Paragraph Writing

Paragraph Writing: A paragraph’s actual purpose is to convey logical ideas. It might be a single sentence or a series of sentences. The paragraph’s concept, often known as the “primary idea,” always travels in one direction. We modify the paragraph as soon as the notion changes.

The building blocks of documents are paragraphs. Many students use length to define paragraphs: a paragraph is a collection of at least five sentences, a paragraph is half a page long, and so on. In actuality, a paragraph is defined by the unity and coherence of ideas among phrases. “A set of sentences or a single sentence that constitutes a unit” is how a paragraph is defined.

The length and look of a portion in a document do not indicate whether it is a paragraph. For example, in certain writing styles, especially journalistic forms, a paragraph might be as short as one phrase. A paragraph is, in the end, a statement or a set of phrases that support one major concept. This will be referred to as the “controlling notion” in this handout since it directs the remainder of the paragraph.

So, how do you write a paragraph?

Everything starts with a single concept, and everything that inevitably follows fits into one paragraph.

Every paragraph should include ideas or sentences that are linked to and allude to the key concept.

These concepts should not be chosen at random. It’s usually a good idea to scribble down fast notes on a piece of paper and then organise them in a logical chronological sequence that flows in one direction, making it simpler to read.

Do not leave any statement or phrase unsubstantiated or without an explanation. Every claim you make should be supported by logical reasoning contained inside a single paragraph.

Getting your paragraph to fit

Once you’ve figured out the main concept and a basic outline for your paragraphs, you’ll need to arrange them in a certain order to tell your tale. Here are some ideas on how to organise your paragraphs:

Tell a narrative via narration. Start from the beginning and work your way to the end.

Provide precise descriptions of how something appears, smells, tastes, sounds, or feels. Organize by location, by appearance, or by subject.

Step-by-step instructions on how to do anything. Perhaps in this order: first, second, third.

Separate into groups or describe the many components of a subject via classification.

Illustration: Provide examples and explain how they support your argument.

How do you make paragraphs?

• Make the main point.

Have a clear idea of what you want to say and say it right away. The primary notion is often presented in the first phrase. “The oceans are progressively turning into human garbage dumps.”

You will explain or provide validation points after the declaration of your key notion is out there. This manner, your major point isn’t left hanging. This will ensure that the reader interprets the primary point correctly since you have led them to it.

The writer describes the focal point in this section. “Garbage in the ocean originates from waste that is blown into sewers, rivers, or straight into the ocean from trash cans, streets, and landfills. Garbage is washed into storm drains. Trash makes its way via sewage systems, into streams, and eventually into the sea.”

• Make Use of an Example

Without explanations, examples always explain. When you offer them something to connect to, they comprehend more. They supply the proof or support that we need to substantiate our main point. According to a recent study based on a mega-expedition to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in 2015, there is nearly 16 times more rubbish floating there than previously assumed.

• What is the best way to order a paragraph?

A paragraph may be organised in a variety of ways. The arrangement you pick will be determined by the paragraph’s main concept. A few options for organising are shown below, along with links to short examples:

Tell a narrative via narration. Start from the beginning and work your way to the end. (Here’s an illustration.)

Provide precise descriptions of how something appears, smells, tastes, sounds, or feels. Organize by location, by appearance, or by subject. (Here’s an illustration.)

Step-by-step instructions on how to do anything. Perhaps in this order: first, second, third. (Here’s an illustration.)

Separate into groups or describe the many components of a subject via classification. (Here’s an illustration.)

Illustration: Provide examples and explain how they support your argument. (See the following part of this handout for a more thorough example.)

The paragraph writing process is broken down into five steps.

Let’s go through a 5-step procedure for creating a paragraph. There is an explanation and an example for each step. Slave spirituals, or original music written by African Americans under slavery, will be the subject of our sample paragraph. To establish its thesis, the model paragraph provides illustration (examples).

Step 1: Choose a governing notion and write a subject sentence about it.

The formation of the controlling concept is the first step in developing a paragraph. The development of the paragraph is guided by this concept. The dominating notion of a paragraph is often expressed as a subject sentence. In certain circumstances, more than one phrase is required to convey the dominant concept of a paragraph. Here’s how our “model paragraph guiding “‘s notion is stated in a subject sentence:

Slave spirituals often had concealed double meanings, therefore model governing concept and theme phrase.

Step 2: Describe the key concept.

The writer’s justification or explanation for how the reader should understand the information offered in the concept statement or subject sentence of the paragraph continues the paragraph’s development. The writer expresses his or her thoughts on the paragraph’s major subject, theme, or focus. The statement that would come after the dominating thought concerning slave spirituals is as follows:

Model explanation: Spirituals allude to heaven, Jesus, and the soul on one level, but they also speak to slave resistance on another.

Step 3: Give an example (or multiple examples)

The statement of some form of support or proof for the notion and the explanation that came before it moves the paragraph forward. The example acts as a symbol or representation of the connection established in the paragraph’s concept and explanation sections. To show the multiple meanings of slave spirituals, consider the following two examples:

A good example is this: According to Frederick Douglass, the hymn “O Canaan, Sweet Canaan” conveyed slaves’ yearning to flee to the North as well as their longing for paradise. “I don’t expect to remain / Much longer here. / Run to Jesus, avoid the danger. / I don’t expect to stay,” the song’s second meaning was picked up on by attentive listeners.

Model example B: Slaves also used songs like “Steal Away to Jesus (at midnight)” to advertise covert, unlawful gatherings to fellow slaves.

Step 4: Explain the situation (s)

The next step in paragraph creation is to explain each example and how it relates to the subject phrase and justification presented at the start of the paragraph. This explanation explains why you selected to utilise this/these specific instances as evidence to support your paragraph’s main assertion, or topic.

Continue to provide instances and explain them until the writer has stated and explained all of the points/examples that he or she considers essential. There should be no unanswered questions in any of your examples. In the same phrase that introduced the example, you may be able to illustrate the link between the example and the main sentence. More often than not, though, you’ll need to clarify the connection in its own phrase. Take a look at the following explanations for the two instances from the slave spirituals section:

For instance, a model explanation A: Slaves singing this hymn might have been discussing their intentions to flee the South and go to the North, rather than to Jesus.

[The link between example B and the governing concept of the paragraph is evident enough without adding another phrase to describe it.] Model explanation for example B:

Step 5: Finish the concept of the paragraph writing

The last step in paragraph development entails tying up loose ends and reminding the reader of the importance of the material in this paragraph to the paper’s primary or dominating concept. You may remind your reader on the importance of the material you just addressed in the paragraph at this point. However, you could feel better at ease just shifting your reader to the following paragraph’s next development. Here’s an example of a sentence that completes the paragraph on slave spirituals:

Complete a paragraph using a model sentence Slaves deciphered intricate meanings in what whites regarded as simple spiritual melodies. Slaves were able to sing what they couldn’t speak because to the hidden meanings of spirituals.