Paragraph Writing

What is Paragraph?
• A Paragraph is a self-contained unit of a conversation in
writing dealing with a particular point or idea or topic.
• Its theme is often expressed in the very first sentence, and it
is skillfully summed up in the last.
• Thus the opening as well as the concluding sentence of a
paragraph is the most important.
• The one arouses the interest of the reader by stating its topic,
and the other satisfies it by bringing it to a suitable or natural
conclusion.
The Length of a Paragraph
• There are no hard and fast rules for determining the length of
a paragraph.
• It may be short or long according to the extent of the topic,
and it may consist of a single sentence or many sentences.
• The unity and coherence of ideas among sentences is what
constitutes a paragraph.
• Length and appearance do not determine whether a section in
a paper is a paragraph.
• For instance, in some styles of writing, particularly
journalistic styles, a paragraph can be just one sentence long.
• Ultimately, a paragraph is a sentence or group of sentences
that support one main idea that is also referred as the
"controlling idea," because it controls what happens in the
rest of the paragraph.
• Here are three guidelines for using one-sentence paragraphs
effectively.
• Use them only for stand-alone ideas that do not need
explanation.
• Use them when you want to create heavy emphasis for an
idea.
• Use them infrequently.
Basic Paragraph Structure
• A paragraph consists of several sentences that are grouped
together.
• This group of sentences together discusses one main subject.
• In academic English, paragraphs have three parts.
• These three parts are the topic sentence, body/
supporting sentences, and the concluding sentence.
• We will also talk briefly about details in paragraphs.
The Topic Sentence
• A sentence, sometimes at the beginning of a paragraph, that
states or suggests the main idea (or topic) of a passage.
• It clearly and explicitly states the main idea of a paragraph.
• The topic sentence is carefully worded and restricted
• It helps you generate and control your information.
• It helps readers grasp your main idea quickly.
• As you draft your paragraphs, pay close attention to the
following three guidelines:
• 1. Make sure you provide a topic sentence
• 2. Put your topic sentence first
• 3. Be sure your topic sentence is focused
The Topic Sentence
• For example, suppose that you want to write a paragraph
about the natural landmarks of your hometown.
• The first part of your paragraph might look like this:
• My hometown, Wheaton, is famous for several
amazing natural geographical features. First, it is noted
for the Wheaton River, which is very wide and beautiful. Also,
on the other side of the town is Wheaton Hill, which is unusual
because it is very steep.
Supporting Sentences/Details
• Consider again the above-mentioned, short paragraph:

• When a reader reads a topic sentence, such as My hometown,

Wheaton, is famous for several amazing natural features,
a question should usually appear in the reader's mind.
• In this case, the question should be like, "What are the natural
features that make Wheaton famous?"
• The reader should then expect that the rest of the paragraph
will give an answer to this question.
• The proceeding sentences are called supporting
sentences.
• They are called "supporting" because they "support," or
explain, the idea expressed in the topic sentence.
• Here we can see our paragraph about Wheaton with a few
more supporting sentences:
• My hometown is famous for several amazing natural features.
First, it is noted for the Wheaton River, which is very
wide and beautiful. Also, on the other side of the town
is Wheaton Hill, which is unusual because it is very
steep. The third amazing feature is the Big Old Tree.
This tree stands two hundred feet tall and is probably
about six hundred years old.
The Concluding Sentence
• A sentence at the end of the paragraph, which summarizes
the information that has been presented is the concluding
sentence.
• My hometown is famous for several amazing natural features.
First, it is noted for the Wheaton River, which is very wide and
beautiful. Also, on the other side of the town is Wheaton Hill,
which is unusual because it is very steep. The third amazing
feature is the Big Old Tree. This tree stands two hundred feet
tall and is probably about six hundred years old. These three
landmarks are truly amazing and make my hometown a
famous place.
The Chief Characteristics of a Paragraph

1. Coherence and Unity

• Coherence refers to a certain characteristic or aspect of
writing. Literally, the word means "to stick together."
• Coherence in writing means that all the ideas in a paragraph
are logically connected and flow smoothly from one sentence
to the next sentence.
2. Transitions and Connectors:
• Transitions, or transition words, are signal words that help readers to
follow the direction of the writer’s thought.
• They show the relationship between ideas, connecting one thought to
the next.
• They can be compared to road signs that guide travelers.
• Major Connectors
• Look at the words in bold font. Do you see how they help guide the
reader?
• For example, consider the words in the previously mentioned
paragraph, First, Second, and The third amazing feature. We can call
these words major connectors.
• Major connectors help organize the main parts of your paragraph.
• Minor Connectors
• Minor connectors provide coherence to a paragraph by
connecting sentences within each of the main parts of your
paragraph.
• That is, when you write about your main points, you can use
minor connectors to link your details to each main point.
• Here is a list of common connectors (also called transitions):
• Addition signals: first of all, for one thing, second, the
third reason, also, next, another, and, in addition, moreover,
furthermore, finally, last of all.
• Time signals:
first,then,next,after,as,before,while,meanwhile,now,during,fi
nally.
• Space signals: next to, across, on the opposite side, to the
left, to the right, in front, in back, above, below, behind.
nearby.
• Contrast: but, however, yet, in contrast, otherwise, still, on
the contrary, on the other hand.
• Conclusion signals: therefore, consequently, thus, then,
as a result, in summary, last of all, finally.
Example of Major and Minor Connectors
• Now, look at this paragraph. Can you identify the main points?
• Each of the U.S. manned space exploration projects had specific major
goals. The Mercury project was designed to test whether or not human
beings could survive and function in outer space. The Mercury project
tested rockets with the new Mercury space capsule, which could hold one
person. The Gemini project was intended to find out whether two people
could work in the weightless environment of space. Gemini astronauts took
"spacewalks." They floated outside their spacecraft in a spacesuit,
connected to it by a tether. Gemini astronauts tried out new flying skills.
Some astronauts flew two spacecraft extremely close together; this
procedure was called "rendezvous." On some Gemini flights, astronauts
physically linked two spacecraft together. Linking, or "space docking," was
a major goal of the Gemini program. The Apollo project, with three
astronauts, was intended to test spacecraft and skills so that people could
actually fly to the Moon and land on it. Performing scientific experiments
on the lunar surface and collecting rocks for study on Earth were goals.
Was this paragraph a little confusing to read?
Now consider the same paragraph with a few
changes:
• Each of the U.S. manned space exploration projects had specific major
goals. For example, the Mercury project was designed to test whether or not
human beings could survive and function in outer space. In addition, the
Mercury project tested rockets with the new Mercury space capsule, which could
hold one person. As another example, the Gemini project was intended to find
out whether two people could work in the weightless environment of space. One
way of doing this was by having Gemini astronauts take "spacewalks." That
is, they floated outside their spacecraft in a spacesuit, connected to it by a
tether. Gemini astronaut’s also tried out new flying skills. For example, some
astronauts flew two spacecraft extremely close together; this procedure was
called "rendezvous." On some Gemini flights, astronauts physically linked two
spacecraft together. This linking, or "space docking," was a major goal of the
Gemini program. Finally, the Apollo project, with three astronauts, had the goal
of testing spacecraft and skills so that people could actually fly to the Moon and
land on it. Other goals included performing scientific experiments on the lunar
surface and collecting rocks for study on Earth.
Unity
• Unity is a very important characteristic of good paragraph
writing.
• Paragraph unity means that one paragraph is about ONLY ONE
main topic.
• That is, all the sentences -- the topic, supporting sentences,
the detail sentences, and the concluding sentence -- are all
telling the reader about ONE main topic.
Types of Paragraph
• There are four different types of paragraphs.
• Narrative used to tell a story or a sequence of events
• Descriptive used to describe a scene or an object
• Expository used to provide information, including facts,
instructions, and definitions
• Persuasive used to share opinions and convince others to
agree or take action
• Narrative paragraphs tell about an event or series of events,
usually in chronological order. Most short stories and newspaper
articles are examples of narrative writing.
• Descriptive paragraphs do exactly what you think they do;
they describe a person, an object, or a scene in detail.
• Expository paragraphs are used for explanation. They can list
facts, give directions, or explain ideas. Writers also use
expository paragraphs to define terms, make comparisons, and
show cause and effect. Since information in expository writing
can usually be put into categories, it often uses logical order.
• Persuasive paragraphs are used to share an opinion about a
particular subject. Writers of persuasive paragraphs try to
convince readers to agree with the opinions in the paragraphs
and, sometimes, to take action. A persuasive paragraph often
uses order of importance.
• The type of paragraph you use will depend on your purpose
for writing.
• To entertain readers or express themselves, writers use
narration or description.
• Exposition and narration are used to inform readers about
something.
• Writers use persuasion to influence people.
• Several paragraphs written about the same subject might be
very different, depending on why the writers wrote them.