Page 4 Paragraph Writing
Completion requirements
Paragraph Writing
To communicate effectively with readers, paragraphs have main ideas guiding them. Often, this guiding idea sparks the reader’s curiosity. The reader learns more through supporting details that provide evidence for the main ideas. Concluding sentences pursue the train of thought and leave readers feeling as if they have learned something new and unexpected.
In a paragraph readers should be able to zoom in on the key points by reading only the first sentence of the paragraph, the topic sentence.
In a paragraph readers should be able to zoom in on the key points by reading only the first sentence of the paragraph, the topic sentence.
- The topic sentence should let the reader know how the writer plans to approach the topic. The remainder of the paragraph develops the single idea. The topic sentence is represented by the top hamburger bun in Figure 1 below.
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The middle or supporting sentences provide a smooth transition from the beginning to the end of the paragraph.
In Figure 1 the paragraph body is represented by the meat, lettuce, cheese, onions, and pickles.
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The last sentence restates the main point and is the most emphatic. The
concluding sentence is represented by the bottom hamburger bun in Figure 1.
- Transitions are words that connect one idea to the next smoothly. Often, they show relationships within a paragraph (or within a sentence) between the main idea and the support the author gives for those ideas. In Figure 1, transitions are represented by the condiments: ketchup and mustard.
The main idea, supporting details, transitions, and concluding sentence
have been identified in the following body paragraph from Marc
LaFrance's essay, “The Pros and Cons of Being a Full-Time Musician”.
The transitions in this paragraph are repeated key words. In this paragraph, the green highlighted words build on the topic “self-employment” to provide coherence. “Making a living, self-employed, business” have similar meanings. A thesaurus provides words that convey subtle connections between ideas.
Mastering the structure of a paragraph will make you a better reader and writer and strengthen your creative and critical thinking skills.
The transitions in this paragraph are repeated key words. In this paragraph, the green highlighted words build on the topic “self-employment” to provide coherence. “Making a living, self-employed, business” have similar meanings. A thesaurus provides words that convey subtle connections between ideas.
Mastering the structure of a paragraph will make you a better reader and writer and strengthen your creative and critical thinking skills.