Writing Effective Paragraphs

A paragraph should be unified, coherent, and well developed. Paragraphs are unified around a main point, and all sentences in the paragraph should clearly relate to that point in some way. The paragraph's main idea should be supported with specific information that develops or discusses the main idea in greater detail.

Creating a Topic Sentence

The topic sentence expresses the main point in a paragraph. You may create your topic sentence by considering the details or examples you will discuss. What unifies these examples? What do your examples have in common? Reach a conclusion and write that "conclusion" first. If it helps, think of writing backwards--from generalization to support instead of from examples to a conclusion.

If you know what you main point will be, write that as clearly as possible. Then focus on key words in your topic sentence and try to explain them more fully. Keep asking yourself "How?" or "Why?" or "What examples can I provide to convince a reader?". After you have added your supporting information, review the topic sentence to see that it still indicates the direction of your writing.

Purposes of Topic Sentences

To state the main point of a paragraph
To give the reader a sense of direction (indicate what information will follow)
To summarize the paragraph's main point

Placement of Topic Sentences

Often appear as the first or second sentences of a paragraph
Rarely appear at the end of the paragraph

Supporting a Topic Sentence with Details

To support a topic sentence, consider some of the possible ways that provide details. To develop a paragraph, use one or more of these:

Add examples
Tell a story that illustrates the point you're making
Discuss a process
Compare and contrast
Use analogies (eg., "X is similar to Y because. . . ")
Discuss cause and effect
Define your terms

Reasons for beginning a new paragraph

To show you're switching to a new idea
To highlight an important point by putting it at the beginning or end of your paragraph
To show a change in time or place
To emphasize a contrast
To indicate changing speakers in a dialogue
To give readers an opportunity to pause
To break up a dense text

Ways of Arranging Information within or between paragraphs

Order of time (chronology)
Order of space (descriptions of a location or scene)
Order of climax (building toward a conclusion)
Order of importance (from least to most important or from most to least important)

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