Paragraphs In good writing, sentences that relate to one idea are grouped into a paragraph. ➔ The...
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Transcript of Paragraphs In good writing, sentences that relate to one idea are grouped into a paragraph. ➔ The...
Paragraphs
In good writing, sentences that relate to one idea are grouped into a paragraph. ➔ The idea that the sentences relate to is the
main idea.◆ It is the most important idea in the paragraph.
Paragraphs➔ All the sentences in that paragraph tell about
Marcus’s success in his job at a hospital. ➔ That is the main idea of the paragraph:
◆ Marcus is a success for many reasons, as stated in the first sentence. ● The sentences after that explain or give
examples of that idea. They support the main idea. For that reason, the sentences are called supporting details.
Main Idea and Supporting Details
➔ Topic: what a piece of writing is about; its subject matter
➔ Main idea: most important idea in a paragraph, or what the writer’s main point is about the topic.
➔ Topic Sentence: a sentence that states or leads into the main idea of a paragraph
Topic Sentences
➔ Topic Sentence: a sentence that states or leads into the main idea of a paragraph◆ Very often the topic sentence is the first sentence of the
paragraph; however, it can be located anywhere in the paragraph.
◆ Watch out for topic sentences that are too general or too specific.
◆ Remember that a topic sentence should state the topic and the main point that the rest of the sentences make about the topic.
Main Idea and Supporting Detail
Supporting detail: words, phrases, or sentences that tell more about the main idea or topic sentence; types include:
reasons: details that tell why an opinion is valid or an event occurs
facts: statements that can be provedStatistics: facts expressed in numbersExamples: specific instances that explain or support a pointSensory details: details that appeal to one or more of the five
sensesAnecdotes: brief stories about a character or an event
➔ (See Sample Paragraph on the Handout)
Relevancy and Order of Ideas➔ Relevancy: when an idea does not relate to the main
idea of a paragraph, it confuses the reader. All supporting sentences within a paragraph should relate to the main idea.◆ Don’t be fooled by a sentence that “sounds” as if it
belongs in a paragraph. ◆ Make sure it specifically relates to the topic of the
paragraph along with the other supporting sentences.
➔ Order of Ideas: the way in which ideas/ supporting sentences are arranged within a paragraph should be presented logically. ◆ order of importance, order of time, order of
space/direction, etc.◆ When writing, be sure to use transitional words and
phrases to show how ideas are ordered and arranged.