How to write a good paragraph
- 1. How to Write a Good Paragraph A Step-by-Step Guide Compiled by Muhammad Usman Khalid Writing well composed academic paragraphs can be tricky. The following is a guide on how to draft, expand, refine, and explain your ideas so that you write clear, well-developed paragraphs and discussion posts: Step 1: Decide the Topic of Your Paragraph Before you can begin writing, you need to know what you are writing about. First, look at the writing prompt or assignment topic. As you look at the prompt, note any key terms or repeated phrases because you will want to use those words in your response. Then ask yourself: • On what topic am I supposed to be writing? • What do I know about this topic already? • If I don’t know how to respond to this assignment, where can I go to find some answers? • What does this assignment mean to me? How do I relate to it? After looking at the prompt and doing some additional reading and research, you should better understand your topic and what you need to discuss. Step 2: Developa Topic Sentence Before writing a paragraph, it is important to think first about the topic and then what you want to say about the topic. Most often, the topic is easy, but the question then turns to what you want to say about the topic. This concept is sometimes called the controlling idea. Strong paragraphs are typically about one main idea or topic, which is often explicitly stated in a topic sentence. Good topic sentences should always contain both (1) a topic and (2) a controlling idea. The topic – The main subject matter or idea covered in the paragraph. The controlling idea – This idea focuses the topic by providing direction to the composition. Read the following topic sentences. They all contain a topic (in orange) and a controlling idea (in purple). When your paragraphs contain a clearly stated topic sentence such as one of the following, your reader will know what to expect and, therefore, understand your ideas better. Examples of topic sentences: • People can avoid plagiarizing by taking certain precautions. • There are several advantages to online education. • Effective leadership requires specific qualities that anyone can develop. Step 3: Demonstrate Your Point After stating your topic sentence, you need to provide information to prove, illustrate, clarify, and/or exemplify your point. Ask yourself:
- 2. • What examples can I use to support my point? • What information can I provide to help clarify my thoughts? • How can I support my point with specific data, experiences, or other factual material? • What information does the reader need to know in order to see my point? • Facts, details, reasons, examples • Information from the readings or class discussions • Paraphrases or short quotations • Statistics, polls, percentages, data from research studies • Personal experience, stories, anecdotes, examples from your life Sometimes, adding transitional or introductory phrases like: for example, for instance, first, second, or last can help guide the reader. Also, make sure you are citing your sources appropriately. Step 4: Give Your Paragraph Meaning After you have given the reader enough information to see and understand your point, you need to explain why this information is relevant, meaningful, or interesting. Ask yourself: • What does the provided information mean? • How does it relate to your overall point, argument, or thesis? • Why is this information important/significant/meaningful? • How does this information relate to the assignment or course I am taking? Step 5: Conclude After illustrating your point with relevant information, add a concluding sentence. Concluding sentences link one paragraph to the next and provide another device for helping you ensure your paragraph is unified. While not all paragraphs include a concluding sentence, you should always consider whether one is appropriate. Concluding sentences have two crucial roles in paragraph writing: First, they draw together the information you have presented to elaborate your controlling idea by: • Summarizing the point(s) you have made. • Repeating words or phrases from the topic sentence. • Using linking words that indicate that conclusions are being drawn (e.g., therefore, thus, resulting). Second, they often link the current paragraph to the following paragraph. They may anticipate the topic sentence of the next paragraph by: • Introducing a word/phrase or new concept which will then be picked up in the topic sentence of the next paragraph. • Using words or phrases that point ahead (e.g., the following, another, other). Step 6: Look Over and Proofread
- 3. The last step in good paragraph writing is proofreading and revision. Before you submit your writing, look over your work at least one more time. Try reading your paragraph out loud to make sure it makes sense. Also, ask yourself these questions: • Does my paragraph answer the prompt and support my thesis? • Does it make sense? Does it use the appropriate academic voice? The Secrets to Good Paragraph Writing Four Essential Elements Paragraph writing is the foundation of all essay writing, whether the form is expository, persuasive, narrative, or creative. In order to write a good paragraph, students need to understand the four essential elements of paragraph writing and how each element contributes to the whole. At Time4Writing, a certified teacher acts as an online writing tutor to help students build writing skills by focusing on the fundamentals. And nothing in the writing process is more fundamental than writing a solid paragraph. The four elements essential to good paragraph writing are: unity, order, coherence, and completeness. The following example illustrates the importance of these elements in paragraph writing. Before & After Comparison: From a wandering paragraph to a wonderful paragraph! This example shows how one student approached the writing prompt “What is your favorite day of the week and why?” The original draft has some interesting ideas but overall, the paragraph wanders. It includes both relevant and irrelevant details and lacks the coherent focus required for a successful paragraph. Before – Original Draft Sunday is my favorite day of the week. I like it because on Sunday, I watch football. On other days, I also get to watch football but not all day. There are other sports on other days to watch on TV. Sunday lunch is a favorite of mine because I eat with my father in front of the TV. All the other days, I have to eat at the table which is less fun. Some days my dad doesn’t make it home from work until after I’m in bed. Some weeks my dad travels, and I don’t see him for several days. The highlight of the day is when we watch the Dolphins play. Dad and I get so excited, we yell and cheer together.The thing that I like to do best in the world is watch TV with my dad. Teacher Observations (Before) The topic sentence restates the prompt but does not unify the paragraph. The writer includes several irrelevant details. The unifying idea in this paragraph is that the writer likes Sunday because it gives him/her a chance to be with his/her dad. However, the idea is buried in this draft. After – RevisedDraft
- 4. Sunday is my favorite day because I spend the day watching football with my dad.On Sunday, unlike the other days of the week when he works, my dad spends the whole day with me watching football on TV. We even eat lunch together while watching. The highlight of the day is watching the Dolphins game. Dad and I get so excited, we yell and cheer together.On Sundays, I get to combine watching my favorite sport and spending time with my favorite person—what a great day! Teacher Observations (After) The topic sentence connects the writing prompt with a summary of the main idea. To keep the paragraph coherent, the most relevant details have been polished, and the others deleted. The closing sentence summarizes the paragraph and emphasizes the main idea. What is a Paragraph? Paragraphs are comprised of sentences, but not random sentences. A paragraph is a group of sentences organized around a central topic. In fact, the cardinal rule of paragraph writing is to focus on one idea. A solidly written paragraph takes its readers on a clear path, without detours. Master the paragraph, and you’ll be on your way to writing “gold-star” essays, term papers, and stories. How to Write a Paragraph Using the Four Essential Elements A basic paragraph structure usually consists of five sentences: the topic sentence, three supporting sentences, and a concluding sentence. But the secrets to paragraph writing lay in four essential elements, which when used correctly, can make a okay paragraph into a great paragraph. Element no.1: Unity. Unity in a paragraph begins with the topic sentence. Every paragraph has one single, controlling idea that is expressed in its topic sentence, which is typically the first sentence of the paragraph. A paragraph is unified around this main idea, with the supporting sentences providing detail and discussion. In order to write a good topic sentence, think about your theme and all the points you want to make. Decide which point drives the rest, and then write it as your topic sentence. Element no.2: Order. Order refers to the way you organize your supporting sentences. Whether you choose chronological order, order of importance, or another logical presentation of detail, a solid paragraph always has a definite organization. In a well-ordered paragraph, the reader follows along easily, aided by the pattern you’ve established. Order helps the reader grasp your meaning and avoid confusion. Element no.3: Coherence. Coherence is the quality that makes your writing understandable. Sentences within a paragraph need to connect to each other and work together as a whole. One of the best ways to achieve coherency is to use transition words. These words create bridges from one sentence to the next. You can use transition words that show order (first, second, third); spatial relationships (above, below) or logic (furthermore, in addition, in fact). Also, in writing a paragraph, using a consistent verb tense and point of view are important ingredients for coherency.
- 5. Element no.4: Completeness. Completeness means a paragraph is well-developed. If all sentences clearly and sufficiently support the main idea, then your paragraph is complete. If there are not enough sentences or enough information to prove your thesis, then the paragraph is incomplete. Usually three supporting sentences, in addition to a topic sentence and concluding sentence, are needed for a paragraph to be complete. The concluding sentence or last sentence of the paragraph should summarize your main idea by reinforcing your topic sentence. Writing Paragraph Prompts: Using the Four Essential Elements Writing paragraphs takes practice, but what should students write about? Good paragraph writing prompts allow students to write about what they know and like, so their focus can be on the writing process and using the four essential elements. Paragraph writing prompts, such as Explain why ______ is your favorite activity, encourage students to develop a topic sentence, write supporting sentences in a proper order, use transition words to achieve coherency, and conclude their paragraphs for completeness.