
What Is a Comparison Paragraph?
This type of paragraphs shows similarities between two persons, places, things, objects, actions or ideas. The topic sentence shows how we are comparing the features or qualities of two subjects. To use this technique, we can have two procedures:
- We can compare two subjects' features or qualities point by point, or
- We can state all the features or qualities of a subject first and then compare these with those of the other subject.
What Is a Contrast Paragraph?
Contrast paragraphs show the differences between two things.
Key Takeaways
- There are various types of paragraphs including descriptive, narrative, cause and effect, comparison, contrast, and listing paragraphs.
- Descriptive paragraphs focus on detailing people, places, or objects using the five senses.
- Narrative paragraphs tell stories or past events in chronological order.
- Comparison paragraphs show similarities, while contrast paragraphs highlight differences.
Quick Practice
Write a short descriptive or narrative paragraph in the comments below using the rules and guidelines learned in this lesson.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the major types of paragraphs?
The major types include descriptive, narrative, cause and effect, comparison, contrast, expository, argumentative, persuasive, and listing paragraphs.
How do comparison and contrast paragraphs differ?
A comparison paragraph shows similarities between two subjects, whereas a contrast paragraph shows the differences between them.
What is the main purpose of a narrative paragraph?
The purpose of narration is storytelling, typically narrating past incidents or events in chronological order.