The Basic Paragraph

Paragraphs Day 1

An average body paragraph for Comp. should be 11-14 sentences long, and around 275 words

A paragraph has three principle parts 1. Topic sentence 2. Supporting sentences 3. Concluding sentence (clincher)

Usually the first sentence of an academic paragraph.

More importantly, it is the most general sentence.

Example: Reading is a pastime recently disregarded by today’s youth.

The Topic Sentence

Supporting Sentences

Support explains topic sentence, or proves main point or provides details.

Topic sentence creates a question- support answers it. Why aren’t teenagers reading? How can you tell that teenagers don’t

read? Example: 68% of teens say they would

rather watch a movie based on a book than read the book itself because it is more visually stimulating.

Supporting Sentences Con’t

Should have 8-10 supporting sentences Support includes statistics, examples,

and explanation Each example (piece of support) needs

three parts: Context: who said, why said, where/when Cited Material: the quote, the paraphrase, or

summary. Must be cited! Explanation: how does your cited material

support your topic sentence?

Details in a Paragraph

Without supporting details, such as how or where, the information is BORING!

Draw a picture for the reader- explain things until you can not think of another way to discuss the main idea. Try to hit all five senses – tell me how it

tastes! Make sure all the details relate to the

main idea!

Supporting Sentences

Whether you are providing examples, explanations, details or stories, it is always easier to cut out the fat than to try and put on more meat

Translation: write more than you need so you have more material to chose from for your final draft!

Concluding Sentence

Summarizes the information presented and/or provides a transition to next paragraph

“topic sentence in reverse” Further drives home idea of topic and how

support proves it.

Example: Because teens engage in more visual entertainment, such as movies or the internet, they are less likely to pick up a book for entertainment.

Elements of a Paragraph

Unity EVERYTHING should relate to the paragraph’s main idea

Concert in the Tuileries, by the impressionist painter Edouard Manet, was composed in three horizontal sections. Manet, however, never wanted to exhibit his work at impressionist shows. Many men, women, and children – all dressed in elegant clothing – appear in the brightly lit foreground. A blur of hats and faces fills the central section of the canvas. Dark green trees and one small patch of sky make up the third and topmost section of the canvas. Without this patch of sky, the dark trees would seem too close on the scene, turning the pleasant gathering into a stifling crowd. Manet often painted scenes from the society in which he lived.

Elements Con’t

Order: do it logically Spatially (for descriptions) Chronologically by order of specification (general to

specific or specific to general) By alternating order (compare/contrast) Order of climax (most important

information last, usually persuasive)

Order the following sentences to make a coherent paragraph

____ There is one disadvantage, however: you can’t erase an ink mark.

____ Why do some students prefer pencils to pens for certain tasks? Let’s see how these two writing tools compare, staring with pens.

____ The first and most important feature of pens is that they use ink.

____ This is not a problem with pencils because they use lead, and lead marks are easily erased.

____ Ink is what allows pens to make marks that are clear, neat, and easy to read.

____ But they are not as clear and neat as ink marks. ____ That’s why I think pencils are the best tools to write

or revise drafts, while pens are better to write clean copies.