Writing Lessons & Advice: Essay Help- Writing Paragraphs
You have an essay project. You’ve decided on a topic, started some research, taken some notes on your findings, and maybe even have a clever hook or thesis to kick things off. So what comes next? Formulating your content into organized paragraphs.
Paragraphs are glossed over in the recipe lesson, but this one provides a little more depth into them.
What are paragraphs?
Paragraphs in writing are like base ingredients in cooking. They’re literally distinct blocks or sections of written word, unified by a common theme or idea. One way general essay structure is described is through its paragraphs:
Introductory paragraphs
Body or supporting paragraphs
Conclusion/summary paragraph
Within a written work, paragraphs are typically set apart by line spacing, indentations, or sometimes even numbers, depending on the style or format.
How to write a paragraph
As you may see, paragraph structure resembles the essay structure. The only difference is that sentences are dedicated to specific purposes instead of whole sets of text. Here is a general formula to an essay paragraph, broken down by sentences:
Topic sentence
Body or Supporting sentences
Conclusion/summary sentence
The additional sources give more insight into the structure and purpose of each sentence in a paragraph. Grammarly and Academic English UK also break down a paragraph structure like this:
Topic sentence
Development
Example
Summary
If you remember the excerpt from the recipe lesson, a “rule” exists about the length of a paragraph or the number of sentences that make one. Most are taught a paragraph is at least four to six sentences, but the length of a paragraph can actually vary as long as the sentences serve one of the above purposes. Sometimes multiple sentences may be needed for the sake of development or examples. The four-to-six “rule” is often just a minimal standard or guideline given to writers on lower grade or experience levels. However, for good measure, stick to meeting any criteria you are given on paragraph amount.
Example
The following excerpt will illustrate these ideas in practice. It derives from the example thesis from the introductions lesson: Current technology improves all aspects of life through its features of instant connection and communication, unique tools, and adaptability.
Fewer advancements have fostered connectivity and communication like cell phones and computers. Having reliable compatibility with internet networks, phone and computer users can exchange information with others across a nation, continent, or even an ocean in a matter of minutes. *This can be supported by findings from Consumer Reports International that show over eighty percent of people across all developed countries around the world own at least one of each device. These staples of telecommunications are certainly a driving force in globalization.
*This is a made-up source and statistic
The topic sentence takes one of the supporting ideas from the thesis structure as the main focus of the paragraph. In this case, the focus of this one is on the connections and communication fostered by technology. Your topic sentence is best as the first one in the paragraph.
The second sentence starts further development of the topic. It provides some elaboration: how exactly phones and computers contribute to connectivity and communication.
The third sentence is a researched-based example/evidence/support behind the expressed idea. The statistic strongly supports how easy connection and communication with others can be.
Again, sometimes a few sentences may be used for examples or development, and in some cases, they may even be switched. With a little tweaking, my third sentence could still make sense as my second sentence.
Finally the fourth sentence concludes or summarizes the discussion point. It reminds the reader of the paragraph’s topic, often with different wording and a specific function like: restating the main idea, summarizing the key points, drawing a conclusion, or making some kind of call to action. In this case, my final sentence restates the topic sentence and perhaps even draws a conclusion--that the widespread ownership and use of computers and phones drives globalization.
Organized paragraphs just mimic organized essay structure on the whole. Paragraphs have topic sentences, bodies of support, and conclusions just like essays do. Make sure your sentences are complete, with a subject, predicate, and all proper punctuation. Check for your errors by proofreading and avoiding plagiarism before your final submission is turned in!
Hopefully you have a better understanding of essay paragraphs and a good idea on how to proceed with writing your essay!
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Sources/further reading
