Writing Paragraphs
Definition:
Clusters of information supporting an
essay’s main point.
Focus on a main point.
• A paragraph should be unified around
a main point (topic sentence usually
found early in the paragraph).
• The point should be clear to readers,
and all sentences in the paragraph
should relate to it.
• As a rule, state the main point in a
topic sentence – a one-sentence
summary that tells readers what to
expect as they read on.
Example of a topic sentence (in italics):
All living creatures manage some form of
communication. The dance patterns of bees in
their hive help to point the way to distant flower
fields or announce successful foraging. Male
stickleback fish regularly swim upside-down to
indicate outrage in a courtship contest. Male deer
mark territorial ownership by rubbing their own
body secretions on boundary stones or trees.
Everyone has seen a frightened dog put his tail
between his legs and run in panic. We, too, use
gestures, expressions, postures and movement to
give our words meaning.
Olivia Vlahos, Human Beginnings
Sticking to the point
• Sentences that do not support the
topic sentence destroy the unity of a
paragraph. Omit these sentences or
move them elsewhere where they
belong.
Develop the main point
• An occasional short paragraph is fine;
• A series of brief paragraphs suggests
inadequate development;
• How much development is enough?
That varies, depending on the writer’s
purpose and audience.
Make paragraphs coherent
• Paragraphs should flow from on to another
without bumps, gaps, or shifts.
• Coherence can be improved by:
• 1. Linking ideas clearly;
• 2. Not shifting from one point of view to
another (from I to you or from anyone to they);
• 3. Not shifting from one verb tense to another
(from swam to swims, past to present);
• 4. Providing transitions (words that bridge
together what has been read to what is about to
be read (list on next page).
Common transitions
To show or give:
• Addition: and, also, besides, furthermore, in
addition, next, first, second . . .
• Examples: for example, for instance, to illustrate
...
• Comparison: also, in the same manner, similarly,
likewise . . .
• Contrast: but, however, on the other hand,
nevertheless, yet . . .
• Summarize or conclude: in other words, in short,
in summary, in conclusion, to sum up . . .
• Show time: after, before, next, during,
later, finally, meanwhile, since, then,
when, while, immediately . . .
• Show place or direction: above, below,
beyond, farther on , nearby, opposite,
close, to the left . . .
• Indicate logical relationship: if, so,
therefore, consequently, thus, as a result,
for this reason, because, since . . .
Introductory and
concluding paragraphs
• First and last paragraphs of essay will
ordinarily be the introduction and
conclusion.
• Likely to be shorter than the paragraphs in
the body of the essay.
• Usually contain general information or
ideas as opposed to specifics or details (in
the body of the essay).
Reasons for beginning
a new paragraph
• Mark off introduction and conclusion;
• Signal a shift to a new idea;
• Indicate an important shift in time or place;
• Signal a change of speakers (« in dialogue »)
• Break up text that looks too dense.
Beware . . .
• Use of too many short, choppy paragraphs
frustrates the reader.
Choosing visuals to suit your purpose:
• Pie chart:
• Line graph:
• Bar graph:
• Table:
• Map:
• Flowchart:
Defining a paragraph. Find the topic sentence in the paragraph.
• One of the most famous characters in the
history of the film cartoons is Mickey
Mouse. Mickey first appeared in New York
City in 1928 in a cartoon called Steamboat
Willie. He was created by the joint efforts
of Walt Disney and Ub Iwecks. By 1930, the
cartoon mouse was popular the world over.
He was known in Italy as Tpoplino and in
Japan as Mike Kuchi. When Mickey Mouse
celebrated his fiftieth birthday in 1978, he
was still as popular as ever.
Find the topic sentence and draw a line through the
sentence that does not support the main idea (to
practice unity).
• A hare is different from a rabbit in several
ways. I once saw a hare in my backyard. A
hare has much larger and longer legs than
a rabbit. A hare’s ears are also longer. A
hare does not burrow into the ground as a
rabbit does. A rabbit is born without fur,
but a hare is born with a full coat of fur.
Those are the major differences.
• John Hancock was a leading figure in the
history of the American Revolution. He
was president of the Continental Congress
from 1775 to 1777. He is famous today for
the way in which he signed the Declaration
of Independence. Paul Revere is also
famous. Hancock’s signature is the first
and largest on the historic document.-
1. Exercises: topic sentence,
coherence and unity (pages);
2. Go to page 72 - Student
Writer’s Guide