Paragraph Development

Writing clear and well-structured paragraphs is a much needed skill. Using clear paragraph
structure will help readers understand the purpose of your writing, so if you want to capture
and retain readers’ interest, you must write effective paragraphs.

Expected Learning Outcomes

 Identify the topic sentence, supporting sentences, and concluding sentence in a

Paragraph Development

What is a paragraph?

Paragraphs are the building blocks of larger compositions, reports, letters, and books. A
paragraph is a group of closely-related sentences which deal with and develop one
idea. Thus, the purpose of a paragraph is to isolate one main idea and develop it with clarity.
Writers use paragraphs for many reasons. In written dialogues, for example, a new paragraph
is begun whenever there is a change in speakers. In longer pieces of writing, paragraphs help
the reader to move from one idea to another. In exposition (writing that explains a topic),
paragraphs separate one complete unit of thought from another.

Elements of a paragraph

A basic paragraph usually comprises a topic sentence, supporting sentences, and a concluding
sentence.

The topic sentence of a paragraph introduces the controlling idea or topic that the rest of the
paragraph develops. The topic sentence is usually the first in a paragraph. However, it can
appear at the middle, or it may even be the last sentence of the paragraph. A topic sentence
gives the reader a sense of direction (indicates what information will follow, especially if it
appears at the beginning of the paragraph).

The body of a paragraph consists of supporting sentences which develop the controlling idea
through the use of details, facts, examples, and other information.

The concluding sentence summarizes the main idea of the paragraph by reinforcing the
topic sentence. A well-developed paragraph is one that is complete. If all the sentences clearly
and adequately support the main idea, then your paragraph is complete. If there is not
sufficient information to support the central idea, then your paragraph is incomplete.

Here is an example of a well-developed paragraph.

An electronic computer, while able to perform certain mathematical calculations more quickly
than man’s brain, does not have the brain’s complex structure. While a human brain consists of
trillions upon trillions of nerve cells, a so-called “electronic brain” contains only about 10 million

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electronic components. A human has the ability to create, to exercise initiative, to deduct, to
reach conclusions, to doubt, to reason logically. A computer can only compute; it can multiply,
divide, add, subtract, perhaps extract roots. Also it must be carefully “programmed” in order to
arrive at an answer; that is, it must be told in advance all the steps necessary to perform a
particular operation. A man, however, can be given a problem and go on to solve it with no
further instruction. Most of the time taken up by a computer for problem solving is in locating
the appropriate steps and intermediate values stored in its massive memory banks. The human
brain on the other hand uses most of its time in actual computations. In short, a human brain is
vastly more complex and versatile than that of a computer and therefore far superior.
a) State the topic sentence of the paragraph.
b) What is the central idea of the paragraph?
c) State any two differences between the human brain and an electronic computer, as
discussed in the paragraph.
d) Is this a complete paragraph? Give a reason to support your answer.

Paragraph Unity and Coherence These are essential elements of good paragraph writing.
Unity An effective paragraph has unity. Unity in a paragraph usually begins with the topic
sentence. A paragraph is unified when it states only one central idea that is developed by all
other sentences (in the paragraph). A solidly written paragraph takes its readers on a clear path
without detours. This means that readers can easily locate the main idea in a unified
paragraph; all sentences clearly relate to that idea in some way.
Take a look at the following paragraph; what is its main idea?

(1) After the diving suit, the next great underwater breakthrough was the famous Aqua-
lung, invented in 1943 by Captain Cousteau and Emile Gagnan. (2) The tremendous
importance of the Aqua-lung was that for the first time men were able to swim around
freely underwater without any connection with the surface, for they carried their own self-
contained air supply. (3) Moreover, it is simple and safe to use—provided that it is handled
with common sense—the Aqua lung allows anybody to dive. (4) For centuries only the
professional divers were able to go into the sea. (5) Today hundreds of thousands of
ordinary people are exploring the marvelous world beneath the waves.
a) Which sentence states the topic of the paragraph?
b) How does the second sentence support the topic sentence?
c) Which specific reasons do sentences 3-5 give for the importance of the invention?
d) Can you describe the above paragraph as a unified paragraph? In one short sentence
give a reason to support your answer.

Coherence This is a state or situation in which all the parts or ideas fit together so well so that
they form a united whole. Coherence is the quality that makes your writing understandable. In
a coherent paragraph details supporting the topic are arranged in some sort of logical order;
that is they are connected to each other the way they are for a purpose.

Some techniques for achieving coherence

You can increase coherence in a paragraph by using transition signals (words or phrases that
help the reader move smoothly from one sentence to another and that make the relationships
between sentences clearer). For example, in a paragraph about an event or series of actions,
you can use transition words (such as first, second, third, next, then etc) that show

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chronological order. In a paragraph describing a person, place, or thing, details are often
arranged as they appear in space (spatial organization); use transition words such as above,
below, at the top, behind, on the right, on the left etc. Other ways to increase coherence
include effective use of pronouns (they refer to nouns mentioned earlier); paraphrase
(restating words in different ways without affecting the meaning); repetition (carefully
repeating a key word or phrase to help the reader move smoothly from sentence to sentence).

In the following passage, the writer uses all the methods stated above. Read through it
carefully and identify the coherence technique represented by each underlined word or phrase.

After the garbage has been burned, the cooled residue is dumped onto barges, which are
towed off by tugboats to one of five landfill sites around the city. The largest of these is the
3,000 acre Fresh Kills Site on Staten Island.

Fresh Kills, which daily receives about 11,000 tons of garbage, is a strange place. Much of this
former swampland resembles the ash heaps of The Great Gatsby. Vast, forlorn, endless. A
vision of death. In the foreground, a discarded funeral wreath. A doll with outstretched arms. A
man’s black sock. A nylon stocking. And, beyond, refrigerators, toilets, bathtubs, stoves.

Yet Fresh Kills is also—in places and in its own way—unexpectedly beautiful. Thousands of gulls
wheel in the air. Banking sharply, they dip down one by one to settle in for a good feast. In
areas where the garbage is fresh, there is an overpowering stench, but where it is older, its
blanket of earth is covered with grass, bushes, shrubs, trees. Summertime in Fresh Kills is a
time of flowers and birdsong. A volunteer vegetable garden flourishes in the landfill. Here, in
the world’s largest compost heap, the seeds and sprouts of kitchen scraps thrive. Come fall,
offices all around New York’s City Hall are decorated with gourds and pumpkins harvested at
Fresh Kills. In the fall, too, quail and pheasants scurry through Fresh Kills’ underbrush, creating
a problem for the Department of Sanitation: Hunters try to poach on this municipal game
preserve.

Exercise1 Read through this paragraph and answer the questions which follow.

Exercise, in moderation, offers both physical and mental benefits. It tones your muscles and
thus helps to make your body more attractive. If you want to stay slim and trim, exercise can
help control your weight, and if you do not increase the amount of food you eat, you may even
lose weight. Exercise can also leave with you an overall feeling of well-being. It can even help
you feel better about yourself as you demonstrate self-discipline and work toward a goal. Most
important, exercise can help keep you healthy. Vigorous exercise strengthens your lungs and
heart and will help you to have more energy, perhaps even lengthening your life.

a. What is the topic sentence in this paragraph?

Exercise 2 Write a well-developed paragraph about a topic of your choice. Use the techniques
that you have learned (transition words, pronouns, paraphrase, and repetition) to make your
paragraph coherent.