Paragraphs

In good writing, sentences that relate to one idea are grouped into a paragraph. ➔ The idea that the sentences relate to is the

main idea.◆ It is the most important idea in the paragraph.

Paragraphs➔ All the sentences in that paragraph tell about

Marcus’s success in his job at a hospital. ➔ That is the main idea of the paragraph:

◆ Marcus is a success for many reasons, as stated in the first sentence. ● The sentences after that explain or give

examples of that idea. They support the main idea. For that reason, the sentences are called supporting details.

Main Idea and Supporting Details

➔ Topic: what a piece of writing is about; its subject matter

➔ Main idea: most important idea in a paragraph, or what the writer’s main point is about the topic.

➔ Topic Sentence: a sentence that states or leads into the main idea of a paragraph

Topic Sentences

➔ Topic Sentence: a sentence that states or leads into the main idea of a paragraph◆ Very often the topic sentence is the first sentence of the

paragraph; however, it can be located anywhere in the paragraph.

◆ Watch out for topic sentences that are too general or too specific.

◆ Remember that a topic sentence should state the topic and the main point that the rest of the sentences make about the topic.

Main Idea and Supporting Detail

Supporting detail: words, phrases, or sentences that tell more about the main idea or topic sentence; types include:

reasons: details that tell why an opinion is valid or an event occurs

facts: statements that can be provedStatistics: facts expressed in numbersExamples: specific instances that explain or support a pointSensory details: details that appeal to one or more of the five

sensesAnecdotes: brief stories about a character or an event

➔ (See Sample Paragraph on the Handout)

Relevancy and Order of Ideas➔ Relevancy: when an idea does not relate to the main

idea of a paragraph, it confuses the reader. All supporting sentences within a paragraph should relate to the main idea.◆ Don’t be fooled by a sentence that “sounds” as if it

belongs in a paragraph. ◆ Make sure it specifically relates to the topic of the

paragraph along with the other supporting sentences.

➔ Order of Ideas: the way in which ideas/ supporting sentences are arranged within a paragraph should be presented logically. ◆ order of importance, order of time, order of

space/direction, etc.◆ When writing, be sure to use transitional words and

phrases to show how ideas are ordered and arranged.