Paragraphs are the building blocks of written works and are defined as a group of sentences that support a single controlling idea. Effective paragraphs include a topic sentence to introduce the main idea, sentences that develop and elaborate on that idea through examples and analysis, and a concluding sentence that wraps up the key points. Coherence and flow between paragraphs can be achieved through the use of transition words, parallel structures, consistency in style and tone, and repetition of key ideas.

1. Andrés Felipe Gil Rueda
Juliana Victoria Ballén Calixto
Tania Alexandra Castiblanco Navia

2. such as papers, novels articles among others.
from para- + graphein to write.
Narrative
Expository
Persuasive
Descriptive
of any written
expression
From Greek paragraphos
to write alongside,
Paragraphs are the building blocks

3. Paragraphs are the building blocks of papers. Many students define
paragraphs in terms of length: a paragraph is a group of at least five
sentences, a paragraph is half a page long, etc. A paragraph is defined
as “a group of sentences or a single sentence that forms a unit”
(Lunsford and Connors 116). Ultimately, a paragraph is a sentence or
group of sentences that support one main idea. In this handout, we
will refer to this as the “controlling idea,” because it controls what
happens in the rest of the paragraph.

4. COMPONENT FUNCTION
Topic sentence (s)
• To introduce and clearly state the main idea/point
that you intend to develop
• To preview for the reader the kinds of information
that the rest of the paragraph is likely to contain
• To link back to you thesis or the immediatly
preceding argument
Development of
ideas
• To elaborate the new idea that you have
introduced. Elaboration may include analysis,
examples and persuasion, or any combination of
these
Concluding
sentence
• To round off what you have said so far in your
paragraph
• To qualify the views expressed
• To link the current paragraph to the next one

5.  Introduce the topic
 Thesis of the essay
 Announce your intentions
 First impression

6. A topic
sentence is a
sentence that
captures the
meaning of the
entire paragraph
or group of
sentences. It tells
what the passage
is mainly about.

7. Besides
Furthermore
Consequently
Besides
Certainly
Hence
Meanwhile
As a result
In addition
Still
Finally
However
There are
some adverbs
and transition
words or
phrases used
to connect
one idea to
the next.

8. Sums up the
text, exposes
conclusions and
sometimes
persuades the
reader to agree
to new ideas or
different points
of view.

10.  In chronological order or time
order, items, events, or even
ideas are arranged in the
order in which they occur.
 Another principle of
organization
is spatial/location order. In
this pattern, items are
arranged according to their
physical position or
relationships.

11.  Argument: presents an idea in order
to persuade the reader.
 Conceptual: It gives information
relevant to understand the text.
 Enumeration: presents the order of
the text
 Descriptive: it includes details and
information about a place person,
object or a situation.
 Explicative: it brings up more
information about the main topic.
 Expository: the reader finds
information in an organized format
 Narrative: tells a story usually in a
time sequence.

12.  Comparison: similarities and differences between
two or more people, places, things, or ideas.
 Cause and Effect: it analyzes the reason of the
cause and the reults that it causes.
 Problem Solution: an issue that needs to be solved
is explained and its possible solutions are
suggested.
 Sequence: a series of events are described.
 Deductive: The main topic is presented and the
development and conclusions are final.
 Inductive: it presents conclusions and later
develope the idea.
 Conclusive: last paragraph where the final
conclusions are stated.

13.  Repeat key words or phrases. Particularly in
paragraphs in which you define or identify an
important idea or theory, be consistent in how you
refer to it.
 Create parallel structures. Parallel structures are
created by constructing two or more phrases or
sentences that have the same grammatical
structure and use the same parts of speech.
 Be consistent in point of view, verb tense, and
number. Consistency in point of view, verb tense,
and number is a subtle but important aspect of
coherence.
 Sentences and between paragraphs. Transitional
expressions emphasize the relationships between
ideas, so they help readers follow your train of
thought or see connections that they might
otherwise miss or misunderstand.

14.  To show addition: again, and, also,
besides, equally important, first
(second, etc.), further, furthermore, in
addition, in the first place, moreover,
next, too
 To give examples: for example, for
instance, in fact, specifically, that is, to
illustrate
 To compare: also, in the same manner,
likewise, similarly
 To contrast: although, and yet, at the
same time, but, despite, even though,
however, in contrast, in spite of,
nevertheless, on the contrary, on the
other hand, still, though, yet

15.  To summarize or conclude: all in all, in
conclusion, in other words, in short, in
summary, on the whole, that is, therefore, to
sum up
 To show time: after, afterward, as, as long as,
as soon as, at last, before, during, earlier,
finally, formerly, immediately, later,
meanwhile, next, since, shortly, subsequently,
then, thereafter, until, when, while
 To show place or direction: above, below,
beyond, close, elsewhere, farther on, here,
nearby, opposite, to the left (north, etc.)
 To indicate logical relationship: accordingly,
as a result, because, consequently, for this
reason, hence, if, otherwise, since, so, then,
therefore, thus