WRITINGPARAGRAPHS

DEFINITION: A paragraph is a series of sentences

concerning ONE point or main idea.

A paragraph should consist of — at the very least — FIVE sentences, o for what can a writer truly prove or

illustrate adequately in less than a few sentences?!

CONSTRUCTION*PARAGRAPH OVERVIEW*

(1) TOPIC SENTENCE

(2) SUPPORT

(3) CLINCHER SENTENCE

CONSTRUCTION(1) A paragraph should begin with a TOPIC

SENTENCE, which states the main idea of the paragraph.

(2) The remainder of the paragraph is devoted to SUPPORTING (proving or illustrating) that main idea.

(3) A paragraph should conclude with a CLINCHER SENTENCE, a statement that reiterates the main idea of the paragraph.

(1) TOPIC SENTENCESDEFINITION: A TOPIC SENTENCE

o states the main idea of the paragraph.o controls the focus and organization of its

paragraph.

(1) TOPIC SENTENCESANALOGY: a topic sentence is to a paragraph as a thesis statement is to an essay

That is, just as the thesis statement guides the entire essay, so too does the topic sentence guide the entire paragraph.

(1) TOPIC SENTENCESFORMULA:

TOPIC + MAIN IDEA TOPIC:

o About what are you writing? What is your subject matter, concern, focus?

MAIN IDEA: o What are you saying about that topic? What is

your point, message, position, meaning, purpose, goal?

(2) SUPPORTProve your point OR support your main idea

with any of the following evidence:

anecdotes (short narratives) examples reasons details description

(3) CLINCHER SENTENCES

DEFINITION: A CLINCHER SENTENCE

o is the last sentence in a paragraph. o is a concluding statement that reiterates the

main idea of the paragraph.

In an essay, it looks forward to the next point in the following paragraph; that is, it works as a transition from one paragraph to the next.

(3) CLINCHER SENTENCES

Do not simply end your paragraph once you have supported your point.o bring your essay full circleo repeat your main ideao repeat your topic sentence –

• not word for word, but the gist of it• like a Conclusion for your paragraph

(3) CLINCHER SENTENCES

*Do NOT end a paragraph with some else’s words or ideas.o especially true in researched essayso no direct quotes or paraphrases

• there should be no parenthetical at the end of a para.

o your essay = your words

PARAGRAPHSin

ESSAYS

The GOLDEN RULE of PARAGRAPHS

*only 1 idea per paragraph*

The GOLDEN RULE of PARAGRAPHS

That is, discuss ONLY ONE point in each paragraph.

You mentioned three points in your thesis statement, so discuss each point in its own paragraph.

The GOLDEN RULE of PARAGRAPHS

Thus, you will discuss ONLY ONE attribute, reason, type, role, similarity, difference, or characteristic per paragraph.

Exceptions:o In a Process-Analysis essay, you may group

related steps into phases and discuss such connected steps within a single paragraph.

o Do the same in a Narrative essay.

The SILVER RULE of PARAGRAPHS

*no fewer than 5 sentences per paragraph*

The SILVER RULE of PARAGRAPHS

A paragraph should consist of — at the very least — FIVE sentences, o for what can a writer truly prove or

illustrate adequately in less than a few sentences?!

OVERVIEWPARAGRAPH OVERVIEW:*Follow the same level of deduction (GS)

you did in your Introduction.

1) Name (in a Topic Sentence)2) Explain (briefly)3) Illustrate (with specific examples)4) Conclude (with a Clincher Sentence)

*no fewer than 5 sentences per paragraph*

(1) TOPIC SENTENCESDEFINITION: A TOPIC SENTENCE

o states the main idea of the paragraph.o controls the focus and organization of its

paragraph.

(1) TOPIC SENTENCESANALOGY: a topic sentence is to a paragraph as a thesis statement is to an essay

That is, just as the thesis statement guides the entire essay, so too does the topic sentence guide the entire paragraph.

(1) TOPIC SENTENCESTo write a topic sentence, answer: What is the focus of this particular

paragraph? What attribute, reason, type, role, similarity,

difference, or characteristic will I discuss and illustrate in this paragraph?

How is this idea related to my thesis? What transitional expression works best

with the organization of my essay?

(1) TOPIC SENTENCES Refer to your thesis statement.

o In your topic sentence, you will repeat 2/3 of your thesis statement.

o In other words, repeat the topic and the main idea.

o Add to that the singular point you will discuss in that paragraph:

o For an Example essay (Illustration or Argument) on steroids:

(1) TOPIC SENTENCESTHESIS:

Steroids (topic) should be banned from professional sports (main idea) because of adverse health risks to athletes (support 1), illegitimate claims to records (support 2), and irreversible damage to the essence of sports (support 3).

(1) TOPIC SENTENCESTOPIC SENTENCE #1: One reason to ban steroids from sports

involves adverse health risks to athletes.

(1) TOPIC SENTENCESTOPIC SENTENCE #2:

In addition to the negative health risks, another reason steroids should be banned concerns illegitimate claims to legitimately achieved records.

(1) TOPIC SENTENCESTOPIC SENTENCE #3:

While dangerous health risks and cheating are strong arguments, the most important reason steroids should be banned from sports is because they cause irreversible damage to the very essence of sports and sportsmanship.

(2) EXPLANATION After you have written your topic sentence,

you should next briefly explain your point. Remember: “Brevity is the soul of wit.”

o You do not want to spend more time explaining your point at the expense of illustrating it.

“In other words” “That is to say” “What this means is”

(3) SUPPORT You have talked the talked, now you must

walk the walk.o Put up or shut up.o You have made a claim and have explained it,

now you must prove it.

Otherwise, all you have is opinion.

(3) SUPPORT Support your point with

o specific, relevant, unambiguous exampleso specific people and instanceso detailso descriptionso anecdoteso statistics

(4) CLINCHER Finally, wrap up the paragraph with a

clincher sentence.

Similar to the clincher sentence in your Conclusion.

Bring it full circle.

(4) CLINCHER Repeat your point:

“Thus, Lyle Alzado’s case proves that steroids can detrimentally effect an athlete’s health.”

Segue to your next point:

“Thus, steroids can detrimentally effect an athlete’s health; they can also negatively effect the record books.”

SUMMATION*PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE*

(1) Name your point.

(2) Explain briefly your point.

(3) Illustrate your point with specific and relevant examples.

(4) Repeat your point and segue to your next point.