Handouts
- What is a paragraph?
A paragraph is composed of a group of sentences expressing one central idea. A paragraph is complete in itself and also a subdivision or part of something larger such as a composition.
- The Topic Sentence
The topic sentence is one sentence which introduces the topic of your paragraph.
- Development of the paragraph
The sentences which follow the topic sentence of your paragraph will develop the central idea of your topic. It is important to remember that each sentence must deal only with your topic and not stray off into other topics.
- The Concluding Sentence
The last sentence of your paragraph is important and it often restates the idea expressed in the topic sentence.
- Types of Development for Paragraphs
- General to Particular In this type of paragraph order, the paragraph begins with a general statement and then moves to a particular application of that statement.
- Particular to General Paragraphs of this kind begin with a particularity and then move into a general development.
- Spatial Order Paragraphs of spatial order follow geographical direction or move from one place to another. North to South -- East to West --up to down -- across, etc.
- Chronological Order This kind of paragraph starts with the first occurrence in a story or idea, and moves in the order of the events as they occur.
- Process Paragraph In this kind of paragraph, the writer describes the process by which something is made -- a car, a dress, a rug, a cake, etc.
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