Topic Sentences and Paragraph Development

Kayla Skarbakka

Writing Instructor

Coordinator of International Writing Instruction and Support

Walden University Writing Center

Questions and Recording

• Type in the Questions box• Closed captioning• Download slides• View recordinghttp://

writingcenter.waldenu.edu/415.htm

Tech trouble? http://support.citrixonline.com/en_US/GoToTraining

Session Overview

Central Question: What makes a successful paragraph?

• Paragraph structure• Examples• Techniques and resources• Q&A

Paragraph Structure

The Paragraph

As a unit of a longer paper, a paragraph is typically:

• Indented• At least three sentences long• Not so long that it spans multiple pages• An investigation of one idea

A Visual to Remember

A paragraph is like a house for an idea.

Foundation = Topic sentenceFoundation = Topic sentence

Roof = Wrap-upRoof =

Wrap-up

Walls = Detail 1Walls = Detail 1

Windows = Detail 2Windows = Detail 2

Furnishings = Detail 3Furnishings = Detail 3

Let’s Build

• Establishes the focus of the paragraph (that one main idea)

• Is clear and concise• Is typically the first sentence of the paragraph• Should be your own scholarly voice• Should directly relate to thesis statement

1. Topic Sentence (the foundation)

Let’s Build

Ask yourself: • Is the topic sentence too narrow that I cannot

spend three sentences illustrating, explaining, or analyzing?

• Is the topic sentence so broad that I need whole pages to fully develop the idea?

1. Topic Sentence (the foundation)

Let’s Build

Example topic sentence:Emotional intelligence helps students cope with

the stress of learning, interacting with others, and resolving conflict.

The rest of the paragraph should (a) convince the reader that emotional intelligence helps in this way and (b) cover all three areas—learning, interaction, and conflict.

Let’s BuildIneffective Topic Sentence: Too Broad

As a teacher, I employ many different strategies. First, I explained to my students the difference between the words affect and effect. Then we read sample sentences together and corrected the use of these words. Finally, I asked the students to write their own sentences using affect and effect appropriately.

Let’s BuildIneffective Topic Sentence: Direct Quotation

Johnson (2010) stated that “instructional scaffolding can lead to deeper learning” (p. 45). First, I explained to my students the difference between the words affect and effect. Then we read sample sentences together and corrected the use of these words. Finally, I asked the students to write their own sentences using affect and effect appropriately.

Let’s BuildEffective Topic Sentence

In a recent lesson in my composition class, I used instructional scaffolding to help my students differentiate between the commonly confused words affect and effect. First, I explained to my students the difference between the words affect and effect. Then we read sample sentences together and corrected the use of these words. Finally, I asked the students to write their own sentences using affect and effect appropriately.

Let’s Build

• Come in the form of evidence and analysis

Evidence:• Paraphrased or quoted material from scholarly

sources– Statistics and data– Study findings

2. Supporting Details (walls, windows, etc.)

Let’s Build

Evidence Example: Johnson’s (2010) study in a composition classroom

revealed that students whose teacher used scaffolding strategies scored an average of 5 percentage points higher on their final essays than their peers in a lecture-based classroom.

Hmm… Is 5 percentage points significant? What are the larger implications of Johnson’s finding?

Let’s Build

Analysis:• Your interpretation or

explanation of the evidence.

• How the evidence relates to the overall point or claim you are making.

Let’s Build

Evidence-Analysis Example:Johnson’s (2010) study in a composition classroom

revealed that students whose teacher used scaffolding strategies scored an average of 5 percentage points higher on their final essays than their peers in a lecture-based classroom. This significant difference in scores suggests that scaffolding enables students not only to understand a concept, but also to apply that concept in their own work.

Let’s Build

• Concludes the central idea• Prepares reader to move on to another

connected idea (next paragraph)• Steps back and gives big-picture perspective• Is in your own voice

3. Wrap-Up or Closing (Roof)

Let’s Build

Ask yourself:• What do I want my readers to think about the

idea I’ve presented here?• Have I offered closure?

3. Wrap-Up or Closing (Roof)

Let’s Build

Instructional scaffolding is one strategy for increasing student understanding and learning. Johnson’s (2010) study in a composition classroom revealed that students whose teacher used scaffolding strategies scored an average of 5 percentage points higher on their final essays than their peers in a lecture-based classroom. This significant difference in scores suggests that scaffolding enables students not only to understand a concept, but also to apply that concept in their own work.

No Wrap-Up Statement

Let’s Build

Instructional scaffolding is one strategy for increasing student understanding and learning. Johnson’s (2010) study in a composition classroom revealed that students whose teacher used scaffolding strategies scored an average of 5 percentage points higher on their final essays than their peers in a lecture-based classroom. This significant difference in scores suggests that scaffolding enables students not only to understand a concept, but also to apply that concept in their own work. Teachers, therefore, should employee scaffolding strategies to help foster independence and confidence in their students.

With Wrap-Up Statement

Example Paragraphs

Remember the House

Foundation = Topic sentenceFoundation = Topic sentence

Roof = Wrap-upRoof =

Wrap-up

Walls = Detail 1Walls = Detail 1

Windows = Detail 2Windows = Detail 2

Furnishings = Detail 3Furnishings = Detail 3

Another Model

MEAL Plan

M = Main ideaE = EvidenceA = AnalysisL = Lead-out or Link

(Duke University’s Thompson Writing Program, n.d.)

Paragraph to Avoid

• Chain Link Fence Paragraph• Tabloid Paragraph

WriteCast: Episode 3

•Fruit Salad Paragraph•Derailed Train Paragraph

Chain Link FenceSmall business owners can develop a Facebook

business page to establish an online presence with thousands of potential customers at low cost (Geho & Dangelo, 2012, p. 64). For small business owners, online advertising poses some concerns, including low returns and the possibility of losing customers who use the Internet to compare prices of the same product available at different online outlets (Song & Li, 2011, p. 21).

Chain Link Fence RevisionSmall business owners should consider how to make online

advertising work to their advantage. For example, they can develop a Facebook business page to establish an online presence with thousands of potential customers at low cost (Geho & Dangelo, 2012, p. 64). Although the Internet can be a boon for small business owners who want to reach more customers, however, it has drawbacks, too. Online advertising poses some concerns, including low returns and the possibility of losing customers who use the Internet to compare prices of the same product available at different online outlets (Song & Li, 2011, p. 21). Entrepreneurs, especially those in small businesses with less capital and greater local presence, should develop a strategic plan to build on the advantages and minimize the disadvantages of online advertising.

Tabloid

I believe that Facebook is great for new businesses. My uncle started a new restaurant in Flagstaff last spring, and he said that advertising on Facebook really helped him build his business. I don’t know how anyone could think about starting a business without using Facebook or other social media platforms.

Tabloid RevisionFacebook provides entrepreneurs with two key benefits.

First of all, Facebook provides a free way for businesses to advertise and develop their brand (Peters, 2008). Facebook also allows business owners to reach a broader audience than traditional advertising on television and radio; thoughtful and targeted use of Facebook results in an average audience growth of 10-20% (Wilson, 2010), a significant increase especially for new businesses. While entrepreneurs cannot expect social media to do all their advertising for them (Rodriguez, 2009), Facebook can prove to be an essential component of a new business’s platform.

Fruit Salad“Transformational leaders respond to individual

followers’ needs by empowering them.” (Bass & Riggio, 2006, p. 3). Transformational leaders have multifaceted and multidirectional roles in organizations indicative of the many challenges they face. First, they must design human resources to be consistent with the organization’s goals. They have to match followers with roles, determine the best way to measure performance, and allow followers room to grow.

Fruit Salad Revision

Transformational leaders have multifaceted and multidirectional roles in organizations indicative of the many challenges they face. First, they must design human resources to be consistent with the organization’s goals. To do so, they match followers with roles, determine the best way to measure performance, and allow followers room to grow. At the same time, “transformational leaders respond to individual followers’ needs by empowering them” (Bass & Riggio, 2006, p. 3). In this way, transformational leaders serve both the organization and the individual.

Derailed TrainAccommodation and avoidance are two short-term

strategies for conflict. Vicar (2005) noted that such solutions give immediate relief but ultimately lead to dissatisfaction. Further research indicates that accommodation tactics may end in resentment and disharmony in the work environment (Manion, 2005, p. 197). More so than accommodation, avoidance can hinder worker productivity (Peterson & Owens, 2010). The stereotypical nurse persona of caregiver and nurturer puts nurses at a disadvantage for conflict resolution.

Derailed Train RevisionAccommodation and avoidance are two short-term

strategies for conflict. Vicar (2005) noted that such solutions give immediate relief but ultimately lead to dissatisfaction. Further research indicates that accommodation tactics may end in resentment and disharmony in the work environment (Manion, 2005, p. 197). More so than accommodation, avoidance can hinder worker productivity (Peterson & Owens, 2010). In order to resolve conflict, then, employees should investigate other more successful strategies.

Strategies and Resources

Evaluate Your Paragraphs

M = Main ideaE = EvidenceA = AnalysisL = Lead-out or Link

Highlight each element in a different color, to see a visual.

Outline

To form a rough guide for the paper’s overall structure:

• Jot down main ideas or points you want to make

• Order those points logically and naturally– What does the reader need to know first, then

second?– Is each point related to the point before and after?

• Expand those points to become your paragraphs.

Length Fixes

Long:• Read through and mark the spot(s) where you

see a shift in topic or focus• Start your next paragraph there

Short:• Combine two short paragraphs with similar

ideas• Write a new topic sentence that covers both

Additional Tips

Paragraphs: http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/900.htm

Topic Sentences: http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/666.htm

Evidence and Analysis: http://writingcenter.waldenu.edu/1321.htm

Read Aloud

Thank you for joining us!

Now: Use the Q&A box onyour screen

Later: Email the writing instructors at writingsupport@waldenu.edu

Questions?