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What Is A Paragraph

A paragraph is a group of related sentences that discuss one main idea. An effective paragraph has unity, coherence, and development. It contains a topic sentence that states the main idea, supporting sentences that provide details and examples, and can conclude by summarizing the main points. Paragraphs are structured to effectively communicate a message through subdivided and organized ideas.

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Zaki Abdulfattah
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76 views

What Is A Paragraph

A paragraph is a group of related sentences that discuss one main idea. An effective paragraph has unity, coherence, and development. It contains a topic sentence that states the main idea, supporting sentences that provide details and examples, and can conclude by summarizing the main points. Paragraphs are structured to effectively communicate a message through subdivided and organized ideas.

Uploaded by

Zaki Abdulfattah
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Second Year Essay Dr.

Gamal

What is a paragraph?
A paragraph is a group of sentences that work in concert to
develop a unit of thought. In other words, a paragraph is a group
of related sentences that discuss one (and usually only one) main
idea. A paragraph can be as short as one sentence or as long as ten
sentences. The number of sentences in a paragraph is unimportant;
however, the paragraph should be long enough to develop the main
idea clearly.
 Paragraphing permits you to subdivide material into manageable
parts and, at the same time, to arrange those parts into a unified
whole that effectively communicates its message.
 Paragraphing is signaled by indentation. The first line is
indented five spaces in a typewritten paper.
 The purpose of a paragraph helps you determine its structure. In
college, the most common purposes for academic writing are to
inform and to persuade. Most paragraphs, however, are topical
paragraphs, also called developmental paragraphs or body
paragraphs. They consist of a statement of a main idea and
specific, logical support for that main idea.

Dr. Zaki Abdulfattah 01006847478 Page 1


Second Year Essay Dr. Gamal

Major characteristics of an effective paragraph:


1) Unity: clear logical relationship between the main idea of a
paragraph and supporting evidence for the main idea.
2) Coherence: smooth progression from one sentence to the next
within a paragraph.
3) Development: specific, concrete support for the main idea of
the paragraph.

Writing unified paragraphs:


A paragraph is unified when all its sentences clarify or help support
the main idea. Unity is lost if a paragraph goes off the topic by
including sentences unrelated to the main idea.

The Three Parts of a Paragraph:


1) The Topic Sentence:
The sentence that contains the
main idea of a paragraph, called
the topic sentence, shapes and controls the content of the rest of
the paragraph. The topic sentence states the main idea of the
paragraph. It not only names the topic of the paragraph, but it also
limits the topic to one specific area to be discussed in the paragraph.
The part of the topic sentence that announces the specific area to
be discussed is called the controlling idea.
Topic
 Gold, a precious metal, is prized for Controlling Idea two important characteristics.
Topic
 Driving on freeways requires Controlling Idea skills and alertness.
Dr. Zaki Abdulfattah 01006847478 Page 2
Second Year Essay Dr. Gamal

Most paragraphs place the topic sentence first so that a reader


knows immediately what to expect. Sometimes the main idea in the
topic sentence starts a paragraph and is then restated at the end of
the paragraph. Some paragraphs reveal their supporting details
before the main idea. In such cases, the topic sentence comes at the
end of a paragraph. This approach is particularly effective for
building suspense and for dramatic effect. Some paragraphs are a
unified whole even without the use of a topic sentence. Writers
must construct such paragraphs carefully so that a reader can
easily discern the main idea.

2) Supporting sentences
Supporting sentences develop the topic sentence. They explain
the topic sentence by giving more information about it.
Examples:
 First of all, gold has a lustrous beauty that is resistant to corrosion.
 Another important characteristic of gold is its usefulness to industry and science.
3) The Concluding Sentence
The concluding sentence signals the end of the paragraph and
leaves the reader with important points to remember. It can do this
in two ways:
 By summarizing the main points of a paragraph.
 By repeating the topic sentence in different words.
 In conclusion, gold is treasured not only for its beauty but also for its utility.

Dr. Zaki Abdulfattah 01006847478 Page 3

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