Parts of a well-written paragraph.
- Topic Sentence → what are you writing about, what is your subject.
- Body - order of importance, or chronology → the heart of your paragraph. Where you get all the supporting details, arguments for your topic sentence.
- Closing Sentence → has two functions:
- you are reminding the audience what you are writing about
- you are restating your topic sentence, in a different way.
Source:
Learn English with Alex (May 19th, 2009). Parts of a Paragraph - English Academic Writing Introduction. Available at: https://youtu.be/cCuExRE6N-4
1- Topic Sentences
The topic sentence is a sentence that is used at the beginning of a paragraph to tell the reader what it is that you are going to be talking about in that paragraph.
Qualities that make for a good topic sentence:
- Brevity: Long, rambling sentences can be confusing. Don’t pack your topic sentence too full of details. That’s what the rest of the paragraph is for.
- Clarity: Likewise, don’t beat around the bush. Say exactly what you want to say. Try not to engage in wordplay and don’t speak in vague terms.
- Precision: Don’t be too broad when introducing the topic that you’re going to discuss. Not only is that a bland approach, it is also unhelpful to readers.
Things that make for a bad topic sentence:
- Don’t use facts as topic sentences. Remember, you are using the topic sentence to introduce a point you are trying to make, or your opinion.
- Don’t just talk about the “what” – talk about the “why” as well. That is, don’t just think about the effect, but it’s cause.
- Don’t say “I am going to tell you…” or I am going to speak about…” when introducing a topic.
Good vs. Bad Topic Sentences
✗ Abraham Lincoln was born in 1809.
Bad: First and foremost, it tells the reader very little about what you are going to say. Not only that, but you are not using this valuable space in your paragraph to make a real point.
✓ Abraham Lincoln, born in 1809, was one of the most influential politicians in history.
Good: With this topic sentence, you are making a strong point, which you will ideally back up with plenty of facts and good information. The reader also knows what to expect when you use this kind of statement.
Source:
Examples of Topic Sentences in Paragraphs.
Many politicians deplore the passing of the old familiy-sized farm, but I'm not so sure. I saw around Velva a release from what was like slavery to the tyrannical soil, release from the ignorance that darkens the soul and from the loneliness that corrodes it. In this generation my Velva friends have rejoined the general American society that their pioneering fathers left behind when they first made the barren trek in the days of the wheat rush. As I sit here in Washington writing this, I can feel their nearness. (from Eric Sevareid, "Velva, North Dakota")
There are two broad theories concerning what triggers a human's inevitable decline to death. The first is the wear-and-tear hypothesis that suggests the body eventually succumbs to the environmental insults of life. The second is the notion that we have an internal clock which is genetically programmed to run down. Supporters of the wear-and-tear theory maintain that the very practice of breathing causes us to age because inhaled oxygen produces toxic by-products. Advocates of the internal clock theory believe that individual cells are told to stop dividing and thus eventually to die by, for example, hormones produced by the brain or by their own genes. (from Debra Blank, "The Eternal Quest" [edited]).
We commonly look on the discipline of war as vastly more rigid than any discipline necessary in time of peace, but this is an error. The strictest military discipline imaginable is still looser than that prevailing in the average assembly-line. The soldier, at worst, is still able to exercise the highest conceivable functions of freedom -- that is, he or she is permitted to steal and to kill. No discipline prevailing in peace gives him or her anything remotely resembling this. The soldier is, in war, in the position of a free adult; in peace he or she is almost always in the position of a child. In war all things are excused by success, even violations of discipline. In peace, speaking generally, success is inconceivable except as a function of discipline. (from H.L. Mencken, "Reflections on War" [edited]).
2- Building a Paragraph
- Logical Order:
A well constructed paragraph contains sentences that are logically arranged and flow smoothly. Logical arrangement refers to the order of your sentences and ideas. There are various ways to order your sentences, depending on your purpose: by order of importance or chronology.
- Linking:
Not only should sentences and ideas in a paragraph be logically arranged, but they should also flow smoothly. Expressions such as next, then, after, when and other signal time sequence; expressions such as an example of, the most significant example, to illustrate are used to identify the example in the sentence. Such expressions provide a link between the ideas presented. Although you do not need to include a linking word or phrase in every sentence, you should use enough of them to help your reader follow your ideas clearly.
- Repetition of Key Words:
Each sentence in a paragraph should relate to the topic and develop the main idea. If a sentence does not relate to or develop that idea. If your paragraph repeats and elaborates key words there is less chance of writing irrelevant material.
- Relevance:
If a sentence does not relate to or develop the main idea, it is irrelevant and should be omitted. Cutting out the irrelevant material is part of the task of revising.
3- Incorporating sources within a Paragraph
The words or ideas taken from other sources need to be clearly signaled as belonging to another person. This is done by referring to the author as well as the source of the words or ideas. The method of signaling used in these examples is the Harvard style of reference to sources. The setting out of the references is the American Psychological Association (or APA) style of referencing. Every department has its own preferred way, or style sheet, which they expect students to follow.
4- Types of Paragraphs
There are three main types of paragraphs in an academic essay: introductory paragraphs , the body paragraphs and the concluding paragraphs. These types of paragraphs are located in the introduction, the body of the essay or in the conclusion, respectively. Each of these types of paragraphs fulfils a different function for the reader.
The introductory paragraph(s) provides the reader with any necessary background information before leading into a clear statement of the writer's point of view. The point of view, or thesis statement, is a brief but very specific statement of the position the writer will take in the essay. The introductory paragraph may also present an overall plan of the way the essay's argument will be developed, as well as any limits the writer will place on the topic.
The body paragraphs which follow all flow logically from the introductory paragraph. They expand on the thesis statement and each in turn is clearly focused on a single issue with plenty of supporting detail or evidence from concrete and relevant examples, or from the reading which the writer uses to support the point of view. Arguments by other writers against the point of view taken by the essay writer should also be presented (and argued against) in the body paragraphs. The body paragraphs carefully build up the writer's point of view in detail.
The concluding paragraph(s) summarises the points made, repeats the overall point of view, and explains why the writer took the position held. It may also indicate wider issues not covered in the essay but of interest and relevant to the point of view.
Source:
METACOGNITIVE ANALYSIS:
You may write whether for pleasure or to fulfill a task. It's important to have in mind the most important principles of writing at the time of doing so. I believe that having videos and useful material about writing is of great use. Sometimes it is necessary to have an available source at hand, so as you can have access to it anytime you need to check or make any correction in order to accomplish the task as well as making your point clear.
On the one hand,I think that keeping in mind all the stages of a well-written paragraph it's in a way, similar to our teaching practice. You may have to present the topic in an attractive and interesting way, then develop the "body" and finally give it a conclusion.
On the other hand, it's important to make good use of it as students learn more from what they see on their teachers than what they hear from them.
