Organizing Ideas into

Effective Units

CREATING PARAGRAPHSCREATING PARAGRAPHS

College essay = 5 paragraphsA college essay is composed of five (5) paragraphs.

But what exactly is a paragraph?

Dictionary definition Paragraph: a distinct division of a written work that expresses a thought or point related to the whole but complete in itself.

BREAKING IT DOWN:A paragraph:“expresses a thought or point”: has ONLY ONE central, unified idea.“related to the whole”: says something relavant to the topic of the larger work.“complete in itself” - expresses an idea from start to finish, and could stand alone and make complete sense.

THREE RULES (STANDARDS)for PARAGRAPHS

UNITY: UNITY: A paragraph is about ONE central idea; everything in it relates to the topic sentence.

COHERENCE:COHERENCE: The sentences flow from one to the other, using the same verb tense, point of view (first, third, etc.), tone (attitude) and style (level of formality), as well as internal transitions

DEVELOPMENT:DEVELOPMENT: The topic sentence is supported with sufficient evidence: stories, anecdotes, details, facts, examples, and reasons that prove your idea.

CHECKING for PARAGRAPH EFFECTIVENESS

UNITY Does the paragraph have a topic sentence? Is every sentence directly related to the topic sentence?

COHERENCE x x Is each sentence clear and easily understood?

x x Does each sentence logically follow the one immediately before it? xx Does each sentence say something new or add

more information?

DEVELOPMENT Is there enough information to prove your point? Is the information:

specific, or individually related to the topic concrete, or not just an opinion but an actual

demonstration of face. To check concreteness, remember "RENNS”: reasons, examples, names, numbers, senses

THREE PARAGRAPH TYPESINTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH

Establishes a rapport with the readerProvides background information

States your main idea (thesis)

BODY PARAGRAPHSStates a unified ideaProvides evidence

Sums up paragraph contents

CONCLUSION PARAGRAPHSReminds reader of your main idea

Summarizes evidenceSums up the point and reinforces tone

INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH

GRABBER – Get the readers attention. Provide an interesting quote, fact or question to

entice the reader into your essay.

BACKGROUND – Make sure the reader understands.

Provide any explanations, definitions or other information an uninitiated reader needs to understand your topic.

THESIS –State your main idea.Provide a single sentence that explains what you

will talk about, what your single point will be, and how you will prove that your point is valid.

BODY PARAGRAPHS

TOPIC SENTENCE – State the paragraph’s unified idea.

Provide a sentence, taken directly from the thesis, that tells the reader what the paragraph will be about.

EVIDENCE – Prove that your main idea is valid.Provide reasons, examples, names, numbers that

prove the idea stated in the topic sentence.

PARAGRAPH CLINCHER – Reinforce the paragraph’s main idea.

End with a sentence that summarizes the paragraph’s content and signals to the reader that the paragraph is ending.

CONCLUSION PARAGRAPHS

THESIS (RESTATED) – Remind the reader of what the essay is about.

In different language, state your essay’s subject, topic and reasons.

SUMMARIZED EVIDENCE – Show that you’ve proved your ideas.

Choose a few pieces of evidence from your body paragraphs as a reminder of how your proved your main idea.

FINAL CLINCHER – Drive the point home.Provide a memorable final sentence that reinforces your main idea.

ARRANGING BODY PARAGRAPHS

Logically arrange evidence within a body paragraph, presenting information in a planned order.

You may choose to arrange a paragraph: chronologically, or by moving the reader through time (e.g., what happened first, next, third, and finally).

+ + spatially, or by moving the reader through physical locations (e.g., east to west, north to south, Atlantic to Pacific, top to bottom, etc.)

by importance, or by moving the reader from the most to least important point, or from the least to most important point.

++ by specificity, or by moving the reader from the general

to the specific or from the specific to the general

When to Begin a New Body Paragraph

Begin a new paragraph whenever you:

- introduce a new subject.

- shift the timeframe (ex.: later; then; afterwards)

- shift place (ex.: Here in Florida, Not only is this a problem in the U.S., but in Europe)

- shift your approach or emphasis (ex.: On the other hand; More importantly, etc.)

- write dialogue; a new paragraph begins each time a different person speaks.

PARAGRAPHS: IN BRIEFAbout one ideaComplete in itselfRelated to the larger workNew graphs begin when something (topic, emphasis, etc.) changesTHREE:

standards: unity, coherence, developmenttypes: introduction, body and conclusionparts to each type:

o Introduction: grabber, background, thesiso Body: topic sentence, evidence, paragraph clinchero Conclusion: restated thesis, summarized evidence, final

clincher