A lecture about paragraph basics.

1. PARAGRAPH BASICS

2. Paragraph Basics
•Paragraph—a set of sentences that logically develops one main
idea.
•Develop—to expand an idea in detail
•New paragraphs are indented from the left-hand margin.

3. Unity
•Readers expect a paragraph to be focused, based on a clear and
appropriate purpose.
•Unity—all words and sentences in a paragraph are connected
to the main idea
•A unified paragraph
•Stays on one subject
•Makes a specific point about this subject (purpose)
•Considers its audience
•Is narrow enough to fulfill its purpose within the length
requirements.

4. Topic Sentence
•Writer’s communicate their main idea and purpose in the topic
sentence.
•A topic sentence is
• Generally the first sentence of the paragraph
• Always a complete sentence.

5. Parts of aTopic Sentence
•Main Idea—the subject of discussion,
the “topic”
•Purpose—why the author chose to
write about this main idea; what the
author is trying to prove.
•Key word—a specific word expressing
the writer’s opinion, attitude, idea, or
point about the main idea.
•Key words should be specific,
thought-provoking words; NOT
“good,” “interesting,” or “bad.”
Main idea
Author’s
purpose
(key word)

6. Support
•Readers expect a paragraph to contain enough supporting detail
to fulfill the purpose.
•A well-supported paragraph
•Gives the reader a clear understanding of the paper’s subject
matter
•Explains or proves the paragraph’s one main point with
details, examples, and evidence
•Offers in-depth thinking, not just obvious or superficial
generalizations.

7. Practice
1. Choose a paragraph from “Eleven.” Draw an arrow where the
paragraph indents.
2. Underline the topic sentence and circle the key word.
3. Beside the paragraph, write what you think the purpose of the
paragraph is.
4. Draw a wavy line under all of the supporting details in the
paragraph that help support the purpose.