CHAPTER 2:

PARAGRAPH
WRITING SKILLS
Effective writers employ a variety of techniques in their writing. However, the kind of
writing dictates the techniques to be employed by the writer.
Specifically, at the end of this lesson you should be able to:

 Apply and create a good paragraph.

Lesson 1:
Elements of Good
Paragraph
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 an okay paragraph into
a great paragraph.
Element #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 #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 #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.
Element #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.
Lesson 2:
Paragraph Development
Basic paragraph structure
In many languages, the fundamental unit of composition is the paragraph.  A paragraph consists
of several sentences that are grouped together.  This group of sentences together
discusses one main subject.   In U.S. formal academic English, paragraphs have three principal
parts.  These three parts are the topic sentence, body sentences, and the concluding sentence. 
We will also talk briefly about details in paragraphs. 
Specifically, at the end of this lesson you should be able to:

 Apply and create a good paragraph.

A strong paragraph contains three distinct components:

1. Topic sentence. The topic sentence is the main idea of the paragraph.

2. Body. The body is composed of the supporting sentences that develop the main point.
3. Conclusion. The conclusion is the final sentence that summarizes the main point.

 The Topic Sentence

A topic sentence usually comes at the beginning of a paragraph; that is, it is usually the first
sentence in a formal academic paragraph.  (Sometimes this is not true, but as you practice writing
with this online lesson site, please keep to this rule unless you are instructed otherwise.)  Not
only is a topic sentence the first sentence of a paragraph, but, more importantly, it is the most
general sentence in a paragraph.  What does "most general" mean?  It means that there are not
many details in the sentence, but that the sentence introduces an overall idea that you want to
discuss later in the paragraph. 
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 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.
(Notice how the first sentence begins with "My hometown..." a few spaces to the right of the
paragraph edge.  This is an indentation.  All paragraphs in English MUST begin with an
indentation.)
Note how the first sentence, my hometown, Wheaton, is famous for several amazing
geographical features, is the most general statement. This sentence is different from the two
sentences that follow it, since the second and third sentences mention specific details about the
town's geography, and are not general statements.
Here are some examples of sentences that cannot be used as topic sentences. Can you figure out
why they are inappropriate?  
 
My hometown is famous because it is located by Wheaton
River, which is very wide, and because it is built near an
unusually steep hill called Wheaton Hill.

 
There are two reasons why some people like to buy cars
with automatic transmission and two reasons why others
like cars with manual transmission.

 
Clouds are white.
The problem with sentence #1 is that it contains too many details. Topic sentences are general,
and details should appear later in the paragraph. A better topic sentence would be like the one
mentioned above, my hometown is famous for several amazing geographical features.
Sentence #2 is not appropriate as a topic sentence because it mentions two topics, not just one.
Paragraphs are usually about one main thing and so their topic sentences should also be about
only one main thing.
The problem with sentence #3 is that it is too general. It is also very boring! Would you like to
read a paragraph with this topic sentence? Most people would not.
We can rewrite sentences #2 and #3 in the following ways to make it better: 
 
There are two reasons why some people like to buy cars
 with automatic transmission. 
OR (in a different paragraph):

There are two reasons why some people like cars with
manual transmission.

 
The shapes of clouds are determined by various factors.
Supporting Sentences
Consider again the above-mentioned, short paragraph: 
 
       My hometown, Wheaton, 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.
(Again, note how this paragraph is indented on the first line, about five or seven spaces in from
the left-hand edge of the paragraph. Always remember to indent your paragraphs!)
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. 
Now look at the sentences after the topic sentence.  We can see that the second sentence in the
paragraph, First, it is noted for the Wheaton River, which is very wide and beautiful, indeed
gives an answer to this question. That is, the second sentence gives some explanation for the fact
that Wheaton is a famous town. Similarly, we can see that the third sentence also gives some
explanation for the fact that Wheaton is famous by giving another example of an "amazing
natural feature," in this case, Wheaton Hill.
The second and third sentences are called supporting sentences.  They are called "supporting"
because they "support," or explain, the idea expressed in the topic sentence.  Of course,
paragraphs in English often have more than two supporting ideas.   The paragraph above is
actually a very short paragraph.  At minimum, you should have at least five to seven sentences in
your paragraph.  Here we can see our paragraph about Wheaton with a few more supporting
sentences in bold font: 
  
 
        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.
In this lesson, we will talk about supporting sentences again in the section, “Details in
Paragraphs," below. 
 
The Concluding Sentence
In formal paragraphs you will sometimes see a sentence at the end of the paragraph which
summarizes the information that has been presented.  This is the concluding sentence.  You can
think of a concluding sentence as a sort of topic sentence in reverse.
You can understand concluding sentences with this example.  Consider a hamburger that you can
buy at a fast-food restaurant. *  A hamburger has a top bun (a kind of bread), meat, cheese,
lettuce, and other elements in the middle of the hamburger, and a bottom bun. Note how the top
bun and the bottom bun are very similar.  The top bun, in a way, is like a topic sentence, and the
bottom bun is like the concluding sentence.  Both buns "hold" the meat, onions, and so on. 
Similarly, the topic sentence and concluding sentence "hold" the supporting sentences in the
paragraph. 
Let's see how a concluding sentence (in bold font) might look in our sample paragraph about
Wheaton: 
 
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.
Notice how the concluding sentence, these three landmarks are truly amazing and make my
hometown a famous place, summarizes the information in the paragraph.  Notice also how the
concluding sentence is similar to, but not exactly the same as, the topic sentence. 
Not all academic paragraphs contain concluding sentences, especially if the paragraph is very
short. 
However, if your paragraph is very long, it is a good idea to use a concluding sentence. 
 
Details in Paragraphs
The short paragraph in this lesson is a fairly complete paragraph, but it lacks details.  Whenever
possible, you should include enough details in your paragraphs to help your reader understand
exactly what you are writing about.  In the paragraph about Wheaton, three natural landmarks are
mentioned, but we do not know very much about them.  For example, we could add a sentence or
two about Wheaton river concerning HOW wide it is or WHY it is beautiful.  Consider this
revision (and note the additional details in bold): 
  
 
My hometown is famous for several amazing natural
features.  First, it is noted for the Wheaton River, which is
very wide and beautiful. On either side of this river,
which is 175 feet wide, are many willow trees which have
long branches that can move gracefully in the wind.  In
autumn the leaves of these trees fall and cover the
riverbanks like golden snow.  Also, on the other side of
the town is Wheaton Hill, which is unusual because it is
very steep.  Even though it is steep, climbing this hill is
not dangerous, because there are some firm rocks along
the sides that can be used as stairs.  There are no trees
around this hill, so it stands clearly against the sky and
can be seen from many miles away.  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.
If we wished, we could also add more details to the paragraph to describe the third natural
feature of the area, the Big Old Tree.
Why are details important?  Consider the example of the hamburger, mentioned above.*  If the
hamburger buns are the topic and concluding sentences, then the meat, the cheese, the lettuce,
and so on are the supporting details.  Without the food between the hamburger buns, your
hamburger would not be very delicious!  Similarly, without supporting details, your paragraph
would not be very interesting.  
 
A Note on Formality.    In addition to having a particular kind of structure, academic paragraphs
(and multi-paragraph essays, which will be topic of another lesson) are different from "ordinary
writing" (such as letter writing) in that certain kinds of expressions are not allowed.  For
example, in formal essays, you should not use contractions such as don't or aren't.  Instead,
you should write out the words in full, for example, do not and are not.
Also, in formal essays you should avoid the first and second person.  That is, do not use the
pronouns I or you.  The pronouns we and us are sometimes used in formal essays in some major
fields, but in general you should not use these unless you are certain that they are customary in
your field and/or your professor allows them.  It is safer simply to use the third person.

Assessment:
Circle the main idea and underline the controlling idea in each of the following topic sentences.

1. Exercising three times a week is the only way to maintain good physical health.

2. Sexism and racism are still rampant in today’s workplace.

3. Raising the legal driving age to twenty-one would decrease road traffic accidents.

4. Owning a business is the only way to achieve financial success.

5. Dog owners should be prohibited from taking their pets on public beaches.