Scribd
Upload
10 views

Crafting Effective Paragraphs

Uploaded by

Christopher
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
10 views

Crafting Effective Paragraphs

Uploaded by

Christopher
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
You are on page 1/ 2

WRITING WELL-SUPPORTED, ORGANIZED,

UNIFIED, AND COHERENT PARAGRAPHS*


In academic writing, all paragraphs should—

BEGIN OR END WITH A CLEARLY-STATED TOPIC SENTENCE


that contains a controlling idea about a specific topic.

BE ADEQUATELY-SUPPORTED using a variety of supporting evidence


in order to substantially develop the idea expressed in the topic sentence.
Select from among the following methods to make sure your paragraph is
adequately-developed:

• Personal examples (brief and extended) and illustrations


• Data (facts, statistics, evidence)
• Testimony (what other people say such as quotes and paraphrases)
• Anecdotes or story (personal or observed)
• Definition of unfamiliar terms or concepts
• Comparisons and/or contrasts
• Discussion of causes and reasons
• Examination of effects and consequences
• Analysis
• Chronology or historical background

BE FILLED WITH INTERESTING AND SPECIFIC DETAILS

Which sentence is more interesting?

“I had a nice dinner at a local


restaurant the other night.”

OR

“I had lobster crepes, accompanied by steamed Brussels sprouts smothered


in hollandaise sauce, warm multi-grain rolls with agave-sweetened butter,
and a lovely strawberry coconut cheesecake drizzled with white chocolate
for dessert over at 150 Grand Café in Escondido on Tuesday evening.”)

*
Some information in this handout was adapted from the Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL). See
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/606/01/
BE UNIFIED! The entire paragraph should concern itself with a single
focus. If your paragraph begins with a one focus or major point of
discussion, it should not end with another. Don’t go off topic! One
paragraph/one idea!

BE COHERENT: Coherence is the trait that makes the paragraph easily


understandable to a reader. All the supporting sentences in your paragraph
should follow a logical sequence. There should be a smooth, forward
progression of ideas—no choppy or detached ideas or thoughts. You can
help create this coherence in your paragraphs by creating “verbal bridges,”
as follows—

• Key words can be repeated in several sentences


• Synonymous words can be repeated in several sentences
• Pronouns can refer to nouns in previous sentences
• Transition words can be used to link ideas from different sentences

NOT SURE WHEN TO START A NEW PARAGRAPH?

• When you begin a new idea or point. New ideas should always start
in new paragraphs. If you have an extended idea that spans multiple
paragraphs, each new point within that idea should have its own
paragraph.
• To contrast information or ideas. Separate paragraphs can serve to
contrast sides in a debate, different points in an argument, or any other
difference.
• When your readers need a pause. Breaks in paragraphs function as a
short "break" for your readers—adding these in will help your writing
more readable. You would create a break if the paragraph becomes
too long or the material is complex.
• When you are ending your introduction or starting your
conclusion. Your introductory and concluding material should always
be in a new paragraph. Many introductions and conclusions have
multiple paragraphs depending on their content, length, and the
writer's purpose.

You might also like