A paragraph with a clear purpose answers one question, such as “Should the school do this?” or “How do I do this?”, and every sentence helps that answer. This skill appears whenever a Chinese task asks for more than one or two sentences, and it is the base of the other lessons in Second-language expression.
Chinese examples below stay in Simplified Chinese, with pinyin where it helps. The people and the school in the examples are invented for this page.
How do you build a paragraph with one purpose?
Think of four slots, each with one job.
- Point (观点, guāndiǎn): one sentence that says what the paragraph is about, or what you think.
- Reasons (理由, lǐyóu): one or two sentences that support the point.
- Example (例子, lìzi): one concrete case that shows the reason is true.
- Closing (总结, zǒngjié): one short sentence that returns to the point.
You do not need all four every time, but the first slot must always exist. If you cannot say the point in one sentence, you are not ready to write the paragraph.
Worked example
Task (invented): Meilin writes to the school council about whether the school should set up a quiet reading corner.
Step 1, point. 我认为学校应该设立一个安静阅读角。 (Wǒ rènwéi xuéxiào yīnggāi shèlì yí gè ānjìng yuèdú jiǎo.)
Step 2, reasons. 首先，教室里常常很吵，同学很难专心看书。其次，阅读角可以让大家在课间放松心情。
Step 3, example. 例如，我的同学小华每天中午都去图书馆，看完书以后心情变得很平静。
Step 4, closing. 因此，设立阅读角对同学的学习和心情都有好处。
Read the finished paragraph aloud:
我认为学校应该设立一个安静阅读角。首先，教室里常常很吵，同学很难专心看书。其次，阅读角可以让大家在课间放松心情。例如，我的同学小华每天中午都去图书馆，看完书以后心情变得很平静。因此，设立阅读角对同学的学习和心情都有好处。
Every sentence either states the point, supports it, shows it or closes it. Nothing wanders off.
The mistake to watch for
A common slip is to add a true but unrelated detail because it comes to mind.
Drifting version: 我认为学校应该设立一个安静阅读角。教室里常常很吵。食堂的饭菜也越来越贵了。因此，设立阅读角很好。
The canteen sentence is true, but it belongs to a different paragraph. A reader now wonders whether the paragraph is about reading or about prices.
Correction: delete the canteen sentence, or move it into its own paragraph with its own point. A quick test: for each sentence, ask “which slot am I filling?” If the answer is “none”, cut it.
Check yourself
Cover the answers and write your own sentences first.
1. Which sentence does not belong? (A) 我们应该减少使用塑料袋。 (B) 塑料袋很难分解，会污染环境。 (C) 我的新手机很好用。 (D) 因此，每个人都应该自己带购物袋。
Show answer
(C). It is about a phone, not about plastic bags. The other sentences give the point, a reason and the closing.
2. Write a point sentence for a paragraph about doing exercise every day.
Show answer
A model: 我认为每天运动对身体和心情都很重要。 (Wǒ rènwéi měi tiān yùndòng duì shēntǐ hé xīnqíng dōu hěn zhòngyào.) Any clear opinion in one sentence works.
3. Add an example sentence to this reason: 运动可以帮助我们睡得更好。
Show answer
A model: 例如，我哥哥每天傍晚跑步三十分钟，晚上很快就睡着了。 The example is small, concrete and linked to the reason.
Where this leads next
A clear paragraph still has to suit its reader, so the next step is adjusting formality for a task audience. Then join the sentences with cohesive links that match the relationship. The writing revision compare view lets you put a first and second draft side by side.
If you want a teacher to read your paragraph and tell you which sentence drifts, see our online one-to-one Chinese tuition.