Writing Paragraphs that Work

1. Writing Paragraphs that Work

2. Paragraphing and Meaning • A well-written paragraph makes your writing more effective. • Each paragraph should focus on a single main point. This is called “Paragraph Unity” • Every paragraph break tells readers that the document is moving on to a new idea, or expanding further on an existing one. • The paragraph should guide readers smoothly from point to point. This is called “Paragraph Cohesion.”

3. Paragraph Building • Paragraph writing entails many of the same details as writing an entire document. • A paragraph should introduce its main ideas clearly and provide supporting details. • The main point of a paragraph will often appear in a topic sentence. • Readers will often use the first sentence or two of a paragraph to build expectations

4. Unity • A unified paragraph is carefully focused on a single main point. • Ensuring unity begins before writing: the writer should decide what function the paragraph serves in the document, and what point it needs to make.

5. A Paragraph might: • Introduce a new idea. • Support a point made earlier. • Summarise the main points of the document. • Serve a specialised function, such as emphasis or transition.

6. The Topic Sentence • The topic sentence is a tool, not a rule: use it to decide what must be in the paragraph while drafting, and to edit for unity afterwards. • Even a paragraph that will not need a topic sentence should be unified, so an informal topic sentence, even one that never makes it to paper, can be useful.

7. Placement of the Topic Sentence • The topic sentence usually appears at the beginning of the paragraph, but it can be elsewhere or may not appear at all. • If readers might disagree with the main point, put the topic sentence last. • Or a paragraph may start with a short transitional sentence, with the topic sentence second. • Sort or descriptive paragraphs may not have a topic sentence at all.

8. Unity Exercise

9. Coherence • Avoid short, choppy sentences. • Make sure your sentences follow a logical sequence (try revising this paragraph). • Use Transitions and Connecting Words to lead readers from point to point. • Use pronouns to link your sentences together.

10. Coherence Exercise

11. Paragraph Length Short Paragraphs • Easy to digest • Too many short paragraphs makes a message seem choppy Long Paragraphs • Explore complex ideas in depth • Avoid long paragraphs at the beginning or end of a document. Introductions and conclusions should be concise, clear and reader-friendly A combination of long and short paragraphs is best for readability.

12. Special Purpose Paragraphs • Introductions • Transitions • Emphatic Paragraphs • Conclusions

13. Checklist for Paragraphs • See Writing Paragraphs that Work module in the online classroom! • Now: Evaluate and revise the paragraphing in this memo.