effective paragraphs

Developing Effective Paragraphs with

Topic Sentences and Supporting Details

Prepared by:

JOEY F. VALDRIZ

Introduction Writing an essay is similar to constructing a building. We

may not see right away how putting two bricks together

can form a wall. We may not see right away how putting

two bricks together can form a wall, or how this wall

will be part of a taller structure.

But as you saw in the previous lessons, using pre-writing

strategies, finding a thesis statement, and making outlines

are helpful as you write your essay. They function as a

blueprint to guide you in your writing. A blueprint alone

does not make a building – its design needs to be

executed on the raw materials with which the building is

built.

As such, paragraphs are the building blocks of essays.

Defining Paragraphs A paragraph is a group of sentences

that deals with one particular idea.

Paragraphs are defined by the point

that they support, the controlling

idea, and not just by how long they

are.

Only one idea should be discussed per

paragraph.

Parts of a Paragraph 1. A topic sentence tells the reader the main

idea of your paragraph. It reveals what you

generally plan to propose, argue, or explain

(what the author wants to say about the

topic).

• A topic sentence can be found anywhere

in the paragraph: in the beginning, at the

end, or in the middle.

• A topic sentence can be explicit, or clearly

states the ideas that will be elaborated on

in the paragraph. However, a topic

sentence can also be implied.

Parts of a Topic Sentence A topic sentence tells what the main idea

of the paragraph will be.

• We will call this the “topic” (or

“subject”) of the paragraph.

A topic sentence tells what the author is

going to say about the subject.

• We will call this the “controlling idea”

of the paragraph.

Parts of a Topic Sentence The invention of the light bulb

◦ (topic)

changed the world in many ways

◦ (controlling idea)

The invention of the light bulb changed the

world in many ways.

- or, you can reverse the two -

The world was changed in many ways by the

invention of the light bulb.

Topic

Topics (or Subjects) can be fairly broad.

The controlling idea will limit the

subject.

Examples of topic could be:

◦ Daisies

◦ Space Travel

◦ Christmas

◦ Tooth Decay

◦ Pride

Controlling Idea The “controlling idea” limits the subject.

It tells what the author intends to say

about the subject.

Examples of controlling ideas are:

◦ can be grown easily by following these steps

(daisies)

◦ increased during the Cold War (space travel)

◦ is my favorite holiday for several reasons

(Christmas)

◦ is caused by three things (tooth decay)

◦ takes many forms (pride)

Parts of a Paragraph 2. Every paragraph needs supporting

details to elaborate on the topic

sentences. These supporting details

may range from facts, examples, or

instances.

Making Your Paragraph Effective

The first characteristic of an effective

paragraph is unity. Unity simply

means that all of the sentences in the

paragraph are related to the topic

sentence. The whole paragraph

should begin and end with one focus

only.


The second characteristic of an

effective paragraph is adequate

development. The topic sentence in

the paragraph should be elaborated

on using concrete evidence, different

examples, relevant facts, and specific

details.


The third characteristic of an effective

paragraph is coherence. This means that

the sentences are arranged in a logical

manner, making them easily understood

by the reader. Coherence is achieved when

ideas flow smoothly within and between

paragraphs. Your paragraph can become

more coherent through the use of logical

order and signal devices.

How Coherence of Paragraph is Achieved?

1. The details of a paragraph can

be organized according to

chronological, spatial, or

emphatic order.


a. When a paragraph’s arrangement is in

chronological order, the details are arranged in

the order in which they happened

“The everyday life of a high school freshman can

be exhausting.”

Provide an account of the student’s routine;

waking up early to go to school,, listening to

different lectures, collaborating on many group

projects, joining extra-curricular activities, and

answering many assignments.


b. Spatial arrangement is when the sentences of a

paragraph are arranged according to geographical

location, such as left to right, up to down, etc.

“The high school classroom has many differences from

the grade school classroom that can be surprising to the

freshman.”

You might first talk about the small tables and chairs in

the grade school classroom, then the colorful bulletin

boards at the back of the room with familiar cartoon

characters stuck on them. In contrast, the high school

classroom has bigger tables and chairs, and a plainer

looking bulletin board at the back wall.


c. The details of a paragraph can be organized

according to emphatic order. This is when the

information found in a paragraph is arranged to

emphasize certain points depending on the

writer’s purpose.


2. You can achieve coherent paragraphs through

the use of signal devices, or words that give

readers an idea of how the points in your

paragraph are progressing. The following are

examples of signal devices:

1. Transitions (these are words and phrases that

connect one idea to another)

a. Time (first, immediately, afterward, before, at

the same time, after, earlier, simultaneously,

finally, next, in the meantime, later, eventually,

then, meanwhile, now, subsequently, etc.

Use of Signal Devices b. Sequence (moreover, furthermore, next, also,

finally, last, another, first, second, third, besides,

additionally, etc.)

c. Space (above, next to, below, behind, beside,

etc.)

d. Illustration (for instance, specifically, for

example, namely, in this case, to illustrate, etc.)

e. Comparison (similarly, also, in the same way,

still, likewise, in comparison, too, etc.)

f. Contrast (but, despite, however, even though,

yet, on the other hand, although, on the

contrary, otherwise, conversely, etc.)

Use of Signal Devices g. Cause and Effect (because, as a result,

consequently, then, so, since, etc.)

h. Conclusion (thus, therefore, in conclusion, in

short, etc.)

2. Repetitions (repetitions of main ideas keep

continuity and highlight important ideas)

3. Synonyms (these are words similar in meaning

to important words or phrases that prevent

tedious repetitions)

4. Pronouns (words that connect readers to the

original word that the pronouns replace)

5. Parallelism (using similar sentence structures)

Exercise Write four sentences of supporting details

for each of the given topic sentences.

1. Many memes on the Internet are

actually socially relevant.

2. A long commute to school has both

advantages and disadvantages.

Source:

Rodriguez, Maxine Rafaella C. and Marella

Therese A. Tiongson. 2016. Reading and

Writing Skills. Manila: Rex Book Store, Inc.

effective paragraphs

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