Paragraph Writing
What is a paragraph?
A paragraph is a unit of writing that consists of one or
more sentences, all of which relate to the same topic.
Paragraphs are essential for organizing long pieces of
writing such as novels, papers, or even emails. Each
paragraph should focus on a single topic.
How is a paragraph structured?
• Before we dive into paragraph structure, let’s
start with paragraph meaning. A paragraph is
an individual segment of writing that discusses
a central idea, typically with more than one
sentence.
How is a paragraph structured?
• It even has its own paragraph symbol in
copyediting, called the pilcrow (¶), not to be
confused with the section symbol called
the silcrow (§) that’s common in legal code.
Parts of a paragraph
• Like other forms of writing, paragraphs follow
a standard three-part structure with a
beginning, middle, and end. These parts are
the topic sentence, development and
support, and conclusion.
Topic sentences,
• Topic sentences, also known as “paragraph
leaders,” introduce the main idea that the
paragraph is about. They shouldn’t reveal too much
on their own, but rather prepare the reader for the
rest of the paragraph by stating clearly what topic
will be discussed.
Development and support sentences
• The development and support sentences act as the
body of the paragraph. Development sentences
elaborate and explain the idea with details too specific
for the topic sentence, while support sentences
provide evidence, opinions, or other statements that
back up or confirm the paragraph’s main idea.
Conclusion
• Last, the conclusion wraps up the idea,
sometimes summarizing what’s been
presented or transitioning to the next
paragraph.
Conclusion
• The content of the conclusion depends on the
type of paragraph, and it’s often acceptable to
end a paragraph with a final piece of support
that concludes the thought instead of a
summary.
How many sentences are in a paragraph?
• Most paragraphs contain between three and five
sentences, but there are plenty of exceptions.
Different types of paragraphs have different
numbers of sentences, like those in narrative
writing, in particular, where single-sentence
paragraphs are common.
How many sentences are in a paragraph?
• Likewise, the number of sentences in a
paragraph can change based on the style of
the writer. Some authors prefer longer, more
descriptive paragraphs, while other authors
prefer shorter, faster-paced paragraphs.
Types of paragraphs
• Depending on the kind of writing you’re doing,
you may need to use different types of
paragraphs. Here’s a brief explanation of the
common paragraph types most writing deals
with.
Expository:
• Common in nonfiction and all types of essays,
expository paragraphs revolve around
explaining and discussing a single point or
idea.
Persuasive:
• Just like expository paragraphs, persuasive
paragraphs focus on discussing a single point;
however, they support opinions instead of
facts.
Narrative:
• When telling a story, a narrative paragraph
explains an action or event. Each new
sentence furthers or expands upon the action
by providing new information.
Descriptive:
• Also common in storytelling, descriptive
paragraphs focus on describing a single topic,
such as a person or an environment. Each new
sentence adds a new detail about that topic.
How to write a paragraph
• Paragraph structure isn’t just for the benefit of
readers, it also helps authors organize their
thoughts and communicate clearly. Below we
explain the different steps of how to write a
paragraph, from the paragraph introduction all the
way to the conclusion.
How to plan a paragraph
• Before you begin writing a paragraph, look at how
the paragraph fits into the writing as a whole. As
mentioned above, different types of writing use
different types of paragraphs, so make sure the
paragraph type you’re planning matches the context.
How to plan a paragraph
• Ideally, you’ll already have an outline for whatever
you’re writing, which will tell you what the
paragraph is about and what to include. If not, your
first step is to decide on the paragraph topic and
which facts to include as support and development.
How to plan a paragraph
• Keep in mind what comes before and after the
paragraph so you can plan the right topic for
the flow of your writing.
How to plan a paragraph
• It’s jarring for the reader when the author jumps wildly
from one topic to the next, so try to keep all related
paragraphs together and in a logical sequence. If that’s
not possible, plan your topic sentence as a segue,
perhaps using a transition word.
How to plan a paragraph
• It also helps to sketch out the parts of your
paragraph: topic sentence, development and
support, and conclusion. The more you
prepare these parts now, the easier it will be
to put them into words later.