PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE

PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE

What is a Paragraph?

When we are young, one of the first things we learn in writing is that a paragraph is made up of at least three sentences.

These three sentences are:The topic sentenceThe supporting sentence(s)The concluding sentenceA TOPIC SENTENCE:A topic sentence is a sentence that indicates in a general way what idea or thesis the paragraph is going to deal with. (Purdue Owl)

Keep in mind a topic sentence doesnt always have to be the first sentence in the paragraph. However, it is usually a good idea to keep it close to the beginning so you dont confuse your reader.SUPPORTING SENTENCE(S)These sentence(s) support or explain the idea that was made with the topic sentence.

It is a good idea to have several supporting sentences to explain your idea. It adds strength to your topic.CLOSING SENTENCEThe closing sentence is the restatement of the topic sentence but in a different way( Georgie Ovenden)

As we get older we learn A paragraph is a collection of related sentences dealing with a single topic. (Purdue Owl)

The basic rule of thumb with paragraphing is to keep one idea to one paragraph. (Purdue Owl)

Examples of a Topic Sentence Americans are obese because they love to eat a lot and dont exercise. College students get bad grades because they are too busy partying.People are poor because they are too busy spending their money on things.Getting a college education will help you be successful in lifeDoing drugs will get you in trouble with the law.Topic and the Controlling IdeaIn the previous slide, the topic was in red and the controlling idea was in blue. The controlling idea is what you want to say about your topic.

Examples of Supporting SentenceThe frightened boy sat frozen in his hiding place under the stairs. He watched as the prowler flashed his light around the room (Wiki).

Paragraph ExampleExample: Dogs are good pets. They can be trained. They are affectionate. They are loyal. Dogs make great pets.

Above the topic sentence is in red. The supporting sentences are shown in green. Lastly, the concluding sentence is purple.

Quick ReviewA paragraph is a group of 3 or more sentences about a topic.Topic sentence:Tell us what you are going to tell us about. Supporting Sentence(s): You tell us!Closing Sentence: Then, you tell us what you told us!

Works CitedOvenden, Georgie. Paragraph Development. n.d. Web. 18 November 2011.