Writing
Effective
Paragraphs
Composing: Creating Topic Sentences and
Supporting Sentences
An LSCC Learning Center
Self-Paced Tutorial
What is a Paragraph?
 Definition
A
group of related sentences that develop
one main idea
 Three concepts for good paragraphs
 Unity:
one idea per paragraph
 Development: sufficient detail (good writing is
25% ideas & 75% details!)
 Coherence: understandable, easy to follow
(logical order, effective transitions)
Anatomy of a Paragraph
 Topic Sentence
 Usually
first—want to use the norm for the
paragraph assignments
 Contains TWO PARTS
Topic
Controlling Idea
 Body
 The
details which make your topic
sentence vivid to the reader, that
 prove your point
Sample & Exercise
 Identify the topic sentence and supporting details in the
following paragraph from Maya Angelou’s I Know Why
the Caged Bird Sings:

The summer picnic gave ladies a chance to show off their
baking hands. On the barbecue pit, chickens and spareribs
sputtered in their own fat and in a sauce whose recipe was
guarded in the family like a scandalous affair. However, every
true baking artist could reveal her prize to the delight and
criticism of the town. Orange sponge cakes and dark brown
mounds dripping Hershey’s chocolate stood layer to layer with
ice-white coconuts and light brown caramels. Pound
cakes sagged with their buttery weight and small
children could no more resist licking the icings than
their mothers could avoid slapping the sticky fingers.
Sample & Exercise
 The topic sentence and supporting details:
 The summer picnic gave ladies a chance to show
off their baking hands. On the barbecue pit,
chickens and spareribs sputtered in their own fat
and in a sauce whose recipe was guarded in the
family like a scandalous affair. However, every
true baking artist could reveal her prize to the
delight and criticism of the town. Orange sponge
cakes and dark brown mounds dripping
Hershey’s chocolate stood layer to layer with icewhite coconuts and light brown caramels. Pound
cakes sagged with their buttery weight and small
children could no more resist licking the icings
than their mothers could avoid slapping the sticky
fingers.
Topic Sentences
 Pete’s sloppiness is a terrible habit.
 Pete’s sloppiness is an endearing quality.
 Elise’s dirty kitchen is a sign of her cooking
skills.
 Elise’s dirty kitchen makes me want to call the
health department.
 Identify the TOPIC and
 CONTROLLING IDEA in each
Topic Sentences
 The TOPIC and CONTROLLING IDEA:
 Pete’s sloppiness is a terrible habit.
 Pete’s sloppiness is an endearing quality.
 Elise’s dirty kitchen is a sign of her cooking
skills.
 Elise’s dirty kitchen makes me want to call the
health department.
 How would the paragraphs be different?
Steps in Writing a Good Paragraph
Follow this order for sure success:
 Narrow
the topic
 Draft the topic sentence
 Generate DETAILS for the body
 Select and drop details
 Arrange in a plan or outline
 Time to draft…..
Topic Sentence Exercise
 The key to a good topic sentence is to
narrow the topic first.
 For example: general topic is good food


Narrow the topic to Mexican food
Controlling idea is Las Fuentes has great lunch
specials
 Topic

sentence:
For an excellent and inexpensive
Mexican lunch, you cannot beat Las
Fuentes.
Generating Details for the Body
 For an excellent and inexpensive
Mexican lunch, you cannot beat Las
Fuentes.
 What
details do we need?
Consider menu
 Consider prices
 Consider what “excellent” implies

Select and Drop Details
 Which of the following
details would NOT
support the topic
sentence
(For an excellent and
inexpensive Mexican
lunch, you cannot beat
Las Fuentes.)
 Combination plates cost







$5.00
Service is fast
A margarita is $7.00
Daily specials
Friendly waiters
Located in a shopping
mall
Free chips and salsa
Established 1965
Select and Drop Details
 Which of the following
details would NOT
support the topic
sentence?
(For an excellent and
inexpensive Mexican
lunch, you cannot beat
Las Fuentes.
 Combination plates cost







$5.00
Service is fast
A margarita is $7.00
Daily specials
Friendly waiters
Located in a shopping
mall
Free chips and salsa
Established 1965
Arrange in a Plan or Outline
 For an excellent and inexpensive Mexican lunch,
you cannot beat Las Fuentes.
 Combination plates cost $5.00
 Service is fast
 Daily specials
 Friendly waiters
 Free chips and salsa
 Once you decide the order, how difficult will
drafting be?
The Paragraph
 For an excellent and inexpensive Mexican
lunch, you cannot beat Las Fuentes. This
great little restaurant has become a regular
stop in my week. Most importantly, the
combination plates only cost $5.00. Add fast
service and daily specials with even more
discounts, and you can see why it’s my favorite
place for lunch. The waiters are among the
friendliest I’ve ever encountered, and if you run
low on the free chips and salsa, they’ll bring
you more in a hurry.
And now, it’s your turn
 Use these tips to help draft your paragraph
 Save all prewriting and drafts in case you
need to turn them in with the final version
 If you need help:


See your instructor during office hours
Visit the Learning Center
Thanks to Jacklyn Pierce for sharing this
instructional Power Point with us