© Capital Community College The paragraph is a series of sentences developing one topic

© Capital Community College

The paragraph is a series of sentences

developing one topic.


The Topic Sentence

• The topic of a paragraph is stated in one sentence. This is called the topic sentence.


The rest of the paragraph consists of sentences that develop or

explain the main idea.• Through the centuries rats

have managed to survive all our efforts to destroy them. We have poisoned them and trapped them. We have fumigated, flooded, and burned them. We have tried germ warfare. Some rats even survived atomic bomb tests conducted on Entwetok atoll in the Pacific after World War II. In spite of all our efforts, these enemies of ours continue to prove that they are the most indestructible of pests.

main idea

concludingsentence


He collects books that were written over a hundred years ago. But he is also interested in the best sellers of today. If I ever need to get him a present, I know I can always please him by buying him a book.

• Which of the following topic sentences is the best one for the above paragraph?

• A. Reading is fun.

• B. Books are my father’s hobby.

• C. My father was a main influence in my life.


The most beautiful flower is the rose because it comes in so many different colors. Another beautiful flower is the daisy which sometimes grows wild. Spring flowers like tulips, daffodils, and crocuses are also very pretty.

• Which of the following topic sentences is the best one for the above paragraph?

• A. Don’t you just love spring?

• B. The rose is the most loved flower the world over.

• C. There are many lovely flowers to consider for your garden.


• A. Canada is our friendly neighbor to the north.

• B. There are three reasons why Canada is one of the best countries of the world.

• C. Choose Canada as a great place to vacation.

Which of the following is the topic sentence for the paragraph above?

First, Canada has an excellent health care system. All Canadians have access to medical services at a reasonable price. Second, Canada has a high standard of education. Finally, Canada’s cities are clean and efficiently managed.


Developing a ParagraphA topic sentence may be developed using any of the following strategies:

FactsStatisticsAnecdotesExamplesSensory Details

DefinitionsComparisonsCause and EffectPersonal ExperiencesExpert OpinionQuotes from Others

Turn to page 312 and look with me at an example.


Unity in the ParagraphEvery sentence in a paragraph should support the main idea expressed in the topic sentence.

main idea

sentence

sentence

sentence

sentence

Turn to page 302 and do Exercise 4. Which sentences destroy the paragraphs unity?


The concluding or clincher sentence

• Restate the topic sentence in different words.

• A clincher sentence or concluding sentence clinches the point made in the paragraph.

• It summarizes the paragraph.

• Turn to page 300 and do Exercise 3.


Coherence in a ParagraphCoherence in a Paragraph

• Stick to the point: The ideas have a clear and logical relation to each other.

• Put details or examples or incidents in logical order.

43

2

1chronological

in relation to each other

in order of importance


Order of Importance . . .

Begin a paragraph with the topic sentence, and then follow with your least forceful idea and ending it with your strongest one.

Turn to page 307 and do number 1,2, or 3 of Exercise 7.


Logical OrderLogical order involves arranging supporting

details into related groups to help the reader make connections between your ideas.

For example, a writer of a paragraph about wolves might decide to group details about their diet in the first three to five sentences and about their behavior in the last several sentences

Turn to 308 and do 1, 2, or 3 of Exercise 8.


TransitionsIn order to move between your ideas, you

need to have smooth transitions.

Turn to page 309-310 and write the transitions that can be used when organizing ideas by order of importance or logic.

Next, do Exercise 9 on page 311.


Connecting Sentences Within the Paragraph

chronological order

first

meanwhile

later

afterwards

finally

objects in relation to one another

next to

in front of

beside

between

behind

in order of importance

however

furthermore

as a result

in fact

yet

Transition words


Basically, a good paragraph is a lot like a hamburger . . .


The Topic Sentence (Top Bun)

• Very first sentence of your paragraph.

• Tells what your paragraph is going to be about.

There are many reasons that I love to teach. First of all, I love to teach because I love being at school. Another reason I love teaching is that the days go by quickly. A third reason I love to teach is because I love seeing a student understand something new. Finally, I love to teach because I love to be around kids. These are just a few reasons I love to teach.

Click here to return to the hamburger


The First Detail (Lettuce)

• Should not be the most important detail.

• Needs to follow directly after the topic sentence.

• Needs to be full of good “lettucy” details!

There are many reasons that I love to teach. First of all, I love to teach because I love being at

school. Another reason I love teaching is that the days go by quickly. A third reason I love to teach is because I love seeing a student understand something new. Finally, I love to teach because I love to be around kids. These are just a few reasons I love to teach.



The Second Detail (Tomato)

• Still should not be the most important detail.

• Needs to follow directly after the lettuce sentence.

• Needs to be full of good “juicy” details!

There are many reasons that I love to teach. First of all, I love to

teach because I love being at school. Another reason I love teaching is that the days go by quickly. A third reason I love to teach is because I love seeing a student understand something new. Finally, I love to teach because I love to be around kids. These are just a few reasons I love to teach.



The Third Detail (Cheese)

• Still not be the most important detail.

• Needs to start differently than other sentences.

• Needs to be full of good “cheesy” details!





The Last Detail (Meat)

• Finally!! The most important detail.

• Should start differently than most of the other sentences.

• Needs to be full of good “meaty” details!





The Closing Sentence (Bottom Bun)

• Should look a lot like the topic sentence.

• Needs to summarize the topic.

• Needs to be an obvious end to the sentence.



Click here to see a good paragraph on the web!


Types of Paragraphs• The narrative paragraph

• tells a story

• The persuasive paragraph.• tries to convince the audience

• The descriptive paragraph• describes something

• The expository or explanatory paragraph• gives information or explains something

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© Capital Community College The paragraph is a series of sentences developing one topic