Introduction To Paragraph Writing

Module: Written Expression and Comprehension Miss Boughouas Lemya

Level: 3rd year all groups

Writing in English: from the Paragraph to the Essay

A paragraph is a collection of coherent sentences that turn around a specific topic. The
basic unit for paragraph writing is the sentence; however, the clutch of sentences must not be
grouped arbitrarily. The prime condition in paragraph scripting is not to deviate from the
central idea forming the main theme of writing otherwise one will lose the line of thought and
wind up writing about anything but not the topic in question. Hence, a well-written paragraph
carries the reader through an unblemished path far from roundabouts.
A paragraph can exhibit diverse information type ranging from short sequences
treating various themes to longer sketches discussing a topic in details. While the sentence
forms the basic unit of the paragraph, the latter is the key component of the essay. A
paragraph can narrate a string of episodes through time, it can portray the functioning of a
procedure, it can describe a person, a place, an event…etc., it can be used to compare between
objects or concepts, it can be referred to while proffering chains of causes and effects, and it
can be used as well as a means to persuade the other about a given idea.
While the sentence is considered as the key component of a paragraph, the latter is
seen as the main constituent of the essay. The three elements: the sentence, the paragraph, and
the essay exist in such a harmony as to form larger structures of discourse for the sake of
delivering a specific message to the reader. That being said, writing proficiency is built hand
in hand with reading proficiency; one can easily detect that good readers are often good
writers. Without further complicating matters, in the context of L2 reading and writing, both
skills go hand in hand and are complimentary indeed without forgetting the fact that the
subconscious plays a major role in stocking unlimited amounts of styles and expressions
ready to be used in different writing contexts.
The Topic Sentence
It is defined as the skeleton of the paragraph. Every successful paragraph is a
reflection of a healthy organized thought that turns around a unique point and that does not
deviate from that single idea. The topic sentence might carry out several functions: it guides
the harmony of the paragraph content and provides a clear path for smooth transfer from one
idea to the next, it keeps the writer in an up-to-date relation with the main theme of the
paragraph, one role of the paragraph is to prop up and validate an essay’s main idea or thesis
statement. In general, the topic sentence is placed at the beginning of the paragraph since
readers put a glance at what comes first before moving to the rest of the paragraph. That’s
why it is advised to start the paragraph directly with the topic sentence, however; it is possible
to herald it with one or two opening sentences that serve either as mere introduction or mere
linkage between a set of paragraphs.
The presence of the topic sentence is primordial in all paragraph types; still it is
possible to discard it in some situations. In the case of beginner writers this step is not opted
for though. For instance, it is possible to omit the topic sentence in a narrative paragraph that
exposes a series of actions where one develops of another, as well a topic sentence can be
removed where the next paragraph is just a continuation of a previous one i.e. paragraphs are
linked in an essay form.
The Layout of the Paragraph
Usually, a paragraph starts with the topic sentence; this is the rule of thumb. In the
case where the writer is advanced in his endeavour, he can start by a couple or a triple of
sentences for the sake of introducing the general idea or paving the way for what is to come.
A paragraph contains the following,
1- An introduction: this part should include the topic sentence together with the
introductory sentences.
2- A body: it comes just after the introductory sentences; the writer is free in this section
to expand his thoughts around the topic sentence. Depending on the type of the
paragraph, the writer can argue, describe, analyse, or narrate events.
3- A conclusion: in this last part of the paragraph the writer can simply summarise the
information mentioned in the piece of writing. It is possible to give one’s opinions as
well so as to open the door for new perspectives.
Important Notes:
A well-structured paragraph needs to show coherence of ideas. That is all that should be
mentioned must relate in one way or another to the topic sentence; the slightest risk of losing
one’s line of thought imperils the natural flow of ideas. A good piece of writing does not
relate to the length or the quantity of pages but to the quality of the style and the organization
of ideas.
It is good to keep up with the core idea of the paragraph so that the writer reminds himself
every time about the topic he is discussing; this allows him to maintain the steadiness of
thought through referring back to the key point here and there. Psychologically speaking, he
would be reminding himself about the content of the instruction.
Another important tip in good writing is the ability to manipulate one’s style of writing.
One idea is to create attractive writing styles that would look same and parallel; the result is a
nice, vibrant, and unblemished style. Sometimes repeating the same style in a sequence of
successive structures helps the reader understand the connection between ideas and the tie of
the letter to the key idea.
A good paragraph shows uniformity of opinions, attitudes, and especially tense use. One
should pay attention to the consistent shift of verb tense since it might create confusion.
For a paragraph to be well-written it is vital to know how to create the transition from one
sentence or idea to the next. The solution for this is the harmonious use of transitions and
phrases whose function is the maintenance of the paragraph’s flow of thought. Well-chosen
phrases and transitions guide the reader through the paragraph’s analysis and aids him
discovering the otherwise previously unclear connections.
The following is a paragraph showing all the criteria mentioned above.
Adapted from Scott Findley, School District 43

Gleneagle Secondary.

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Module: Written Expression and Comprehension Miss Boughouas Lemya

Level: 3rd year all groups

Writing in English: from the Paragraph to the Essay

Adapted from Scott Findley, School District 43

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