Paragraph Writing

❖ Main Concepts:

The Paragraph

A paragraph is a group of logically related sentences about a topic.

Physical Formatting a Paragraph

Indenting
The first sentence of a paragraph must be indented. This means that it begins five spaces in
from the left margin. Indenting shows the reader that a new paragraph is beginning. On a
computer, you can indent with Tab key.

Connected Sentences
The sentences in a paragraph should follow each other. It is not a paragraph if every sentence
begins on a new line. A well-supported paragraph has at least 5 sentences and often more.

Title
A paragraph by itself usually has a title. This is one word or a group of words that tells what
the topic is.

Exercise: Identifying the elements of a paragraph

Red
I love the color red. No other color symbolizes so many different
emotions and experiences. Life would be very boring without the color
red. Fires would not burn in the same way. The sunset would not be
interesting, and blood would not be so surprisingly beautiful. Red is
powerful when it appears in nature, and it is also powerful when it appears
in our emotions. Red is love. Red is anger. Reed is beauty. I like to live
life in a strong way, so I think I will always admire the color red.

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 ❖ Paragraph Organization

A typical paragraph has a topic sentence, supporting sentences, and a concluding

sentence

• The topic sentence introduces the topic and tells what the writer will say about the
topic

• The sentences that follow further explain and support the topic sentence. They are
called supporting sentences.

• The concluding sentence often repeats the information in the topic sentence in a
different way.

A student’s paragraph

Topic
sentence Barefoot Boy

I had a scary experience when I was a young boy. One evening while my
parents were eating dinner, I was playing barefoot in the yard with my toys.
Even now I still remember the perfume of the flowers and the moisture of the
supporting
grass. While I was sitting on the grass and playing with a truck, I looked up at
the sky, and my attention was distracted by the beauty of the stars. Then I felt sentences
something cold and smooth slide over my feet. I stayed perfectly still, but I
looked down at my feet. Then I saw a snake slowly slithering over my toes. I
felt terrible and afraid, so my heart beat very fast. After the snake moved away, I
screamed to my parents for help, and they captured the snake and took it away.
The experience frightened me, and I never went outside barefoot again.
Concluding
sentence

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The Topic Sentence

The topic sentence is usually the first sentence in a paragraph. It introduces a new idea. It
presents the topic and explains what the writer will say about the topic. This explanation is
called the controlling idea (message).

Read the following topic sentences. In each one. The topic is my friend. The controlling ideas
explain what the writer will say about the topic. These controlling ideas tell the reader what to
expect in the supporting sentences.
topic Controlling idea
My friend is an honest person.
My friend is the funniest person I know.
My friend has a terribly dangerous job.

A topic sentence must not be a simple fact or specific detail. The controlling idea must say
something about the topic that can then be supported, developed, or demonstrated in the
supporting sentences. The controlling idea must also not be too general, or the topic sentence
will be unclear.

• A surprise party is a kind of party. (too general)

• There were 14 guests at my surprise birthday party. (too specific)
• My classmates gave me an unforgettable surprise party for my 18th birthday. (Proper)

The last topic sentence is effective because it introduces the topic and has a controlling idea
that can be developed in the supporting sentences. The paragraph will probably tell the story
of the party.

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Exercise: Identifying topics and controlling ideas
In each topic sentence below, circle the topic and underline the controlling idea.

1. Hiking is the best way to explore nature closely

2. My uncle had a frightening experience as a young man.

3. Text messaging has become popular among teenagers.

4. Effective time management requires four easy steps.

5. Every college student should take a computer course.

Exercise: Identify effective topic sentences

In each sentence below, circle the topic and underline the controlling idea. If the
sentence does not contain an effective controlling idea, write one in the blank. For
the effective topic sentences, write what you think the supporting sentences will
be about.

1. My doctor is very kind to his patients.

The writer will give examples of ways in which his doctor is patients
2. Fried rice is easy to prepare if you follow some simple steps.

3. I am going to write about my country.

4. I had an adventure in the jungle last year.

5. Video games are not bad for children.

Exercise: Writing topic sentences

Use each word or phrase below to write a proper topic sentence

1. Pets
Pets are good companions for older people.

2. A terrible teacher

3. Tennis

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Supporting Sentences

Supporting sentences add information about the topic and the controlling idea. Supporting
sentences can include definitions, explanations, reasons, and examples. Read the topic
sentence below. Then study the types of supporting sentences that might follow it.

Topic Controlling idea

Young people are too dependent on computers.

Supporting definition
Dependency on computers means that young people cannot perform the normal tasks and
functions of daily life without them.

Supporting explanation
In the old days, people memorized important information, but today’s youth rely on their
computers, cell phones, and tablets to do assignments, record numbers, and save important
information. As a result, they can find themselves unprepared in an emergency such as an
electrical blackout. Once their batteries die, these people will not be able communicate.

Supporting example
For example, I do all my schoolwork on my computer. When my computer crashed last
week, l lost my only draft of an essay that was due the next day As a result, l got a bad
grade.

Exercise: Identifying topic sentences and supporting sentences

For each set of sentences, write TS next to the topic sentence. Write SS next to
the supporting sentences.

1. SS a. Mosquitoes are attracted to heat.

SS b. Mosquitoes will fly several miles to find food.
SS c. Only the female mosquito bites.
TS d. Mosquitoes are interesting insects.

2. a. One of my hobbies is listening to international music.

b. I have a large collection of world music recordings.
c. My friends and I like to introduce each other to new international artists
we discover.
d. I enjoy going to concerts by musicians from different countries.

3. a. I like the way people get dressed in winter.

b. I enjoy going shopping in cold weather.
c. I enjoy the parties and celebrations of the winter holiday.
d. I really like the winter holiday.

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 4. a. My new apartment has big closets.
b. My new apartment is perfect for my roommate and me.
c. My new apartment is close to school and work.
d. My new apartment is not too expensive for students.

The Concluding Sentence

The concluding, or final, sentence of a paragraph usually reminds the reader of the topic
and controlling idea of the paragraph. The concluding sentence restates the main idea.

Topic sentence
I love the color red.

Concluding sentence
I like to live life in a strong way, so I think I will always admire the color red.

In addition to restating the main idea, the concluding sentence may:

• warn the reader.

If you do not follow these steps, you may not get the grade that you want
• make a prediction.
The automotive industry will change, and soon everyone will be driving
pollution-free cars.
• give an opinion about the topic.
Some people might disagree, but I think lamb is the best meat for grilling

Sometimes writers signal the concluding sentence by using the phrase “In conclusion.”

In conclusion, learning a second language has many advantages.

Exercise: Identifying supporting sentence and concluding

sentences
Read the topic sentence below. Write SS next to the three supporting sentences
and write CS next to the concluding sentence.
1. The best way to see San Francisco is by walking.
CS a. When you explore San Francisco by foot, you can experience all the city
has to offer.
SS b. When you walk, you experience the different smells of the restaurants
the plants and sometimes the ocean.
SS c. You can stop and look in the windows of shops or sit on a bench for a
short while and look at interesting people.
SS d. In a car or a bus, you cannot stop easily if you see something interesting
because parking is difficult.

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 2. An egg taco takes only five minutes to make.
a. Your delicious egg taco is ready to eat in just a few minutes.
b. Heat a flour tortilla in a small amount of water.
c. Scramble two eggs with a little salt and pepper.
d. When the eggs are done, slide them into the warm tortilla and fold
interesting because parking is difficult.

3. My paper is late because something happened to my computer.

a. I was almost finished writing my paper, and I was checking it for errors.
b. Suddenly, my computer screen went blank, and the power was gone.
c. The accident made me lose many hours of work, so I could not turn in my
essay on time.
d. Late, I learned that a squirrel got on the power line and disrupted the
electricity.

Exercise: Examining concluding sentences

Circle the word that best describes each of the concluding sentences below.

1. If you follow these steps, you will never lose your keys again.

a.
prediction b. opinion c. warning
b.
2. Students who are not careful with credit cards can go into debt quickly.
a. prediction b. opinion c. warning

3. Venice, Italy, is the most beautiful city in the world.

a. prediction b. opinion c. warning

4. You will be able to produce a beautiful paper crane with only a little bit
of practice.
a. prediction b. opinion c. warning

5. There are many reasons why movie stars make poor politicians.
a. prediction b. opinion c. warning

6. The desert is a beautiful but dangerous place to hike, so do your research and take
time to prepare carefully.
a. prediction b. opinion c. warning

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◼ Part 3: Unity and Coherence in the Paragraph

Unity within a Paragraph

A paragraph must have unity. A paragraph has unity when all the sentences support a single
idea.

• The paragraph must have one controlling idea in the topic sentence.
Otherwise, the paragraph loses focus.
• The supporting sentences must support or explain the controlling idea with
examples, details, steps, or definitions. Otherwise, the paragraph will not be about
one single idea.
• The concluding sentence should restate the idea in the topic sentence.
Otherwise, the main idea might not be clear.

Topic sentence
My friend Macarena is generous.

Supporting sentence
She often lets travelers stay in her home. She has hosted many students temporarily. She
sends money to her family in Chile every month to help them with their bills. She always
brings flowers or food to her friend when they are sick or have a need.

Concluding sentence
Macarena is one of the most generous people I know.

Note that all the sentences are about Macarena’s generosity. A sentence about the way she or
about her job will not support the unity of the paragraph unless it somehow relates to
Macarena’s generosity.

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Exercise: Recognizing unity in supporting sentences
Read the following topic sentences. Put a check ( / ) next to each sentence below that
supports the topic sentence.
1. I am an organized person.
/ a. My desk is always neat and tidy.
/ b. I have a system for organizing my papers, and I can always find what I
need.
c. I feel uncomfortable when I am in a strange environment.
/ d. My friends always want me to help them put their closets in order

2. Tea and coffee are very different from each other.

a. coffee has more caffeine than tea does.
b. coffee and tea both have caffeine.
c. people enjoy tea and coffee during social occasions.
d. Tea is much more common around the world than coffee is.

3. In my opinion, people spend too much money on cars.

a. Some drivers spend a fourth of their income for a car payment, which is
unnecessary
b. Cars do not increase in value, so they are not a great investment.
c. Car companies are always looking for ways to make vehicles safer on the
road.
d. People who do not pay cash must also pay interest, so they lose even
more money.

4. It is easy to get a sports injury.

a. Many people enjoy sports
b. Runners often have problems with their ankles and knees.
c. Basketball players can break their fingers or get knocked over by another
player.
d. Many people make the simple mistake of joining a gym, and then they
never go there to exercise.

5. My city is famous because of its architecture.

a. We have ancient, red-tiled buildings around the main square.
b. The restaurants near the beach serve great seafood.
c. It has expensive tree-lined boulevards with beautiful limestone buildings
and monuments.
d. A famous university is located on the side of a mountain

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Exercise: Editing for unity
Read the paragraph below. Cross out the two sentences that are not about the
controlling idea.

Life in a new Place

I am a Thai girl living in the U.S., and there are many adjustments that I must
make. First of all, I must get used to a new kind of food. I am learning to eat a lot of
hamburgers they are not expensive and they are easy to buy. The people are different
and I am learning o meet new foreign friend. For example, two of my new friends are
from Pakistan. Pakistan is also an interesting country to visit. The weather requires
another kind of adjustment. Some days, it is hot just as in my country, but on other
days it is cold and this is very strange for me. I came to the U.S. to study and I enjoy
my classes and my teachers. I am adjusting to the U.S. in many ways, but it is not a
problem for me because I like know about different places and people.

Exercise: Developing unity

Write two supporting sentences for each of the following topic sentences. Then
exchange books with a partner and your partner’s sentences for unity.

1. Computers are useful in many ways.

2. There are certain characteristics that I always look for in a good restaurant.

3. When I want to look nice for a party, I follow a few simple steps.

4. There are activities in a park for family members of all ages.

5. There are many ways to show respect to older people.

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Coherence within a Paragraph

A paragraph must also have coherence; This means that the supporting details are
organized so that information that goes together appears together.

Writers often use time, space, or order of importance to present the supporting
information in a paragraph coherently. The following example is organized by
space.

When you drive into the airport, you will see many signs for the different
terminals. After you pass the signs, you will drive over a hill. The airport is on the
other side of the hill. On your right, you will see the international terminal. This
terminal is two stories tall. The front is all glass. On the left, you will see the
domestic terminals…

Exercise: Identifying patterns of coherence

Read the paragraphs below. Then circle the word that best describes the way the
paragraph is organized.

Paragraph 1

My favorite restaurant is in an old house. It is very convenient because it is in my

neighborhood. We can drive, or if the evening is pleasant, we can walk. It has a nice
atmosphere and friendly service. We know some of the waiters and waitresses so we enjoy
talking to them because they ask us about our children. We especially like the decorations.
The walls are soft yellow, and candles and fresh flowers are on the tables inside and outside.
Finally, the food is excellent. The cook is the owner and he makes delicious dishes with fresh
ingredients. We always enjoy our meals.

Time Space Order of importance

Paragraph 2

My favorite restaurant is in an old house. My husband and I enjoy eating there on summer
evenings. We usually walk form our house so we can enjoy our neighbors’ gardens and get a
little bit of exercise. The afternoon sun shines through the trees but it is not too bright. We
arrive at dusk, and if we are lucky, we can sit outside. The waiter brings a basket of warm
bread and a cold drink. We have an appetizer or a salad while the sun goes down. Then the
waiter lights the candles while we enjoy the main course. By the time we finish desert, it is
nighttime. We walk home slowly, feeling full but happy in the moonlight.
Time Space Order of importance

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