CONCLUSION. (2)

Paragraphs.  Next, is the ability to assemble a group of sentences (here, seven sentences) into a unit of thought which is coherent (and not fragmentary, like these paragraphs!).  Your task is to take the sentences you now know how to write, and assemble them into a logical and coherent order, into a complete unit of thought – all in seven sentences. 
     Generally, the “paragraph level” is the level you will use most in your everyday, written encounters with other people in the “real world”.  (Not many people deal with each other a lot, at the other levels of “sentence” and “article”.)  Therefore, this level is important, in terms of your daily life. 
     There are different types of paragraphs, for different needs and situations (here, nine), but they all share the same basic structures (Introduction – Body – Conclusion).  Although these nine types of simple paragraphs do not cover all of life’s situations, they will cover many.  For now, that is enough.  Although the “TS – S1 – S2 – S3 – S4 – S5 – CS” structure is somewhat rigid and artificial, it will help you to get started in writing better paragraphs.  Once you can do the basics, you are free to follow your own creativity, as you see fit.  Although it is quite possible to write a good paragraph “from no plan”, I feel that planning out a paragraph first is the best way to get an effective and coherent end-product.  Remember (again!) : Plan, plan, plan; follow the structure; be creative within the “limits” of the structure. 
     Allow yourself plenty of time to do your writing!  Do not do your writing the evening before your homework is due.  You may say, “Life does not allow us this luxury (of time).”  Of course not.  You should therefore think about dividing your writing life into two parts : (a) the creation of art, which is yours alone, and (b) writing done for others, under necessity, and under time-pressure.  Compartmentalize this part of your life, and live two “writing lives”.  It works for me. 
     You may also ask, “Do you follow your own methods?”  For sentences, yes, almost always.  For paragraphs, less often, as I have a highly analytic and synthetic mind / way of thinking. 
     This way of writing a paragraph is good for the early stages of learning to write.  If you find a way that you like better, then please take it! 
     Finally, I repeat, “Writing is a process”.  This means that you move forward through the whole writing process – from “Brainstorming”, to Planning, to the 1st Draft, to the Peer-Review of the 1st Draft, to the 2nd Draft, to the Peer-Review of the 2nd Draft, to the Final Draft (which is never really a “final” thing).