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ParagraphsA Brief Guide to Writing Paragraphs INTRODUCTION IMPORTANT PARTS OF A PARAGRAPH
English Comprehension (ACS-106)
National University of Modern Languages
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Writing Workshop
WRITING WORKSHOP BRIEF GUIDE SERIES
A Brief Guide to Writing
Paragraphs
INTRODUCTION IMPORTANT PARTS OF A PARAGRAPH
A well organized paragraph
does wonders to make writing clear
and help guide a reader through all the
important ideas. What follows is a
general breakdown of different types,
parts, and examples of academic
paragraphs to help illuminate what
makes a paragraph work. Note: this
guide isn’t for creative writing, and is
more of a list of general suggestions
rather than hard and fast rules.
Often times, different disciplines
require different writing styles, and no
doubt a paragraph in English may be
structured quite differently than one is
Psychology. This guide doesn’t go into
all those nuances, but instead aims to
give some general ways in which
paragraphs, and therefore writing more
generally, can be improved.
- Topic Sentence: This sentence is basically a summary of the argument you're making in the paragraph. Though it doesn’t necessarily have to go at the beginning of a sentence, that is often where your reader is looking for it, and putting it at the beginning will definitely make your intentions clear.
- Evidence: In an analytical paper, evidence usually comes in the form of information or examples gathered from sources, often presented as quotes. Though evidence is a key part of paragraphs, it should not be the main focus or take up more real estate than your argument. This is your paper, and your ideas are the most important part.
- Development: Your idea should be fully developed within the paragraph. In this sense, paragraphs that have only three or four sentences probably don’t fully consider your idea. Analysis, description, data, and examples are all ways that ideas can be developed.
- Cohesion: Paragraphs should also be unified and coherent. That is, they should be their own developed unit of writing.
- Transitions: These can be a great way to flow from one paragraph to the next. Personally, I like to have my topic sentence as the first sentence, so I try to use the last sentence of the previous paragraph to prep my reader for the next idea I’m going to cover.
Wesleyan University Writing Workshop Annie Ferreira History, 2017
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DIFFERENT TYPES OF PARAGRAPHS
- Introductory: Traditionally, introductory paragraphs serve to preview your paper for your reader, giving them a heads up about what’s important. Broadly speaking, they go from wide to narrow and usually end in a thesis statement. For more on introductions, check out the Wesleyan Writing Center guide on them.
- Context/Summary: These paragraphs exist to give your reader some background on your topic. For example, if you’re writing about the U. Civil War, you could have a paragraph giving historical background on the slavery’s place in the Constitution. Or, if you were writing about vaccines, you could talk about how the body’s immune system functions.
- Lit Review: A lit review is a gathering of the existing work on your topic, and usually combine both summary and synthesis. They are more common in the sciences and social sciences, and can be part of a paper rather than just one paragraph.
“Make the
paragraph the
unit of
composition: one
paragraph to
each topic.”
- The Elements
of Style
More Resources
du/
o
Here are some additional resources for each different type of paragraph. These sites offer explanations and examples to help your writing.
Introductory: www2.ivcc/ rambo/eng1001/ introductions
Comparison/Contrast: http:// writingcenter.unc/ handouts/comparing-and- contrasting/ ·
Evidence/Sub-Claim: https:// depts.washington/owrc/ Handouts/Strong%20Body %20Paragraphs and http:// writingcommons/open-text/ information-literacy/critical- reading-practices/distinguishing- between-main-points-and-sub- claims/649-distinguishing- between-main-points-and-sub- claims
Counter Argument: http:// writingcenter.fas.harvard/ pages/counter-argument
Summary: http:// writingcenter.fas.harvard/ pages/summary
Transition: https:// owl.english.purdue/owl/ owlprint/574/ and http:// writingcenter.unc/handouts/ transitions/
Conclusion: http:// writing.ucsb/faculty/ donelan/concl and https:// owl.english.purdue/ engagement/2/2/60/
Lit Review: http:// writingcenter.unc/handouts/ literature-reviews/ and http:// faculty.mwsu/psychology/ Laura/Experimental/ sample_apa_style_litreview
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EXAMPLES OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF PARAGRAPHS
ParagraphsA Brief Guide to Writing Paragraphs INTRODUCTION IMPORTANT PARTS OF A PARAGRAPH
Course: English Comprehension (ACS-106)
University: National University of Modern Languages
