effective paragraph writing examples

Want to create or adapt books like this? Learn more about how Pressbooks supports open publishing practices.

6.2 Effective Means for Writing a Paragraph

Learning objectives.

• Identify characteristics of a good topic sentence.
• Identify the three parts of a developed paragraph.
• Apply knowledge of topic sentences and parts of a developed paragraph in an assignment.

Now that you have identified common purposes for writing and learned how to select appropriate content for a particular audience, you can think about the structure of a paragraph in greater detail. Composing an effective paragraph requires a method similar to building a house. You may have the finest content, or materials, but if you do not arrange them in the correct order, then the final product will not hold together very well.

A strong paragraph contains three distinct components:

• Topic sentence . The topic sentence is the main idea of the paragraph.
• Body . The body is composed of the supporting sentences that develop the main point.
• Conclusion . The conclusion is the final sentence that summarizes the main point.

The foundation of a good paragraph is the topic sentence, which expresses the main idea of the paragraph. The topic sentence relates to the thesis, or main point, of the essay (see Chapter 9 “Writing Essays: From Start to Finish” for more information about thesis statements) and guides the reader by signposting what the paragraph is about. All the sentences in the rest of the paragraph should relate to the topic sentence.

This section covers the major components of a paragraph and examines how to develop an effective topic sentence.

Developing a Topic Sentence

Pick up any newspaper or magazine and read the first sentence of an article. Are you fairly confident that you know what the rest of the article is about? If so, you have likely read the topic sentence. An effective topic sentence combines a main idea with the writer’s personal attitude or opinion. It serves to orient the reader and provides an indication of what will follow in the rest of the paragraph. Read the following example.

Creating a national set of standards for math and English education will improve student learning in many states.

This topic sentence declares a favorable position for standardizing math and English education. After reading this sentence, a reader might reasonably expect the writer to provide supporting details and facts as to why standardizing math and English education might improve student learning in many states. If the purpose of the essay is actually to evaluate education in only one particular state, or to discuss math or English education specifically, then the topic sentence is misleading.

When writing a draft of an essay, allow a friend or colleague to read the opening line of your first paragraph. Ask your reader to predict what your paper will be about. If he or she is unable to guess your topic accurately, you should consider revising your topic sentence so that it clearly defines your purpose in writing.

Main Idea versus Controlling Idea

Topic sentences contain both a main idea (the subject, or topic that the writer is discussing) and a controlling idea (the writer’s specific stance on that subject). Just as a thesis statement includes an idea that controls a document’s focus (as you will read about in Chapter 8 “The Writing Process: How Do I Begin?” ), a topic sentence must also contain a controlling idea to direct the paragraph. Different writers may use the same main idea but can steer their paragraph in a number of different directions according to their stance on the subject. Read the following examples.

• Marijuana is a destructive influence on teens and causes long-term brain damage.
• The antinausea properties in marijuana are a lifeline for many cancer patients.
• Legalizing marijuana would create a higher demand for Class A and Class B drugs.

Although the main idea—marijuana—is the same in all three topic sentences, the controlling idea differs depending on the writer’s viewpoint.

Circle the main idea and underline the controlling idea in each of the following topic sentences.

• Exercising three times a week is the only way to maintain good physical health.
• Sexism and racism are still rampant in today’s workplace.
• Raising the legal driving age to twenty-one would decrease road traffic accidents.
• Owning a business is the only way to achieve financial success.
• Dog owners should be prohibited from taking their pets on public beaches.

Characteristics of a Good Topic Sentence

Five characteristics define a good topic sentence:

A good topic sentence provides an accurate indication of what will follow in the rest of the paragraph.

Weak example. People rarely give firefighters the credit they deserve for such a physically and emotionally demanding job. (The paragraph is about a specific incident that involved firefighters; therefore, this topic sentence is too general.)

Stronger example. During the October riots, Unit 3B went beyond the call of duty. (This topic sentence is more specific and indicates that the paragraph will contain information about a particular incident involving Unit 3B.)

A good topic sentence contains both a topic and a controlling idea or opinion.

Weak example. In this paper, I am going to discuss the rising suicide rate among young professionals. (This topic sentence provides a main idea, but it does not present a controlling idea, or thesis.)

Stronger example. The rising suicide rate among young professionals is a cause for immediate concern. (This topic sentence presents the writer’s opinion on the subject of rising suicide rates among young professionals.)

A good topic sentence is clear and easy to follow.

Weak example. In general, writing an essay, thesis, or other academic or nonacademic document is considerably easier and of much higher quality if you first construct an outline, of which there are many different types. (This topic sentence includes a main idea and a controlling thesis, but both are buried beneath the confusing sentence structure and unnecessary vocabulary. These obstacles make it difficult for the reader to follow.)

Stronger example. Most forms of writing can be improved by first creating an outline. (This topic sentence cuts out unnecessary verbiage and simplifies the previous statement, making it easier for the reader to follow.)

A good topic sentence does not include supporting details.

Weak example. Salaries should be capped in baseball for many reasons, most importantly so we don’t allow the same team to win year after year. (This topic sentence includes a supporting detail that should be included later in the paragraph to back up the main point.)

Stronger example. Introducing a salary cap would improve the game of baseball for many reasons. (This topic sentence omits the additional supporting detail so that it can be expanded upon later in the paragraph.)

A good topic sentence engages the reader by using interesting vocabulary.

Weak example. The military deserves better equipment. (This topic sentence includes a main idea and a controlling thesis, but the language is bland and unexciting.)

Stronger example. The appalling lack of resources provided to the military is outrageous and requires our immediate attention. (This topic sentence reiterates the same idea and controlling thesis, but adjectives such as appalling and immediate better engage the reader. These words also indicate the writer’s tone.)

Choose the most effective topic sentence from the following sentence pairs.

a. This paper will discuss the likelihood of the Democrats winning the next election.

b. To boost their chances of winning the next election, the Democrats need to listen to public opinion.

a. The unrealistic demands of union workers are crippling the economy for three main reasons.

b. Union workers are crippling the economy because companies are unable to remain competitive as a result of added financial pressure.

a. Authors are losing money as a result of technological advances.

b. The introduction of new technology will devastate the literary world.

a. Rap music is produced by untalented individuals with oversized egos.

b. This essay will consider whether talent is required in the rap music industry.

Using the tips on developing effective topic sentences in this section, create a topic sentence on each of the following subjects. Remember to include a controlling idea as well as a main idea. Write your responses on your own sheet of paper.

An endangered species

____________________________________________

The cost of fuel

The legal drinking age

A controversial film or novel

Writing at Work

When creating a workplace document, use the “top-down” approach—keep the topic sentence at the beginning of each paragraph so that readers immediately understand the gist of the message. This method saves busy colleagues precious time and effort trying to figure out the main points and relevant details.

Headings are another helpful tool. In a text-heavy document, break up each paragraph with individual headings. These serve as useful navigation aids, enabling colleagues to skim through the document and locate paragraphs that are relevant to them.

Developing Paragraphs That Use Topic Sentences, Supporting Ideas, and Transitions Effectively

Learning how to develop a good topic sentence is the first step toward writing a solid paragraph. Once you have composed your topic sentence, you have a guideline for the rest of the paragraph. To complete the paragraph, a writer must support the topic sentence with additional information and summarize the main point with a concluding sentence.

This section identifies the three major structural parts of a paragraph and covers how to develop a paragraph using transitional words and phrases.

Identifying Parts of a Paragraph

An effective paragraph contains three main parts: a topic sentence, the body, and the concluding sentence. A topic sentence is often the first sentence of a paragraph. This chapter has already discussed its purpose—to express a main idea combined with the writer’s attitude about the subject. The body of the paragraph usually follows, containing supporting details. Supporting sentences help explain, prove, or enhance the topic sentence. The concluding sentence is the last sentence in the paragraph. It reminds the reader of the main point by restating it in different words.

Figure 6.2 Paragraph Structure Graphic Organizer

Read the following paragraph. The topic sentence is underlined for you.

After reading the new TV guide this week I had just one thought—why are we still being bombarded with reality shows? This season, the plague of reality television continues to darken our airwaves. Along with the return of viewer favorites, we are to be cursed with yet another mindless creation. Prisoner follows the daily lives of eight suburban housewives who have chosen to be put in jail for the purposes of this fake psychological experiment. A preview for the first episode shows the usual tears and tantrums associated with reality television. I dread to think what producers will come up with next season, but if any of them are reading this blog—stop it! We’ve had enough reality television to last us a lifetime!

The first sentence of this paragraph is the topic sentence. It tells the reader that the paragraph will be about reality television shows, and it expresses the writer’s distaste for these shows through the use of the word bombarded .

Each of the following sentences in the paragraph supports the topic sentence by providing further information about a specific reality television show. The final sentence is the concluding sentence. It reiterates the main point that viewers are bored with reality television shows by using different words from the topic sentence.

Paragraphs that begin with the topic sentence move from the general to the specific. They open with a general statement about a subject (reality shows) and then discuss specific examples (the reality show Prisoner ). Most academic essays contain the topic sentence at the beginning of the first paragraph.

Now take a look at the following paragraph. The topic sentence is underlined for you.

Last year, a cat traveled 130 miles to reach its family, who had moved to another state and had left their pet behind. Even though it had never been to their new home, the cat was able to track down its former owners. A dog in my neighborhood can predict when its master is about to have a seizure. It makes sure that he does not hurt himself during an epileptic fit. Compared to many animals, our own senses are almost dull.

The last sentence of this paragraph is the topic sentence. It draws on specific examples (a cat that tracked down its owners and a dog that can predict seizures) and then makes a general statement that draws a conclusion from these examples (animals’ senses are better than humans’). In this case, the supporting sentences are placed before the topic sentence and the concluding sentence is the same as the topic sentence.

This technique is frequently used in persuasive writing. The writer produces detailed examples as evidence to back up his or her point, preparing the reader to accept the concluding topic sentence as the truth.

Sometimes, the topic sentence appears in the middle of a paragraph. Read the following example. The topic sentence is underlined for you.

For many years, I suffered from severe anxiety every time I took an exam. Hours before the exam, my heart would begin pounding, my legs would shake, and sometimes I would become physically unable to move. Last year, I was referred to a specialist and finally found a way to control my anxiety—breathing exercises. It seems so simple, but by doing just a few breathing exercises a couple of hours before an exam, I gradually got my anxiety under control. The exercises help slow my heart rate and make me feel less anxious. Better yet, they require no pills, no equipment, and very little time. It’s amazing how just breathing correctly has helped me learn to manage my anxiety symptoms.

In this paragraph, the underlined sentence is the topic sentence. It expresses the main idea—that breathing exercises can help control anxiety. The preceding sentences enable the writer to build up to his main point (breathing exercises can help control anxiety) by using a personal anecdote (how he used to suffer from anxiety). The supporting sentences then expand on how breathing exercises help the writer by providing additional information. The last sentence is the concluding sentence and restates how breathing can help manage anxiety.

Placing a topic sentence in the middle of a paragraph is often used in creative writing. If you notice that you have used a topic sentence in the middle of a paragraph in an academic essay, read through the paragraph carefully to make sure that it contains only one major topic. To read more about topic sentences and where they appear in paragraphs, see Chapter 8 “The Writing Process: How Do I Begin?” .

Implied Topic Sentences

Some well-organized paragraphs do not contain a topic sentence at all. Instead of being directly stated, the main idea is implied in the content of the paragraph. Read the following example:

Heaving herself up the stairs, Luella had to pause for breath several times. She let out a wheeze as she sat down heavily in the wooden rocking chair. Tao approached her cautiously, as if she might crumble at the slightest touch. He studied her face, like parchment; stretched across the bones so finely he could almost see right through the skin to the decaying muscle underneath. Luella smiled a toothless grin.

Although no single sentence in this paragraph states the main idea, the entire paragraph focuses on one concept—that Luella is extremely old. The topic sentence is thus implied rather than stated. This technique is often used in descriptive or narrative writing. Implied topic sentences work well if the writer has a firm idea of what he or she intends to say in the paragraph and sticks to it. However, a paragraph loses its effectiveness if an implied topic sentence is too subtle or the writer loses focus.

Avoid using implied topic sentences in an informational document. Readers often lose patience if they are unable to quickly grasp what the writer is trying to say. The clearest and most efficient way to communicate in an informational document is to position the topic sentence at the beginning of the paragraph.

Identify the topic sentence, supporting sentences, and concluding sentence in the following paragraph.

Collaboration

Please share with a classmate and compare your answers.

Supporting Sentences

If you think of a paragraph as a hamburger, the supporting sentences are the meat inside the bun. They make up the body of the paragraph by explaining, proving, or enhancing the controlling idea in the topic sentence. Most paragraphs contain three to six supporting sentences depending on the audience and purpose for writing. A supporting sentence usually offers one of the following:

Sentence: The refusal of the baby boom generation to retire is contributing to the current lack of available jobs.

Sentence: Many families now rely on older relatives to support them financially.

Sentence: Nearly 10 percent of adults are currently unemployed in the United States.

Sentence: “We will not allow this situation to continue,” stated Senator Johns.

Sentence: Last year, Bill was asked to retire at the age of fifty-five.

The type of supporting sentence you choose will depend on what you are writing and why you are writing. For example, if you are attempting to persuade your audience to take a particular position you should rely on facts, statistics, and concrete examples, rather than personal opinions. Read the following example:

There are numerous advantages to owning a hybrid car. (Topic sentence)

First, they get 20 percent to 35 percent more miles to the gallon than a fuel-efficient gas-powered vehicle. (Supporting sentence 1: statistic)

Second, they produce very few emissions during low speed city driving. (Supporting sentence 2: fact)

Because they do not require gas, hybrid cars reduce dependency on fossil fuels, which helps lower prices at the pump. (Supporting sentence 3: reason)

Alex bought a hybrid car two years ago and has been extremely impressed with its performance. (Supporting sentence 4: example)

“It’s the cheapest car I’ve ever had,” she said. “The running costs are far lower than previous gas powered vehicles I’ve owned.” (Supporting sentence 5: quotation)

Given the low running costs and environmental benefits of owning a hybrid car, it is likely that many more people will follow Alex’s example in the near future. (Concluding sentence)

To find information for your supporting sentences, you might consider using one of the following sources:

• Reference book
• Encyclopedia
• Biography/autobiography
• Newspaper/magazine
• Previous experience
• Personal research

To read more about sources and research, see Chapter 11 “Writing from Research: What Will I Learn?” .

When searching for information on the Internet, remember that some websites are more reliable than others. websites ending in .gov or .edu are generally more reliable than websites ending in .com or .org. Wikis and blogs are not reliable sources of information because they are subject to inaccuracies.

Concluding Sentences

An effective concluding sentence draws together all the ideas you have raised in your paragraph. It reminds readers of the main point—the topic sentence—without restating it in exactly the same words. Using the hamburger example, the top bun (the topic sentence) and the bottom bun (the concluding sentence) are very similar. They frame the “meat” or body of the paragraph. Compare the topic sentence and concluding sentence from the previous example:

Topic sentence: There are numerous advantages to owning a hybrid car.

Concluding sentence: Given the low running costs and environmental benefits of owning a hybrid car, it is likely that many more people will follow Alex’s example in the near future.

Notice the use of the synonyms advantages and benefits . The concluding sentence reiterates the idea that owning a hybrid is advantageous without using the exact same words. It also summarizes two examples of the advantages covered in the supporting sentences: low running costs and environmental benefits.

You should avoid introducing any new ideas into your concluding sentence. A conclusion is intended to provide the reader with a sense of completion. Introducing a subject that is not covered in the paragraph will confuse the reader and weaken your writing.

A concluding sentence may do any of the following:

Restate the main idea.

Example: Childhood obesity is a growing problem in the United States.

Summarize the key points in the paragraph.

Example: A lack of healthy choices, poor parenting, and an addiction to video games are among the many factors contributing to childhood obesity.

Draw a conclusion based on the information in the paragraph.

Example: These statistics indicate that unless we take action, childhood obesity rates will continue to rise.

Make a prediction, suggestion, or recommendation about the information in the paragraph.

Example: Based on this research, more than 60 percent of children in the United States will be morbidly obese by the year 2030 unless we take evasive action.

Offer an additional observation about the controlling idea.

Example: Childhood obesity is an entirely preventable tragedy.

On your own paper, write one example of each type of concluding sentence based on a topic of your choice.

Transitions

A strong paragraph moves seamlessly from the topic sentence into the supporting sentences and on to the concluding sentence. To help organize a paragraph and ensure that ideas logically connect to one another, writers use transitional words and phrases. A transition is a connecting word that describes a relationship between ideas. Take another look at the earlier example:

There are numerous advantages to owning a hybrid car. First , they get 20 percent to 35 percent more miles to the gallon than a fuel-efficient gas-powered vehicle. Second , they produce very few emissions during low speed city driving. Because they do not require gas, hybrid cars reduce dependency on fossil fuels, which helps lower prices at the pump. Alex bought a hybrid car two years ago and has been extremely impressed with its performance. “It’s the cheapest car I’ve ever had,” she said. “The running costs are far lower than previous gas-powered vehicles I’ve owned.” Given the low running costs and environmental benefits of owning a hybrid car, it is likely that many more people will follow Alex’s example in the near future.

Each of the underlined words is a transition word. Words such as first and second are transition words that show sequence or clarify order. They help organize the writer’s ideas by showing that he or she has another point to make in support of the topic sentence. Other transition words that show order include third , also , and furthermore .

The transition word because is a transition word of consequence that continues a line of thought. It indicates that the writer will provide an explanation of a result. In this sentence, the writer explains why hybrid cars will reduce dependency on fossil fuels (because they do not require gas). Other transition words of consequence include as a result , so that , since , or for this reason .

To include a summarizing transition in her concluding sentence, the writer could rewrite the final sentence as follows:

In conclusion, given the low running costs and environmental benefits of owning a hybrid car, it is likely that many more people will follow Alex’s example in the near future.

The following chart provides some useful transition words to connect supporting sentences and concluding sentences. See Chapter 8 “The Writing Process: How Do I Begin?” for a more comprehensive look at transitional words and phrases.

Table 6.1 Useful Transitional Words and Phrases

Using your own paper, write a paragraph on a topic of your choice. Be sure to include a topic sentence, supporting sentences, and a concluding sentence and to use transitional words and phrases to link your ideas together.

Transitional words and phrases are useful tools to incorporate into workplace documents. They guide the reader through the document, clarifying relationships between sentences and paragraphs so that the reader understands why they have been written in that particular order.

For example, when writing an instructional memo, it may be helpful to consider the following transitional words and phrases: before you begin , first , next , then , finally , after you have completed . Using these transitions as a template to write your memo will provide readers with clear, logical instructions about a particular process and the order in which steps are supposed to be completed.

Key Takeaways

• A good paragraph contains three distinct components: a topic sentence, body, and concluding sentence.
• The topic sentence expresses the main idea of the paragraph combined with the writer’s attitude or opinion about the topic.
• Good topic sentences contain both a main idea and a controlling idea, are clear and easy to follow, use engaging vocabulary, and provide an accurate indication of what will follow in the rest of the paragraph.
• Topic sentences may be placed at the beginning, middle, or end of a paragraph. In most academic essays, the topic sentence is placed at the beginning of a paragraph.
• Supporting sentences help explain, prove, or enhance the topic sentence by offering facts, reasons, statistics, quotations, or examples.
• Concluding sentences summarize the key points in a paragraph and reiterate the main idea without repeating it word for word.
• Transitional words and phrases help organize ideas in a paragraph and show how these ideas relate to one another.

Writing for Success Copyright © 2015 by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

What this handout is about

This handout will help you understand how paragraphs are formed, how to develop stronger paragraphs, and how to completely and clearly express your ideas.

What is a paragraph?

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. In reality, though, the unity and coherence of ideas among sentences is what constitutes a paragraph. A paragraph is defined as “a group of sentences or a single sentence that forms a unit” (Lunsford and Connors 116). Length and appearance do not determine whether a section in a paper is a paragraph. For instance, in some styles of writing, particularly journalistic styles, a paragraph can be just one sentence long. 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.

How do I decide what to put in a paragraph?

Before you can begin to determine what the composition of a particular paragraph will be, you must first decide on an argument and a working thesis statement for your paper. What is the most important idea that you are trying to convey to your reader? The information in each paragraph must be related to that idea. In other words, your paragraphs should remind your reader that there is a recurrent relationship between your thesis and the information in each paragraph. A working thesis functions like a seed from which your paper, and your ideas, will grow. The whole process is an organic one—a natural progression from a seed to a full-blown paper where there are direct, familial relationships between all of the ideas in the paper.

The decision about what to put into your paragraphs begins with the germination of a seed of ideas; this “germination process” is better known as brainstorming . There are many techniques for brainstorming; whichever one you choose, this stage of paragraph development cannot be skipped. Building paragraphs can be like building a skyscraper: there must be a well-planned foundation that supports what you are building. Any cracks, inconsistencies, or other corruptions of the foundation can cause your whole paper to crumble.

So, let’s suppose that you have done some brainstorming to develop your thesis. What else should you keep in mind as you begin to create paragraphs? Every paragraph in a paper should be :

• Unified : All of the sentences in a single paragraph should be related to a single controlling idea (often expressed in the topic sentence of the paragraph).
• Clearly related to the thesis : The sentences should all refer to the central idea, or thesis, of the paper (Rosen and Behrens 119).
• Coherent : The sentences should be arranged in a logical manner and should follow a definite plan for development (Rosen and Behrens 119).
• Well-developed : Every idea discussed in the paragraph should be adequately explained and supported through evidence and details that work together to explain the paragraph’s controlling idea (Rosen and Behrens 119).

How do I organize a paragraph?

There are many different ways to organize a paragraph. The organization you choose will depend on the controlling idea of the paragraph. Below are a few possibilities for organization, with links to brief examples:

• Narration : Tell a story. Go chronologically, from start to finish. ( See an example. )
• Description : Provide specific details about what something looks, smells, tastes, sounds, or feels like. Organize spatially, in order of appearance, or by topic. ( See an example. )
• Process : Explain how something works, step by step. Perhaps follow a sequence—first, second, third. ( See an example. )
• Classification : Separate into groups or explain the various parts of a topic. ( See an example. )
• Illustration : Give examples and explain how those examples support your point. (See an example in the 5-step process below.)

Illustration paragraph: a 5-step example

From the list above, let’s choose “illustration” as our rhetorical purpose. We’ll walk through a 5-step process for building a paragraph that illustrates a point in an argument. For each step there is an explanation and example. Our example paragraph will be about human misconceptions of piranhas.

Step 1. Decide on a controlling idea and create a topic sentence

Paragraph development begins with the formulation of the controlling idea. This idea directs the paragraph’s development. Often, the controlling idea of a paragraph will appear in the form of a topic sentence. In some cases, you may need more than one sentence to express a paragraph’s controlling idea.

Controlling idea and topic sentence — Despite the fact that piranhas are relatively harmless, many people continue to believe the pervasive myth that piranhas are dangerous to humans.

Step 2. Elaborate on the controlling idea

Paragraph development continues with an elaboration on the controlling idea, perhaps with an explanation, implication, or statement about significance. Our example offers a possible explanation for the pervasiveness of the myth.

Elaboration — This impression of piranhas is exacerbated by their mischaracterization in popular media.

Step 3. Give an example (or multiple examples)

Paragraph development progresses with an example (or more) that illustrates the claims made in the previous sentences.

Example — For example, the promotional poster for the 1978 horror film Piranha features an oversized piranha poised to bite the leg of an unsuspecting woman.

Step 4. Explain the example(s)

The next movement in paragraph development is an explanation of each example and its relevance to the topic sentence. The explanation should demonstrate the value of the example as evidence to support the major claim, or focus, in your paragraph.

Continue the pattern of giving examples and explaining them until all points/examples that the writer deems necessary have been made and explained. NONE of your examples should be left unexplained. You might be able to explain the relationship between the example and the topic sentence in the same sentence which introduced the example. More often, however, you will need to explain that relationship in a separate sentence.

Explanation for example — Such a terrifying representation easily captures the imagination and promotes unnecessary fear.

Notice that the example and explanation steps of this 5-step process (steps 3 and 4) can be repeated as needed. The idea is that you continue to use this pattern until you have completely developed the main idea of the paragraph.

Step 5. Complete the paragraph’s idea or transition into the next paragraph

The final movement in paragraph development involves tying up the loose ends of the paragraph. At this point, you can remind your reader about the relevance of the information to the larger paper, or you can make a concluding point for this example. You might, however, simply transition to the next paragraph.

Sentences for completing a paragraph — While the trope of the man-eating piranhas lends excitement to the adventure stories, it bears little resemblance to the real-life piranha. By paying more attention to fact than fiction, humans may finally be able to let go of this inaccurate belief.

Finished paragraph

Despite the fact that piranhas are relatively harmless, many people continue to believe the pervasive myth that piranhas are dangerous to humans. This impression of piranhas is exacerbated by their mischaracterization in popular media. For example, the promotional poster for the 1978 horror film Piranha features an oversized piranha poised to bite the leg of an unsuspecting woman. Such a terrifying representation easily captures the imagination and promotes unnecessary fear. While the trope of the man-eating piranhas lends excitement to the adventure stories, it bears little resemblance to the real-life piranha. By paying more attention to fact than fiction, humans may finally be able to let go of this inaccurate belief.

Troubleshooting paragraphs

Problem: the paragraph has no topic sentence.

Imagine each paragraph as a sandwich. The real content of the sandwich—the meat or other filling—is in the middle. It includes all the evidence you need to make the point. But it gets kind of messy to eat a sandwich without any bread. Your readers don’t know what to do with all the evidence you’ve given them. So, the top slice of bread (the first sentence of the paragraph) explains the topic (or controlling idea) of the paragraph. And, the bottom slice (the last sentence of the paragraph) tells the reader how the paragraph relates to the broader argument. In the original and revised paragraphs below, notice how a topic sentence expressing the controlling idea tells the reader the point of all the evidence.

Original paragraph

Piranhas rarely feed on large animals; they eat smaller fish and aquatic plants. When confronted with humans, piranhas’ first instinct is to flee, not attack. Their fear of humans makes sense. Far more piranhas are eaten by people than people are eaten by piranhas. If the fish are well-fed, they won’t bite humans.

Revised paragraph

Although most people consider piranhas to be quite dangerous, they are, for the most part, entirely harmless. Piranhas rarely feed on large animals; they eat smaller fish and aquatic plants. When confronted with humans, piranhas’ first instinct is to flee, not attack. Their fear of humans makes sense. Far more piranhas are eaten by people than people are eaten by piranhas. If the fish are well-fed, they won’t bite humans.

Once you have mastered the use of topic sentences, you may decide that the topic sentence for a particular paragraph really shouldn’t be the first sentence of the paragraph. This is fine—the topic sentence can actually go at the beginning, middle, or end of a paragraph; what’s important is that it is in there somewhere so that readers know what the main idea of the paragraph is and how it relates back to the thesis of your paper. Suppose that we wanted to start the piranha paragraph with a transition sentence—something that reminds the reader of what happened in the previous paragraph—rather than with the topic sentence. Let’s suppose that the previous paragraph was about all kinds of animals that people are afraid of, like sharks, snakes, and spiders. Our paragraph might look like this (the topic sentence is bold):

Like sharks, snakes, and spiders, piranhas are widely feared. Although most people consider piranhas to be quite dangerous, they are, for the most part, entirely harmless . Piranhas rarely feed on large animals; they eat smaller fish and aquatic plants. When confronted with humans, piranhas’ first instinct is to flee, not attack. Their fear of humans makes sense. Far more piranhas are eaten by people than people are eaten by piranhas. If the fish are well-fed, they won’t bite humans.

Problem: the paragraph has more than one controlling idea

If a paragraph has more than one main idea, consider eliminating sentences that relate to the second idea, or split the paragraph into two or more paragraphs, each with only one main idea. Watch our short video on reverse outlining to learn a quick way to test whether your paragraphs are unified. In the following paragraph, the final two sentences branch off into a different topic; so, the revised paragraph eliminates them and concludes with a sentence that reminds the reader of the paragraph’s main idea.

Although most people consider piranhas to be quite dangerous, they are, for the most part, entirely harmless. Piranhas rarely feed on large animals; they eat smaller fish and aquatic plants. When confronted with humans, piranhas’ first instinct is to flee, not attack. Their fear of humans makes sense. Far more piranhas are eaten by people than people are eaten by piranhas. A number of South American groups eat piranhas. They fry or grill the fish and then serve them with coconut milk or tucupi, a sauce made from fermented manioc juices.

Problem: transitions are needed within the paragraph

You are probably familiar with the idea that transitions may be needed between paragraphs or sections in a paper (see our handout on transitions ). Sometimes they are also helpful within the body of a single paragraph. Within a paragraph, transitions are often single words or short phrases that help to establish relationships between ideas and to create a logical progression of those ideas in a paragraph. This is especially likely to be true within paragraphs that discuss multiple examples. Let’s take a look at a version of our piranha paragraph that uses transitions to orient the reader:

Although most people consider piranhas to be quite dangerous, they are, except in two main situations, entirely harmless. Piranhas rarely feed on large animals; they eat smaller fish and aquatic plants. When confronted with humans, piranhas’ instinct is to flee, not attack. But there are two situations in which a piranha bite is likely. The first is when a frightened piranha is lifted out of the water—for example, if it has been caught in a fishing net. The second is when the water level in pools where piranhas are living falls too low. A large number of fish may be trapped in a single pool, and if they are hungry, they may attack anything that enters the water.

In this example, you can see how the phrases “the first” and “the second” help the reader follow the organization of the ideas in the paragraph.

Works consulted

We consulted these works while writing this handout. This is not a comprehensive list of resources on the handout’s topic, and we encourage you to do your own research to find additional publications. Please do not use this list as a model for the format of your own reference list, as it may not match the citation style you are using. For guidance on formatting citations, please see the UNC Libraries citation tutorial . We revise these tips periodically and welcome feedback.

Lunsford, Andrea. 2008. The St. Martin’s Handbook: Annotated Instructor’s Edition , 6th ed. New York: St. Martin’s.

Rosen, Leonard J., and Laurence Behrens. 2003. The Allyn & Bacon Handbook , 5th ed. New York: Longman.

You may reproduce it for non-commercial use if you use the entire handout and attribute the source: The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Make a Gift

Improve Your Paper by Writing Structured Paragraphs

Download this Handout PDF

In academic writing, effective paragraphs serve as building blocks to construct a complex analysis or argument. Paragraphing helps readers to understand and process your ideas into meaningful units of thought.

What do paragraphs do?

Imagine reading this page without paragraph breaks. Paragraphs create order and logic by helping your reader recognize the boundaries where one point ends and another begins.

How long should a paragraph be?

In a first draft, it may make sense to set a goal for length. For example, you can set a goal of writing four to six sentences per paragraph: in that number of sentences you can announce an idea, prove that idea with evidence, and explain why this evidence matters by linking it to the overall goal of your paper.

In the final version of your paper you may have a shorter paragraph or two. Short paragraphs call a lot of attention to themselves, so they can effectively emphasize a point. Too many short paragraphs, however, may indicate that your ideas are not developed with evidence and analysis.

You’ll generally read and write longer paragraphs in academic papers. However, too many long paragraphs can provide readers with too much information to manage at one time. Readers need planned pauses or breaks when reading long complex papers in order to understand your presented ideas. Remember this writing mantra: “Give your readers a break!” or “Good paragraphs give one pause!”

Kinds of sentences in a paragraph

Thinking about paragraphs rigidly in terms of length may lead to formulaic writing. Instead, as you revise your draft think about how each sentence is functioning in your paragraph, and whether your paragraph has sufficient functional sentences to make its point.

Transition sentences guide your reader smoothly from the topic of the preceding paragraph into the topic of your new paragraph. Writers sometimes begin with a transition sentence before introducing the topic of the new paragraph.

A topic sentence states the main idea of a paragraph. Beginning a paragraph with a topic sentence ensures your reader recognizes early in the paragraph what larger idea the paragraph is going to demonstrate. Expert writers may not introduce the topic until the middle or end of the paragraph, and often imply their topics without ever writing a topic sentence.

Body sentences develop the topic of the paragraph. These sentences work to analyze data or quotations, describe a text or event, set up a comparison, showcase evidence, and sometimes they enumerate the logical points for readers to give them a sense of a paper’s bigger picture. In body sentences, you need to consider how much quoted data or evidence will demonstrate or prove your point.

Linking sentences relate back to the paper’s main argument by showing how the idea of that paragraph matches the overall goal of the paper.

Concluding sentences may bring a section to its end before you move on to a new section of the paper.

Some sample paragraphs

Undergraduate art analysis.

Notice how the writer develops the idea in the body sentences, as promised in the first sentence, and concludes her paragraph by offering a keen, close observation of specific details.

In order to understand how Manet’s work echoes or communicates with Titian’s, one must first consider the similarities between their paintings. To begin with, both take a nude woman as the subject. More than that, however, Manet directly copies the composition of Titian’s Venus; the overwhelming similarity in color and the figures’ arrangement in each painting prove this. Both women are lying in the same position with their heads on the left-hand side of the canvas. Both women have their left leg crossed over the right. Both women have flowers and accessories. Other key elements unite these paintings, as well: the arrangement of the sheets on the bed; the green curtains; the servants; and the small animal at the foot of the bed. All these features clearly indicate that Manet echoes Titian. If one stopped at the similarity in the composition, it would appear that both paintings communicate the same thing; both would be a celebration of the beauty of the human figure, and Manet’s voice would have added nothing new to the conversation; it would have no additional meaning besides venerating the masterful work of Titian. ( Used with permission .)

Undergraduate literary analysis

In this paragraph from a 2012 Lewis Prize-winning English essay, UW–Madison undergraduate Abby Becker organizes her sentences savvily. She first transitions her reader into her topic, then introduces the source of evidence for that paragraph before analyzing that source and returning to the topic with the new critical perspective that her analysis suggests.

In order for a political or social revolution to occur, connections must be formed. More means of communication lead to more opportunities to make connections. In Dos Passos’ The 42nd Parallel, J. Ward Moorehouse focuses on making business connections but never forms any relationships. He explains at a party that “he had come down in a purely unofficial way you understand to make contacts” (249). In business and politics, making contacts denotes an impersonal, removed way of dealing with people. This type of communication does not result in connections. Moorehouse’s connections are for his own political personal gain. There may be a connection but no insight or true relationship. Moorehouse views people as a tool to advance his own business and political agendas demonstrating that connections with people are often made out of selfish, egotistical motives.

Magazine profile

From a September 2006 The Atlantic article , by Marshall Poe, describing Jimmy Wales, Wikipedia, and collaborative knowledge. Notice how the first sentence introduces a philosophical issue that the body sentences define and link to both Wikipedia and Wales’s own personality.

Wales was an advocate of what is generically termed “openness” online. An “open” online community is one with few restrictions on membership or posting-everyone is welcome, and anyone can say anything as long as it’s generally on point and doesn’t include gratuitous ad hominem attacks. Openness fit not only Wales’s idea of objectivism, with its emphasis on reason and rejection of force, but also his mild personality. He doesn’t like to fight. He would rather suffer fools in silence, waiting for them to talk themselves out, than confront them. This patience would serve Wales well in the years to come.

From Spontaneous Gestures Influence Strategy Choices in Problem Solving (2011). UW-Madison Psychology Professor Martha Alibali et al. present empirical research on how children use physical gestures to acquire mathematical problem-solving knowledge. Notice the clarity of expression in the first paragraph’s topic sentence: the writer provides sufficient set-up to prepare readers for the data which comes at the end of each paragraph.

We predicted that participants in the gesture-allowed condition would be less likely than participants in the gesture-prohibited condition to generate the parity strategy, because the availability of gesture would promote use of perceptual-motor strategies instead. This was indeed the case; the proportion of participants who used the parity strategy on at least one trial was .74 in the gesture-allowed condition and .91 in the gesture-prohibited condition, _2(1, N = 85) = 4.17, p = .04 (Fig. 1). Once they generated the parity strategy, most participants (89%) used it on all subsequent trials.

Mechanical engineering

From Mounting methodologies to measure EUV reticle nonflatness (SPIE Proceedings 7470, 2009), by the lab of UW–Madison Professor Roxanne L. Engelstad. Notice how Battula et al. signal the practical consequence of their findings and also suggest that another result would be possible depending on further research.

Unfortunately, to map the entire reticle with a single measurement, a 12 in. beam expander is needed. With such a large optical system, the expander must be held rigidly, not allowing it to tip or tilt. Since the UW-CMC mount must remain vertical to be effective, it cannot be used in this scenario. Consequently, the application of this mount is limited. Thus, a number of new designs have been proposed by industry to address the alignment issues and provide for other options, such as automated handling. Three of these designs are described and evaluated in the following sections.

Literary studies

From Dorothy West’s Paradise: A Biography of Class and Color (2012), by UW–Madison Professor Sherrard-Johnson. Notice how the first two sentences give crucial background information in order to set up the topic sentence.

In Contested Waters: A Social History of Swimming Pools in America, Jeff Wiltse examines how U.S. swimming pools were transformed from interracial single-sex spaces in which class and gender were more important than race to “leisure resorts, where practically everyone in the community except black Americans swam together.” His study then follows what he calls the second social transformation—”when black Americans gained access through legal and social protest” and “white swimmers generally abandoned them for private pools.” The various iterations of West’s story, which discuss the span from 1950 to 1980, fall between these two moments in social and legal history. I am particularly intrigued by how the national history of segregated bathing areas informs the local, particular event described by West. Does the exclusion of blacks from the high beach parallel the segregation of public pools? In the early twentieth century, public bathing spaces were notoriously violent. The Chicago Riot in 1919 was touched off when white bathers threw rocks at black teenagers who had drifted into a white beach on Lake Michigan. Northerners’ use of pools during the Progressive era reinforced class and gender but not racial distinction. Working-class folk did not swim with the upper classes, but they were not as concerned about color. Following the Great Migration, the concerns about intimacy and sexuality that have always been latent in conversations about public space (in particular the public space of the pool) were directed at blacks. The peculiar democracy of the beach—in bathing suits it is more difficulty to determine class‐worked against black Americans. Wiltse marks this shift between the years of 1920 and 1940. The social changes that took place during this period shape West’s complex politics. (26)

Legal writing

Former UW–Madison School of Law Professor Arthur F. McEvoy wrote this model paragraph as part of a memorandum on effective writing. Notice that each of the body sentences illustrates and develops the main idea or topic sentence.

The ideal paragraph contains five sentences. The topic sentence almost always comes first and states as clearly as possible the point that the paragraph makes, just as the first sentence of this paragraph did. The three middle sentences of the paragraph follow the topic sentence in some rational order and substantiate it with examples, analysis, or other kind of development; if written clearly, middle sentences may employ conjunctions or subordinate clauses to put across complex ideas without breaking the basic form. Every well-written paragraph ends with a “clincher” sentence that in some way signals completion of the paragraph’s point and places it in context, either by restating the topic sentence, relating the topic back to the thesis of the writing as a whole, or by providing a transition to the paragraph that follows. While good style may require a writer to vary this basic form occasionally, the five-sentence model captures the Platonic essence of the paragraph and most effectively accomplishes its purpose, which is to state a single idea, in sequence, discretely and comprehensively.

Writing Process and Structure

This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.

Getting Started with Your Paper

Interpreting Writing Assignments from Your Courses

Generating Ideas for Your Paper

Creating an Argument

Thesis vs. Purpose Statements

Developing a Thesis Statement

Architecture of Arguments

Working with Sources

Quoting and Paraphrasing Sources

Using Literary Quotations

Citing Sources in Your Paper

Drafting Your Paper

Introductions

Paragraphing

Developing Strategic Transitions

Conclusions

Revising Your Paper

Peer Reviews

Reverse Outlines

Revising an Argumentative Paper

Revision Strategies for Longer Projects

Finishing Your Paper

Twelve Common Errors: An Editing Checklist

How to Proofread your Paper

Writing Collaboratively

Collaborative and Group Writing

How to write excellent paragraphs in English

Students often ask how to improve their paragraphs. Writing great paragraphs is easy if you focus on these three essential pieces: a topic sentence ,  reasons with specific examples , and a  concluding sentence .

Topic sentence for a paragraph

The first essential piece you need for a great paragraph is a strong topic sentence . It is the  most important sentence  in your paragraph.

This sentence tells your reader  what topic you will be talking about and  why  you are talking about that topic. This gives the paragraph purpose and focus, and it makes your paper much easier to read. Also, it is typically the first sentence of your paragraph.

Your topic sentence needs two parts: the  topic  and the  controlling idea . The topic is what  topic – or subject – you are writing about, and the controlling idea is why  you are writing about it.

Topic Sentence Example: Training for a marathon  involves  a lot of discipline .

In this example,  training for a marathon  is the topic, and  a lot of discipline  is the controlling idea. The reader knows you will talk about training for a marathon, and that you will focus only on how it takes a lot of discipline. You will not talk about different training plans or different training locations or anything else unrelated to the controlling idea. You will only write about being disciplined when training for a marathon.

Reasons and specific examples in a paragraph

The next piece you need for your paragraph is  specific examples.

You need to show the reader – with words – exactly what your topic and controlling idea looks like. You want the reader to clearly imagine what you are describing. In a paragraph, you should include at least three reasons to support your topic sentences. Each of these reasons needs to be supported with specific examples.

Let’s look at adding a reason with specific details to our topic sentence example:

Training for a marathon involves a lot of discipline. First, you need to commit large amounts of time to building up your mileage.  For example, many training plans require runners to log      at least 4 runs per week. These runs start out with shorter distances, like three or four miles,  but progress into much longer runs with some of the last weeks logging around 34-40 miles per week. No matter your pace, these runs require many hours on the road plus time before and after for proper stretching.  

Do you notice how many sentences I have for my example? In order to support your reason (large amounts of time), you need to include very specific information about what is included in that time commitment.

Now, what if I wrote something like this, which lacks specific details and examples?

Training for a marathon involves a lot of discipline. First, you need to commit large amounts of time to building up your mileage.  For example, many training plans require    runners to run many miles per week.   

What a huge difference the details make! The first paragraph uses tons of specific details in the example to paint the picture of how much time it will take to train. You read about how many miles each week, what kind of distances, and the hours involved.

The second one just tells the reader that the person training has to run many miles per week. We do not know how many or how long it takes or how many days a week. Because we learn very little from that sentence, it is challenging to form a mental picture of how much time commitment it really takes to train for a marathon. Therefore, by not including specific details in your examples, your paper becomes weak and not as interesting to read.

Concluding sentence for a paragraph

The final piece of your paragraph is the  concluding sentence. This is the last sentence of your paragraph.

We typically begin this sentence with a concluding transition such as:  In sum, In brief, or Overall .

Then we restate the topic sentence to remind the reader what our focus was. It’s important to keep the same meaning but just change the words to keep the writing interesting. We also add a little bit more to the sentence to keep the reader thinking about our paper. This can be something like a prediction, a warning, or a suggestion.

Let’s write a concluding sentence based upon the topic sentence from above.

Topic Sentence :  Training for a marathon  involves  a lot of discipline .

Concluding Sentence : Overall, it takes a  tremendous amount of self-control  to  prepare yourself to run 26.2 miles , but the feeling you get when you cross the finish line makes it worth all of that effort.

Here is why this concluding sentence is strong: First, it starts with a transition – Overall . Then it restates – or says in other words – the topic and the controlling idea. It also switches the order of the topic and controlling idea to add variety to the writing!

So, instead of writing  a lot of discipline  again, it says  a tremendous amount of self-control . These two phrases mean the same thing but just use different language.

And then for the topic, in place of  training for a marathon,  we use  prepare yourself to run 26.2 miles.  Again, it’s the same meaning just different words. Using synonyms and similar meaning phrases helps to strengthen your concluding sentence.

Lastly, we add our opinion to keep the reader thinking about our paragraph. We say that the pain of training is worth it because it feels so wonderful to cross the finish line. This added opinion helps the reader to imagine that the hard work involved pays off with that wonderful feeling of accomplishment.

And that is it! Now you know the three pieces you need to write a strong, successful paragraph. Remember, they are:

• topic sentence – topic + controlling idea
• reasons with specific examples  – details, details, details
• concluding sentence – transition, restated topic sentence, opinion or prediction or warning (depending on the type of paragraph)

Videos – Writing great paragraphs in English:

• Topic sentence
• Concluding sentence

More Espresso English Lessons:

About the author.

Shayna Oliveira

Shayna Oliveira is the founder of Espresso English, where you can improve your English fast - even if you don’t have much time to study. Millions of students are learning English from her clear, friendly, and practical lessons! Shayna is a CELTA-certified teacher with 10+ years of experience helping English learners become more fluent in her English courses.

How to Write a Paragraph [Ultimate Guide + Examples]

Writing a good paragraph is essential for any writer or storyteller.

Here is my quick answer for how to write a paragraph:

Write a paragraph by starting with a clear topic sentence, adding supporting details, using transitions for coherence, varying sentence structures, and concluding with a strong closing sentence. Revise and edit thoroughly to ensure clarity and correctness.

From nearly three decades of experience, here is everything I know about how to write a paragraph that pops off the page.

What Is a Paragraph?

Table of Contents

A paragraph is a collection of sentences that focus on a single idea.

It’s the building block of writing, providing structure and clarity. A good paragraph is unified, coherent, and well-developed.

Unity means all sentences support the main idea.

Coherence ensures the sentences flow logically.

Development means the idea is thoroughly explored with sufficient details. Paragraphs can vary in length, but they typically contain at least three to five sentences.

They can stand alone or be part of a larger text.

Understanding the purpose and components of a paragraph helps writers create clear and impactful content.

Types of Paragraphs

There are at least 10 different types of paragraphs you need to know.

• Descriptive Paragraph: Provides vivid details to help the reader visualize a scene, object, or person. Uses sensory details and figurative language. Often found in fiction and creative writing.
• Narrative Paragraph: Tells a story or recounts an event. Includes a beginning, middle, and end. Uses chronological order and focuses on action and dialogue. Common in personal essays and stories.
• Expository Paragraph: Explains a concept or provides information. Presents facts, statistics, and examples. Logical and straightforward. Found in academic writing and informative articles.
• Persuasive Paragraph: Aims to convince the reader of a particular viewpoint. Uses arguments, evidence, and emotional appeals. Found in opinion pieces and argumentative essays.
• Comparative Paragraph: Highlights similarities and differences between two or more subjects. Uses compare-and-contrast structure. Common in analysis and comparison essays.
• Cause and Effect Paragraph: Explores the relationship between events or actions and their outcomes. Uses logical sequence to explain causes and effects. Found in analytical and research writing.
• Process Paragraph: Describes steps in a process or how something works. Uses chronological order and clear instructions. Common in how-to guides and technical writing.
• Definition Paragraph: Provides a detailed explanation of a term or concept. Uses examples and elaboration. Found in academic writing and specialized articles.
• Classification Paragraph: Organizes information into categories or groups. Uses classification criteria and examples. Found in scientific and technical writing.
• Illustration Paragraph: Uses examples to illustrate a point or concept. Provides detailed evidence to support the main idea. Found in essays and informative writing.

How to Write a Paragraph Step by Step

Now to the meat of this guide and what you came here for — a complete breakdown of how to write an epic paragraph.

Step 1: Choose a Main Idea

Begin with a clear main idea or topic sentence. This is the foundation of your paragraph.

It should be specific and concise, providing a clear direction for your paragraph. A strong main idea helps keep your writing focused and ensures all sentences contribute to the central theme.

Avoid vague or broad topics. Instead, zero in on a particular aspect that you can develop fully.

Step 2: Gather Supporting Details

Once you have your main idea, gather relevant supporting details.

These can include facts, examples, quotes, and descriptions that reinforce your main idea.

Make sure your details are directly related to the topic sentence. This ensures your paragraph is coherent and all sentences are connected.

Good supporting details add depth and richness to your writing.

Step 3: Organize Your Sentences

Arrange your sentences in a logical order.

This could be chronological, spatial, or order of importance, depending on the type of paragraph you’re writing.

A well-organized paragraph guides the reader smoothly from one idea to the next.

Use transition words to connect your sentences and maintain flow. Coherence is key for readability.

Step 4: Write a Strong Topic Sentence

Your topic sentence should clearly state the main idea of your paragraph.

It sets the tone and direction for the rest of the sentences. A strong topic sentence is specific and makes a clear point.

It should grab the reader’s attention and make them want to read more.

Avoid being too vague or overly complex.

Step 5: Develop the Main Idea

Expand on your topic sentence with supporting details.

Each sentence should contribute to the development of the main idea. Use examples, facts, and descriptions to elaborate on your point.

Make sure your sentences are clear and concise.

Avoid unnecessary repetition and stay focused on the main idea.

Step 6: Use Transition Words

Transition words help connect your sentences and ideas smoothly.

They guide the reader through your paragraph and ensure coherence.

Examples of transition words include “however,” “therefore,” “in addition,” and “for example.” Use them appropriately to show relationships between ideas and maintain the flow of your writing.

Step 7: Conclude Your Paragraph

End with a concluding sentence that summarizes the main idea and provides closure.

This sentence should reinforce the topic and leave a lasting impression. A good conclusion wraps up the paragraph and prepares the reader for the next idea.

Avoid introducing new information in the concluding sentence.

Step 8: Revise and Edit

Review your paragraph for clarity, coherence, and unity. Check for grammar and spelling errors.

Make sure all sentences support the main idea and are logically connected.

Revise any awkward or unclear sentences. Editing is crucial for polishing your paragraph and ensuring it’s effective.

Step 9: Seek Feedback

Get feedback from others to improve your paragraph.

Share your writing with peers, teachers, or editors. Constructive feedback can help you identify areas for improvement and refine your paragraph.

Don’t be afraid to make changes based on the feedback you receive.

Step 10: Practice Regularly

Practice writing paragraphs regularly to improve your skills.

The more you write, the better you’ll become at organizing your thoughts and crafting effective paragraphs.

Set aside time each day for writing exercises. Experiment with different types of paragraphs to enhance your versatility as a writer.

Watch this good video about how to write a paragraph:

How to Start a Paragraph

Starting a paragraph effectively sets the tone for the rest of the text.

Here are some techniques to create a compelling paragraph opening.

Use a Strong Topic Sentence

A strong topic sentence clearly states the main idea of the paragraph.

It grabs the reader’s attention and provides a preview of what’s to come. Keep it specific and concise to maintain focus.

How you start is everything in writing. And this definitely applies to paragraphs.

Begin with a Question

Starting with a question engages the reader and provokes curiosity.

It encourages them to think about the topic and keeps them interested in finding the answer within the paragraph.

I really like questions but I don’t use them every time.

For example, I recently heard a comedian start a set with, “Does anyone know the stat motto of Texas?” I don’t remember the comedian’s name but it got the crowd involved with guessing the motto.

People guessed what you might expect: “Don’t mess with Texas” and “Everything is Bigger in Texas.”

The comic then nailed the joke with the surprising punchline.

The state motto of Texas is “Friendship.”

Use an Interesting Fact or Statistic

An intriguing fact or statistic can captivate the reader’s interest.

It adds credibility to your writing and provides a solid foundation for the paragraph’s content.

What I have found works best are unique and original facts/statistics that the audience likely has never heard before.

Start with a Quote

A relevant quote can provide insight and set the tone for the paragraph.

It can be from a famous person, a literary work, or a subject-matter expert, adding depth and context to your writing.

Quotes work well when they directly apply to the rest of the content and, again, are original and mostly unknown.

Use a Vivid Description

A vivid description can immerse the reader in the setting or subject matter.

Sensory details and figurative language can paint a picture that draws the reader into the paragraph.

A great place to study these types of paragraphs is to read descriptive fiction authors like Dean Koontz.

Begin with a Personal Anecdote

Sharing a personal story or anecdote can make your writing relatable and engaging.

It helps build a connection with the reader and sets the stage for the main idea of the paragraph.

This is one of my favorite ways to start a paragraph.

Use a Shocking Statement

A shocking or surprising statement can immediately capture the reader’s attention.

It creates intrigue and motivates the reader to continue reading to understand the context.

Go for something contrarian and unexpected to keep your readers on their toes.

Start with a Comparison

A comparison or contrast can effectively introduce the main idea

It highlights differences or similarities that can pique the reader’s interest and set up the discussion.

Not only is this a great way to start a paragraph but it also gives you a built-in structure for the rest of the paragraph.

Use a Proverb or Saying

A well-known proverb or saying can succinctly convey a universal truth.

It can provide a strong foundation for the paragraph and resonate with the reader.

This is like a communal shortcut into the rest of your paragraph and content. Used sparingly, it can work very well.

Begin with an Action

Starting with an action or event can create a sense of immediacy and engagement.

It sets the scene and encourages the reader to follow the progression of ideas.

The action can involve nearly anything: someone skydiving, a business closing down, a company throwing a grand party on a yatch.

How to Write a Good Paragraph (Advanced Techniques)

Writing a good paragraph involves more than just basic structure. Here are advanced techniques to enhance your writing.

• Use a Consistent Theme : Maintaining a consistent theme throughout your paragraph ensures unity and coherence. A theme provides an underlying message or focus that ties all the sentences together. It adds depth and meaning to your writing.
• Incorporate Alliteration : Alliteration, the repetition of consonant sounds, can create a musical rhythm in your writing. It enhances the flow and can emphasize key points. Use alliteration sparingly to avoid overuse, which can become distracting.
• Employ Metaphors and Similes : Metaphors and similes add richness to your writing by making comparisons. They help the reader understand complex ideas by relating them to familiar concepts. Use these figures of speech to create vivid and memorable imagery.
• Use Varying Sentence Structures : Varying your sentence structures keeps your writing dynamic and engaging. Mix short, punchy sentences with longer, more complex ones. This variation can enhance readability and emphasize important points.
• Apply Parallelism : Parallelism involves using similar grammatical structures in a series. It creates balance and rhythm in your writing. This technique can make your points more persuasive and memorable.
• Use Sensory Details : Incorporate sensory details to bring your writing to life. Describe sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures to create a vivid picture. Sensory details immerse the reader in your writing.
• Integrate Dialogue : Using dialogue can add realism and depth to your paragraph. It breaks up the text and provides different perspectives. Dialogue can make your writing more engaging and relatable.
• Use Repetition for Emphasis : Repetition of key words or phrases can emphasize important points. It creates a rhythm and reinforces the main idea. Use repetition strategically to avoid redundancy.
• Employ Irony : Irony adds a layer of complexity to your writing. It involves saying one thing but meaning another, often the opposite. Irony can create humor or highlight contradictions.
• Include a Call to Action: A call to action encourages the reader to take a specific step or consider a particular viewpoint. It makes your writing more interactive and impactful. Use it to motivate and engage your audience.

Dos and Don’ts for Writing a Paragraph

Understanding the dos and don’ts of paragraph writing can help you avoid common pitfalls and improve your writing quality.

Follow these guidelines to craft clear, coherent, and engaging paragraphs.

Examples of Paragraphs

Let’s look at some examples that put all of these ideas and tips together into fully formed paragraphs.

Descriptive Paragraphs

• The old house stood at the end of the lane, its paint peeling and windows cracked. The garden, once vibrant, was now overgrown with weeds. Inside, the smell of damp and decay filled the air. Every corner seemed to whisper stories of the past.
• The beach was a paradise of golden sands and turquoise waters. The waves gently lapped against the shore, leaving trails of foam. Seagulls cried overhead, and the scent of salt lingered in the breeze. Sunbathers and surfers dotted the landscape, basking in the sun.

Narrative Paragraphs

• Last summer, I took a trip to Italy. We explored the ancient ruins of Rome, marveled at the art in Florence, and sailed the canals of Venice. Each city offered its own unique charm and history. The memories we made on that trip will last a lifetime.
• As a child, I spent every Christmas at my grandparents’ house. The air was always filled with the aroma of cookies baking. We would gather around the fireplace, sharing stories and laughter. Those moments of warmth and love are cherished in my heart.

Expository Paragraphs

• Renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, are essential for a sustainable future. They produce electricity without emitting greenhouse gases. This helps reduce global warming and pollution. Governments and businesses worldwide are investing in these technologies to combat climate change.
• The process of photosynthesis in plants involves converting sunlight into energy. Chlorophyll in the leaves captures light energy. This energy transforms carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. Photosynthesis is crucial for plant growth and the oxygen supply on Earth.

Persuasive Paragraphs

• Implementing a four-day workweek can increase productivity and employee well-being. Studies show that workers are more focused and efficient with an extra day off. It also reduces stress and improves work-life balance. Companies should adopt this model to boost morale and performance.
• Recycling should be mandatory to protect our environment. Landfills are overflowing with waste that could be recycled. Recycling conserves resources and reduces pollution. By making it a legal requirement, we can ensure everyone contributes to a cleaner, greener planet.

Comparative Paragraphs

• Online education offers flexibility and convenience compared to traditional classroom learning. Students can access materials anytime, anywhere. However, traditional classrooms provide face-to-face interaction and hands-on experiences. Both methods have their pros and cons, depending on the learner’s needs.
• Cats and dogs make wonderful pets, but they have different needs and behaviors. Cats are more independent and require less attention. Dogs are social and enjoy regular exercise and play. Choosing between them depends on your lifestyle and preferences.

Cause and Effect Paragraphs

• Climate change is causing more frequent and severe natural disasters. Rising temperatures lead to more intense hurricanes, floods, and wildfires. These disasters devastate communities and ecosystems. Mitigating climate change is crucial to reducing their occurrence and impact.
• Skipping breakfast can negatively affect your health. It leads to lower energy levels and poor concentration. This can impact your productivity and mood throughout the day. Eating a nutritious breakfast helps maintain energy and cognitive function.

Process Paragraphs

• To bake a chocolate cake, start by preheating your oven to 350°F. Mix flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. In another bowl, combine eggs, milk, oil, and vanilla. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture. Pour the batter into a greased pan and bake for 30 minutes.
• Writing a resume involves several steps. First, gather your personal and professional information. Next, choose a resume format that suits your experience. Write a compelling summary and list your work history, education, and skills. Finally, proofread your resume for errors before submitting it.

Definition Paragraphs

• A blockchain is a decentralized digital ledger that records transactions across multiple computers. Each block contains a list of transactions. Once added, the information in a block cannot be altered. This ensures transparency and security in data management.
• Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines. AI systems can perform tasks such as learning, reasoning, and problem-solving. They use algorithms and data to improve their performance. AI is widely used in various industries, from healthcare to finance.

Classification Paragraphs

• There are three main types of rocks: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. Igneous rocks form from cooled magma or lava. Sedimentary rocks are created from the accumulation of sediments. Metamorphic rocks develop from existing rocks transformed by heat and pressure.
• Fruits can be classified into categories like berries, citrus, and stone fruits. Berries include strawberries and blueberries. Citrus fruits encompass oranges and lemons. Stone fruits, such as peaches and cherries, contain a pit or stone. Each category offers unique flavors and nutritional benefits.

Illustration Paragraphs

• Eating a balanced diet is crucial for maintaining good health. For example, incorporating fruits and vegetables provides essential vitamins and minerals. Whole grains offer fiber that aids digestion. Lean proteins, such as chicken and fish, support muscle growth and repair. A balanced diet promotes overall well-being.
• Exercise has numerous benefits for physical and mental health. For instance, regular physical activity strengthens the heart and improves circulation. It also reduces the risk of chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension. Moreover, exercise releases endorphins that boost mood and reduce stress.

Final Thoughts: How to Write a Paragraph

There is way more to learn about writing paragraphs, such as how to master the introduction and conclusion.

I’ve handpicked the articles below that I think you will enjoy.

Read This Next:

• How to Write an Introduction Paragraph [50+ Examples]
• How to Write a Good Conclusion Paragraph (+30 Examples)
• How to Write a Hook (40 Good Examples)
• 11 Best Pens for Writing [Ultimate Guide for Writers]

Instantly enhance your writing in real-time while you type. With LanguageTool

Get started for free

Writing a Well-Developed Paragraph

A paragraph is a group of sentences within a larger body of text. They are what makes your writing progress from beginning to end. Below, we’ll go over how to write the perfect paragraph.

• A paragraph is a unit of sentences found within a larger body of text that revolve around one main idea.
• Paragraphs can technically be made up of one sentence or several.
• Each paragraph should include supporting sentences and seamlessly transition into the next one.

What Is a Paragraph?

We’ve covered how to write an introduction and how to write a conclusion. In this article, we will teach you how to write a good paragraph. But first, let’s go over what a paragraph is.

A paragraph is a small body of text within a larger body that revolves around one particular main idea. Because there are various styles of writing—creative, journalistic, and narrative, to name a few—paragraphs can look and read differently depending on the text. However, they all serve the same function: to help advance your writing.

How Long Is a Paragraph?

It is not uncommon for grade school students to learn that a proper paragraph entails at least five sentences. This isn’t necessarily true, though. A single paragraph can range from one sentence to five, ten, or even more. Single-sentence paragraphs are especially common in journalistic writing. But what makes a paragraph, well, a paragraph, is that it revolves around a central idea before moving on to the next.

Paragraphs range in size depending on the complexity of the topic. And although this isn’t one-size-fits-all advice, writing guides often recommend shorter paragraphs over longer ones. A break between paragraphs can serve as a small pause, or rest, for the reader. Learning how to break a paragraph strategically even if you’re not done writing about the main point takes practice. If you can take the main point of the paragraph and break it into smaller points, do that (like how we broke this section about paragraph size into two paragraphs).

How To Write a Paragraph

Well-developed paragraphs are important. While the introduction prepares the readers for what you’re going to write about, the paragraphs are where you get to support your claims or the central idea of the text.

Here you’ll find a few tips that’ll help you write the perfect paragraph:

1. Choose the main idea of the paragraph and write a topic sentence.

Once you decide what the central focus of a particular paragraph will be about, introduce it with a topic sentence. Think of topic sentences as a signpost that guides your readers so that they know what to expect. The best place for a topic sentence is at the beginning of a paragraph.

2. Include supporting sentences.

After you’ve written your topic sentence, you should then write supporting sentences—sentences that help prove or establish that point you’re trying to make. These sentences vary depending on the type of writing, but they can include examples, explanations of examples, anecdotes, data, or anything else that’ll help the reader understand your message.

3. Improve flow and readability with transition sentences.

Once you’ve written the supporting sentences, then you should signal to the reader that you’re about to move on to the next point. You can do this with transition words or transition sentences. An abrupt change of topic can confuse readers, so it’s better to seamlessly move on to the next paragraph.

Bonus Tip: Use LanguageTool to ensure error-free writing

All these tips are important, but they won’t make much of a difference if your writing is plagued with spelling errors and grammar mistakes. That’s why it’s a good idea to use LanguageTool as your writing assistant. This multilingual text editor will help you write masterfully by correcting all spelling, grammar, and style flaws.

Example Paragraph Using The Tips Above

This is an example paragraph that uses all the previously mentioned tips:

You may be wondering how spending time in nature can help your well-being. To begin, spending time in nature helps reset the body’s circadian rhythm—or schedule of your body’s physical, mental, and behavioral processes. When one’s circadian rhythm is reset to its natural cycle, it results in better sleep. And better sleep means you look, feel, and function better. Several studies have shown that daylight plays a big role in our circadian rhythm. The bright light of the day signals to the body that it’s time to wake up, whereas the dimming sunset lets the body know it’s time to go to sleep. A good night’s sleep is something we can all be grateful for. This leads me to my next point—spending time in nature can help increase gratitude.

How To Write Proper Paragraphs

Think of paragraphs as the glue that holds your writing together. Without them, sentences would just be floating around at random, and your readers would be forced to try to make sense of them. As with any other piece of writing, enough time should be allotted when writing paragraphs. Remember to include a topic sentence, add supporting sentences, and smoothly transition to the next paragraph.

Unleash the Professional Writer in You With LanguageTool

Go well beyond grammar and spell checking. Impress with clear, precise, and stylistically flawless writing instead.

Works on All Your Favorite Services

• Thunderbird
• Google Docs
• Microsoft Word
• Open Office
• Libre Office

We Value Your Feedback

We’ve made a mistake, forgotten about an important detail, or haven’t managed to get the point across? Let’s help each other to perfect our writing.

Paragraph Development

Writers use words to compose sentences that develop ideas. A group of related sentences that develops a particular idea is organized in a unit called a paragraph. Understanding the basic concept of “paragraph” is easy enough, but applying that understanding—that is, writing strong, focused paragraphs—can pose challenges for writers of all levels of accomplishment. The discussion that follows will help you understand effective paragraphing and reinforce good writing habits. Keep in mind that writing is a process, and producing good writing, paragraph by paragraph, takes time. Learning to write effective paragraphs will help you communicate ideas clearly to an audience and help you achieve the purpose of the writing.

THE PURPOSE OF THE PARAGRAPH

Paragraphs are the basic units of a piece of writing. Whether informative, persuasive, expository/explanatory, or another mode of writing, paragraphs express the beginning, middle, and end of a discussion in the form of an introduction, body, and conclusion. Each of these parts can be one or more paragraphs long, and the paragraphs in each part have a different purpose. The focus of this tutorial is on body paragraphs. The purpose of body paragraphs is twofold: 1) body paragraphs work together to develop a discussion about a topic within the scope of the thesis or main idea about that topic, and 2) each body paragraph works individually to develop one point of the discussion with supporting details and language that connects the paragraph to the rest of the paper.

THE QUALITIES OF AN EFFECTIVE PARAGRAPH

Unity, Coherence, and Development

An effective paragraph will have unity, coherence, and development. Unity means that each sentence provides information that relates to the established focus of the paragraph. Coherence means each sentence logically leads to the next sentence, and the writer has provided transitions and guidewords to make the movement fluid for the reader and the different ideas come together cohesively. Lastly, development refers to sustaining and building the discussion by providing enough supporting details that the point of the paragraph is clearly communicated to an audience. While paragraph length can vary, effective paragraphs contain enough substantive content that readers do not have lingering questions.

Example Paragraph

One major contributor to the opioid epidemic has been the aggressive marketing of prescription painkillers by pharmaceutical manufacturers. Perez-Pena (2017) concluded that while the healthcare industry was attempting to effectively and efficiently treat patients with chronic pain, pharmaceutical companies were providing funding to prominent doctors, medical societies, and patient advocacy groups in order to win support for a particular drug’s adoption and usage. In fact, pharmaceutical companies continue to spend millions on promotional activities and materials that deny or trivialize any risks of opioid use while at the same time overstating each drug’s benefit (Perez-Pina, 2017). Although aggressive marketing by pharmaceutical companies has played a large role in opioid addiction, patients also play a role in the problem when they take advantage of holes in the healthcare provider system in order to remedy their addiction.

Perez-Pina, R. (2017, May 31). Ohio sues drug makers, saying they aided opioid epidemic. The New York Times . https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/31/us/ohio-sues-pharmaceuticaldrug-opioid-epidemic-mike-dewine.html?_r=1

The example paragraph is unified on one topic: the opioid epidemic. It is cohesive; the ideas move from fact to evidence to example and include guiding words such as “one,” “while,” “in order to,” “in fact,” and “although,” which lead the reader from one sentence to the next. The paragraph is well-developed as it sustains discussion on the opioid epidemic and builds it with a new point about a contributing factor, which is presented with evidence from research and supporting details. It also uses language (e.g. “although”) that connects the paragraph topic, the role that pharmaceutical companies play, to the topic that will be discussed in the next paragraph, the role that patients play.

CONSIDERATIONS FOR WRITING AN EFFECTIVE PARAGRAPH

Limit the Focus to One Distinct Idea

The sentences in a paragraph work together to develop one distinct idea by sharing the same focus. One way that writers establish this focus is with a topic sentence at the beginning of the paragraph. The topic sentence not only expresses the topic of discussion for the paragraph but also asserts a controlling idea that limits the focus of that topic. To create this limited focus, writers provide facts, opinions, definitions, examples, anecdotes, and descriptions, for example, support or explain the controlling idea.

Develop Paragraphs With the Audience and Purpose in Mind

The information given in the paragraph will also depend on the audience and purpose of the writing. To develop a paragraph with the audience in mind, the writer needs to consider what the audience already knows. Discussions are generally developed by adding new information to known information. The same topic would be discussed differently to an audience that does not know anything about the topic versus an audience who are already very familiar with it. The writer must also consider the purpose of the writing. An informative paragraph, for example, seeks to enlighten or educate the reader about the topic whereas a persuasive paragraph seeks to change the reader’s mind or behavior through the discussion of the topic.

Critics have argued that technology will dehumanize education; in fact, technology can actually personalize education. For example, once a print textbook is adopted, schools will stay with the curriculum until the next textbook adoption cycle. However, as Minnesota’s Byron Independent School District (ISD) realized when they designed their own online curriculum, teachers can adapt an online curriculum as needed to individually personalize a student’s educational experience. For example, Byron’s teachers made real-time adjustments to a particular math unit if a particular student was struggling to master an intended learning objective (Fulton, 2013). The Byron ISD experiment suggested technology, combined with a thoughtful pedagogy, can have a lasting, personal and positive impact on student learning.

Fulton, K. (2013, September 1). Byron’s flipped classrooms. Education Digest , 79(1), 22-26. https://search.proquest.com/openview/49d7ee537168e132960671e4bef70582/1.pdf?pqorigsite=gscholar&cbl=25066

The example paragraph is limited in focus on one idea about the topic—that technology provides opportunities to personalize education. Each sentence works to support this idea in the form of facts, examples, and anecdotes. The paragraph is also tailored to a specific audience and purpose. The writer begins with an opposing viewpoint to appeal to readers who may be critical of educational technology. The purpose of this paragraph is to persuade, so by presenting the opposing viewpoint then counterarguing it with research-based examples, the reader is more likely to see the writer’s viewpoint as logical and change their own opinion about the topic.

Use Various Rhetorical Modes for Developing and Organizing Paragraphs

Rhetorical modes refer to the patterns of development available to the writer. In other words, modes are the particular manner in which writers develop their thoughts, and quite typically the mode comes to us naturally depending on what we are trying to accomplish. If someone is talking to an auto mechanic about a problem with their car, they are describing. If a person is telling a story about their seven-year-old daughter, they are narrating. If one is talking about the types of books they like to read, they use examples. Whatever a person is trying to convey, they will do so with one or more patterns of development or rhetorical modes.

Types of modes include description, narration, comparison and contrast, example, definition, cause and effect, analogy, and analysis. Usually, the focus of the paragraph lends itself to the use of one primary mode, but even so, most paragraphs utilize more than one pattern of development. For example, if a student is taking a United States history course, they may be asked to compare and contrast the South before and after the Civil War. While the predominant rhetorical mode used in paragraphs will be comparison and contrast, the student will also probably use examples, include description, and offer analysis as you compare the old South to the new South.

Rhetorical modes help writers think about their topic and organize their ideas. These rhetorical modes also show writers the options available to them when composing paragraphs.

When to Begin a New Paragraph

Paragraph length is dictated first by content and purpose. A new paragraph signals a pause in thought and a change in topic, directing readers to anticipate what is to follow or allowing them a moment to digest the material in the preceding paragraph. Reasons to begin a new paragraph include

• beginning a new idea,
• emphasizing a particular point,
• changing speakers in dialogue,
• allowing readers to pause, and
• breaking up lengthy text, usually moving to a subtopic.

Transitions and Signal Words

A paragraph needs to be developed in a logical manner, and readers need to be guided through that development. Writers need to help readers by using transitional expressions and other appropriate words to guide them through the development of the paragraph. Transitional expressions function like glue—they hold a piece of writing together and give it order.

Paragraph Length

Long paragraphs of as much as a page or more often lack a well-defined focus. They do not allow readers an opportunity to assimilate one point before another is made. Long paragraphs can be divided and reorganized into two or more focused paragraphs.

By contrast, short paragraphs can seem choppy and undeveloped. They often leave the reader craving more information. The writer must think carefully of the needs of their audience and the purpose for the writing, and develop each point accordingly. For example, a paper with a persuasive purpose, written for an audience that does not share the writer’s view may need more development in each paragraph in order to present a convincing case. Depending on the audience and purpose, a writer may need to include more or less information. Ideally, paragraph lengths should invite readers in, neither seeming too daunting to read through nor appearing incomplete.

PIE METHOD OF PARAGRAPH DEVELOPMENT

One good way to go about developing paragraphs is to use the PIE method: The writer makes a strong point as expressed in the topic sentence; illustrates the point with supporting details and evidence; then explains how the evidence supports the point of the paragraph and relates to the thesis. The bold and italic formatting in the following example shows the PIE method at work:

P – Point

I – Illustrate

E – Explain

Despite preservation efforts, barns are in jeopardy, a reflection not only of economics but also of the fading family farm. To make matters worse, razing an old barn is often easier than saving it. Many people who own an unused barn are reluctant to spend money on keeping the building standing, and if the barn is already in rough shape, they usually neglect it until it falls down or is taken down. Preservationists say that in the majority of cases, ailing barns simply need to be stabilized by replacing the sills around the perimeter of the structure. But even this is too costly for a structure that barn owners consider functionally obsolete. Despite using them as big garages, barns tend to be taken down rather than repaired. Even carpenters who make a livelihood in construction lack the skills and equipment required for barn preservation.

Take-Aways for Writing an Effective Paragraph

• Focus limited to one distinct idea
• Paragraphs developed with audience and purpose in mind
• Various rhetorical modes considered for developing and organizing paragraphs
• Transitions and guidewords connecting parts
• Content developed and organized by PIE

When Revising Paragraphs, Consider the Following Questions

• What is the topic and controlling idea?
• What should readers understand after reading the paragraph?
• Is the topic sentence clear and limited in focus?
• Are all of the supporting details unified on the controlling idea?
• Will readers understand the relationship of the supporting details to the point of the paragraph and the larger point of the essay?
• Is the content organized in a logical, easy-to-understand manner?
• Is the development sufficient for the audience and purpose?
• Does anything need to be added or deleted?

Share this:

• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
• Click to print (Opens in new window)

Follow Blog via Email

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive email notifications of new posts.

Email Address

• RSS - Posts
• RSS - Comments
• COLLEGE WRITING
• USING SOURCES & APA STYLE
• EFFECTIVE WRITING PODCASTS
• LEARNING FOR SUCCESS
• PLAGIARISM INFORMATION
• FACULTY RESOURCES
• Student Webinar Calendar
• Academic Success Center
• Writing Center
• About the ASC Tutors
• DIVERSITY TRAINING
• PG Peer Tutors
• PG Student Access

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

• College Writing
• Using Sources & APA Style
• Learning for Success
• Effective Writing Podcasts
• Plagiarism Information
• Faculty Resources
• Tutor Training

Twitter feed

My English Grammar

Ultimate English Grammar, Vocabulary, and Names Database

Writing: Paragraph

Introduction.

In effective writing, paragraphing plays a significant role by improving the readability and structure of your content. It involves dividing a piece of writing into parts or "paragraphs" that are structurally independent but linked together to form a coherent piece of writing. This guide takes an in-depth look at the art of writing paragraphs.

Table of Contents

Structure of a Paragraph

A well-structured paragraph must have the following three components:

• Topic Sentence: This is the first sentence of your paragraph that introduces the main idea or the topic to be discussed.
• Supporting Sentences: These sentences provide evidence, examples, or explanations that support the main idea introduced by the topic sentence.
• Concluding Sentence: This sentence wraps up your paragraph's discussion and links to the subsequent paragraph if any.
• Topic Sentence: "The cello is a versatile instrument with a rich, melodious tone."
• Supporting Sentences: "It can play both melody and harmony, making it a key instrument in string ensembles. The deep, warm sound of a cello is often compared to the human voice. Its wide pitch range enables it to perform virtuosic solos."
• Concluding Sentence: "This unique ability to blend and stand out makes the cello an indispensable instrument."

Types of Paragraphs

Paragraphs can be categorized into four types based on the purpose they serve:

• Narrative Paragraph: This type of paragraph tells a story or narrates an event or series of events. It describes actions, changes, or consequences that affect the characters.
• Descriptive Paragraph: This kind of paragraph describes a person, place, thing, or idea. It employs sensory details to paint a vivid picture for readers.
• Expository Paragraph: An expository paragraph explains a concept, provides information, or explores an idea. This type of paragraph usually includes factual information.
• Persuasive Paragraph: This paragraph aims to persuade the reader to accept a particular point of view or encourage certain actions. It contains strong arguments, facts, and reasons to support the writer's stance.

The Unity and Coherence of a Paragraph

Two crucial features of a well-written paragraph are unity and coherence.

Unity signifies that a paragraph discusses a single idea introduced by the topic sentence. The supporting sentences should focus on it without deviating into unrelated topics.

Coherence implies that the paragraph is logically organised and the ideas within the paragraph transition smoothly from one to another. Effective transitional phrases, parallel structures, and consistent use of verb tense contribute to a paragraph's coherence.

Paragraph Length

While there is no prescribed length for a paragraph, it's important to keep balance and coherence in mind. A long paragraph might appear as a wall of text that may disengage the reader. Similarly, too many short paragraphs might make your text appear disjointed.

Tips for Writing Effective Paragraphs

• Start with a clear topic sentence to define the paragraph's focus.
• Provide clear, concise supporting sentences that expand on your point.
• Use transition words or phrases to ensure the flow and readability of your writing.
• Ensure all sentences within a paragraph contribute towards the central idea or argument put forward.
• Use the concluding sentence as a tool to connect different paragraphs and build a cohesive text.

Writing superb paragraphs requires practice and understanding. By focusing on the paragraph's structure, unity, and coherence, you can significantly elevate the quality of your writing. Remember, the goal of a paragraph is not only to share information but also to deliver it in a readable and engaging manner.

Related Posts:

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Dallas Baptist University

Logins Student Faculty/Staff

Library Campus News Visit DBU Confirm Enrollment

• University Writing Center
• Writing Workshops

How to Write Good Paragraphs

Topic sentence, evidence and quotations, end of paragraph.

• A paragraph consists of a single theme throughout its body.
• The theme/topic of the paragraph is clearly stated at the beginning of the paragraph.
• Details, definitions, support, examples, and/or evidence should follow the topic sentence.
• The paragraph should end in a way that smoothly connects to the next paragraph.
• The topic sentence is the statement at the beginning of each body paragraph signifying the topic of that paragraph.
• The topic sentence should pull from one of the main points stated in the thesis.
• Thesis Statement: Digital technology affects youth in the social, emotional, and cognitive areas of their lives.
• First Topic Sentence: With social media in their pockets, youth have an entirely different social method than that of previous generations.
• Notice that the first topic sentence refers to the first main point in the thesis. Paragraphs should continue in this way, though more than one paragraph can be attributed to each point if necessary.
• Following the topic sentence should be the details. The next sentences that make up the rest of the paragraph should support your topic sentence.
• This can include definitions or further descriptions of the topic.
• Topic Sentence: Writing can be considered an art form.
• Next Sentence: Art is defined as an expression or product that is more than simply ordinary.
• The definition of art is being used to prove the point in the topic sentence: writing is art.
• Evidence and support should also be given to prove the point of the topic sentence.
• If outside sources are used to give material for this support, then an explanation is needed.
• Quotation: Art is defined as an expression or product that is more than simply ordinary. 
• Explanation: Writing is a way that people can use to express themselves and make beautiful compositions; therefore, writing can be an art form.
• Conclude the topic of the paragraph in the last sentence or two.
• Do your best to end the paragraph with your own words. Do not end it with a quoted source or citation.
• Be sure to make the last sentence a smooth transition into the next paragraph.
• Before Visiting
• Quick Reference Flyers
• Writing Resource Links
• Frequently Asked Questions

Perfect Paragraph Writing: The Ultimate Guide

Perfect paragraph writing is easy

A glance around any shopping mall crowded with teenagers on school break would suggest that our young people spend a reasonable amount of time writing. Sure, most of this writing is done with their thumb on a screen, but it’s still writing.

Yes, but tapping out a 280-character Tweet isn’t the ideal route to constructing well-organized writing pieces. To prepare our students to write coherently, they need to understand how to organize their ideas on paper. The ability to write strong paragraphs is an essential part of this.

Unfortunately, recent studies show that surprisingly few college graduates can achieve this, despite writing and communications skills being the most requested job requirements across all industries – including engineering and IT. Clearly, there is a pressing need for a strong focus on writing skills in the classroom.

For the most part, we live in a post-illiterate world. We can all read and write. This is undoubtedly a great thing, but it can lead to complacency for some of our students. At times there is an unwillingness to learn the craft of writing. A reluctance to learn how to organize writing in favor of just plunging in. The cost of this devil-may-care approach is, most often, clarity and coherence.

Fortunately, teaching what appears to be an apparently amorphous skill, such as writing, can be broken down into transparent step-by-step processes, and this includes how to write well-structured, coherent paragraphs.

A COMPLETE UNIT ON TEACHING PARAGRAPH WRITING

This complete PARAGRAPH WRITING UNIT takes students from zero to hero over FIVE STRATEGIC LESSONS to improve PARAGRAPH WRITING SKILLS through PROVEN TEACHING STRATEGIES.

BE SURE TO READ OUR COMPLETE GUIDE TO SENTENCE STRUCTURE

Before you can master paragraph writing, you will need a good understanding of constructing meaningful sentences.

We have a complete guide to sentence structure for teachers and students. Click here to view.

WHAT IS A PARAGRAPH? A DEFINITION

To teach our students how to effectively write paragraphs we need to clearly define what a paragraph is. Assuming your students understand how to construct a solid sentence, paragraphs are the next step to creating a lucid piece of writing. They are the main building blocks in the construction of a comprehensible text. 

Paragraphs are a group of single sentences united by a single topic or idea that help keep writing organized. They help the writer organize their thoughts during the writing process and further help the reader follow the thread of those thoughts in the reading. How paragraphs are used will depend, to some extent, on the genre of writing the students are engaged in, but any piece of writing longer than a few sentences will generally benefit from being organized into paragraphs. 

A simple way to help students to recognize paragraphs is to have them count the number of paragraphs on a page, either in a book or projected onto the whiteboard. Have them note too, that there are two ways to delineate a paragraph: indentation or skipping a line. Both methods are fine, just ensure the student chooses one method and sticks to it. If you indent there is no need to skip a line – and vice versa.

Writing starts with planning. It’s a bit like gazing at a beautiful cathedral or temple we visit on vacation. Once it was obscured by scaffolding and busy workers that were eventually peeled away to reveal the beauty beneath. The planning stage of writing serves the same purpose as architectural blueprints, that is: to foresee the problems of construction and solve them before building begins. It is often helpful to consider paragraphs as distinct units in the planning process. Now, let’s take a look at the structure of paragraphs and how they work.

HOW TO STRUCTURE A PARAGRAPH

The three-part structure of an essay – introduction, body, and conclusion is echoed in the underlying structure of most paragraphs. There are two concepts essential to understanding in the writing of the perfect paragraph:

i. Thesis Statement: The thesis statement represents the main idea of the text as a whole and usually occurs in the opening paragraph.

ii. Topic Sentence: The first sentence of each paragraph thereafter usually introduces a single central idea in support of the previously mentioned thesis statement. 

The topic sentence also serves the purpose of unifying the other sentences in the paragraph, while further setting up the order of those sentences. While the majority of paragraphs will contain a topic sentence and that topic sentence will come first, there are, as always, some exceptions. A narration of the sequence of events may not require the use of a topic sentence or changing paragraphs because of a change of speaker in dialogue, for example.

Subsequent sentences following the topic sentence should all relate back to the topic sentence and either discuss the point raised or support that point through the provision of evidence and examples. A good acronym that conveys this is P.E.E.L.

Point: Make the central argument or express the main idea in the topic sentence.

Evidence: Back up the point made by providing evidence or reasons. Evidence may take the form of quotations from a text or authority, reference to historical events, use of statistics etc.

Explanation: Explain the point and how the evidence provided supports it.

Link: Provide a bridge into the next paragraph at the end of the current paragraph by using a transition that links to the next paragraph and the main idea or thesis statement.

WHEN TO BEGIN A NEW PARAGRAPH

One of the more common difficulties for students is to recognize when it is time to begin a new paragraph. This often occurs because the student fails to distinguish between the thesis statement and the topic sentence. While the thesis (or more broadly, the theme) will remain consistent throughout the piece of writing, each paragraph should focus on a different point in support of that thesis.

Another useful way to determine when to start a new paragraph is to note that a new paragraph is necessary when there is a change of focus on a:

Person: This could be a character in a story or an important figure in history, for example. This could also refer to a change in speaker when writing dialogue. When there is a significant shift in focus from one person to another in a piece of writing, it’s time to indent or skip a line!

Place: As with a changing focus on a person, a shift from one location to another is most often best noted with a corresponding change in paragraphing. Instruct students that a move to a new paragraph in their writing is symbolic of the physical change of place – this will help them remember to start a new paragraph.

Time: Important shifts in time most often require a new paragraph too. These changes in time may be a mere matter of minutes or a significant movement through different historical periods. If the change in time opens up new material to the reader, students must mark this in their paragraphing.

Topic: Though usually united by the thesis statement or similar, a piece of writing will often explore clearly differentiated topics in its course. Usually, these topics will become apparent during the planning process. Each clearly identified topic will require at least one dedicated paragraph.

HOW LONG IS A PARAGRAPH? / HOW MANY SENTENCES IN A PARAGRAPH?

The question of how many sentences are in a paragraph, or how long is a paragraph is a common one. Unfortunately, there is no definitive answer to this question as quality paragraphs are measured in the ideas and concepts addressed rather than sentences and word counts.

Analytics of millions of paragraphs tell us that most paragraphs are approximately 100 – 200 words in length and are made up of 3 – 5 sentences but it must be stressed that this is purely a statistical coincidence and nothing more.

Excellent paragraphs can range from 12 words to 12 sentences when written correctly as you will discover from this guide.

HOW TO WRITE AN INTRODUCTION PARAGRAPH

Your  introductory paragraph  should contain the thesis statement. The Thesis statement usually appears at the middle or end of the introductory paragraph of a paper, providing a concise summary of the main point or claim of the piece of writing.

Your thesis statement should not exceed one sentence and is a guiding light for your essay or piece of writing.

The last sentence of an introduction paragraph should also contain a “hook” driving the reader to the next paragraph and onwards throughout your piece of writing as a whole.

Daily Quick Writes For All Text Types

Our FUN DAILY QUICK WRITE TASKS will teach your students the fundamentals of CREATIVE WRITING across all text types. Packed with 52 ENGAGING ACTIVITIES

HOW TO WRITE A CONCLUSION PARAGRAPH

The purpose of your conclusion is to wrap up your piece of writing as a whole. In your conclusion, you should summarize what you initially stated in your thesis statement without just repeating it word for word.

Your conclusion is not the place to bring up new ideas or evidence which should have been addressed before this point. In some instances, though you may raise questions or direct your reader to reconsider a specific aspect of your writing in an effort to challenge their thinking beyond this point. This is common practice in persuasive writing and some narrative styles such as mystery writing.

The final sentence of your conclusion will leave a lasting impression on your audience so never rush or disregard it. It is one of the most important sentences you will write.

Be sure to read our complete guide to writing a conclusion paragraph here.

TOP 5 TIPS FOR PARAGRAPH WRITING

●     Consistency is Key – Encourage students to be consistent in their verb tenses and point of view. For example, shifts from the past tense to present tense without good reason can be as disorientating as time travel itself. 

●     Use Transition Words and Phrases – These words and phrases are a great way to link concepts and ideas within a paragraph, as well as helping to form a bridge to the next paragraph. Some useful transitional words and phrases include: although, in spite of, therefore, for this reason, as a result.

●     Employ Parallel Structures: Using parallel structures brings flow to a piece of writing, making it easier to read and understand for the reader. Parallel structures involve using two or more phrases or sentences that use the same parts of speech and grammatical structures. Not only does this make the writing easier to read, but it also helps the reader make connections between ideas.

●     Breathe Life into the Writing: We often forget that the origins of the written word lie in speech. We lose a lot of the color and expression of the spoken word when we lay it out cold on the page. Fortunately, students can breathe life back into their words with a few simple techniques. Encourage your students to imbue their writing with color and vitality by weaving anecdotes, verbal illustrations, rich details, and facts and figures throughout their writing. Judiciously chosen, these techniques will have their writing rosy-cheeked in no time!

●     Edit and Proofreading: Unlike speaking, with writing you get more than one bite at the verbal cherry. Writing is a craft and like any craft, some refining is required. Ensure your students take the time to polish their final draft.

WRITING CHECKLISTS FOR ALL TEXT TYPES

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (92 Reviews)

TO PERFECT THE PARAGRAPH – PRACTICE!

Clarity comes from organization and without the ability to organize their own thoughts prior to writing, students will not be able to coherently express their thoughts and ideas to their readers. It is essential that students develop a clear and consistent approach to paragraph writing that is repeatable. This can only be attained through lots of practice – which means lots of writing. 

However, the principles underlying strong paragraph writing can also be reinforced through reading. Take the opportunity to reinforce good writing practices when engaged in classroom reading activities too. Repeatedly identify, and have students identify, the concepts and techniques discussed above until they become second nature. The more familiar students become with these concepts, the more they will naturally permeate the student’s writing. Getting a firm grasp on the mechanics of paragraph writing will make their communication much more effective. A skill that is hard-won, but easily carried.

PARAGRAPH WRITING TUTORIAL VIDEO

Ever found yourself lost in a sea of words or struggling to convey your ideas clearly? You’re not alone! Constructing effective paragraphs is the cornerstone of successful writing. Here, we describe 5 components of an effective paragraph that will powerfully enhance your written communication. But first, let’s understand why good paragraph construction is so vital. Well-structured paragraphs not only enhance readability but also ensure that your message resonates with your readers, making your writing more persuasive and engaging. So, let’s dive into these essential tips and start crafting paragraphs that will inspire your reader to continue reading.

How to create an effective paragraph

A paragraph is a unit of writing that expresses a single main idea. It typically consists of a group of sentences that are related to each other and support the central idea. A paragraph needs a clear topic sentence introducing the main idea and supporting sentences with evidence, examples, or explanations for coherence and organization.

A paragraph usually consists of 3 to 5 sentences, but longer paragraphs may be necessary for more complex or detailed explanations. Shorten and simplify: Breaking longer paragraphs into shorter ones improves readability and makes ideas easier to follow.

The structure and format of a paragraph can play a role in its effectiveness. Effective paragraphs often use transitions to connect ideas and maintain a clear and logical flow of thought. Headings, bullet points, or numbering may help to clarify the organization of your ideas.

Components of an Effective Paragraph

• Topic sentence : A topic sentence is a sentence that introduces the main idea or focus of the paragraph. It sets the tone and direction for the rest of the paragraph.
• Supporting sentences : Supporting sentences offer evidence, examples, or explanations for the main topic sentence. They should be related to the main idea and help to develop and clarify it.
• Unity : Unity means all sentences should relate to the main paragraph idea. Each sentence should contribute to the overall meaning and purpose of the paragraph.
• Coherence : Coherence means sentences in a paragraph should flow logically. This can be achieved through the use of transitional words and phrases.
• Concluding sentence : A concluding sentence summarizes and concludes the paragraph. It should provide closure to the paragraph and transition to the next paragraph or section of the text.

Topic Sentence

The topic sentence is vital in a paragraph. It’s a concise summary that guides the reader, offering a clear picture of what to expect and should be specific, relevant to the paragraph’s theme, and ideally, introduce a point that the following sentences will explore. This maintains coherence and organization, helping the reader follow the ideas smoothly.

Supporting Sentences

Supporting sentences provide evidence, examples, and explanations that reinforce and develop the main idea stated in the topic sentence. These sentences offer further details, arguments, or illustrations to support and clarify the central point. They build upon the topic sentence by offering relevant information, analysis, or perspectives that enhance the reader’s grasp of the paragraph’s subject. Effective supporting sentences should be coherent, logically connected to the topic sentence, and organized in a logical order. They strengthen the overall argument or message of the paragraph.

Unity ensures that all the sentences work together cohesively to support a single, central idea or theme. Maintaining unity within a paragraph helps the reader follow the logical progression of thoughts and prevents confusion or ambiguity. Each sentence in a paragraph should relate directly to the topic sentence and contribute to the overall coherence of the paragraph. By presenting information, examples, or arguments that closely align with the main idea, unity ensures that the paragraph remains focused and purposeful. It allows the reader to easily comprehend the intended message and facilitates effective communication of the writer’s thoughts and arguments. Without unity, a paragraph may become fragmented, disjointed, and less persuasive or informative.

Coherence is vital in crafting a paragraph that flows logically and smoothly, resulting in clear and comprehensible writing. It enables readers to effortlessly trace the development of ideas and connections within the paragraph. Each sentence should logically connect to the preceding and succeeding sentences, forming a cohesive narrative or argument. This can be achieved through the use of transitional words, logical transitions, and appropriate sentence structures. A coherent paragraph logically connects information and ideas, helping readers grasp the writer’s message. Without coherence, a paragraph becomes confusing, reducing the overall effectiveness of the writing.

Concluding Sentence

The concluding sentence of a paragraph wraps up the main idea and provides a sense of closure to the reader. It reaffirms the topic sentence and summarizes the key supporting points discussed in the supporting sentences. The concluding sentence may also offer a final thought, evaluation, or implication related to the paragraph’s subject matter. By restating and reinforcing the main idea, the concluding sentence reinforces the overall coherence and unity of the paragraph. A concluding sentence leaves a lasting impression, communicates the main message, and adds structure to the writing.

Example Construction of a Paragraph

Here is an example of how to write a paragraph about why studying brain physiology is important for understanding psychology.

• Begin with a clear topic sentence.
• Each subsequent sentence should support your topic statement.
• End your paragraph with a conclusion/transition statement.

Let’s begin with the topic sentence.

Understanding the physiologic mechanisms that underlie our responses to the environment around us will help to elucidate how these responses can be modified.

The topic sentence is simple and straightforward. This topic sentence tells the reader why studying the brain is important for the field of psychology. The next step is to explain why. Adding details is the second step to constructing a strong paragraph. Every sentence added after the topic sentence should support the main topic. The more details you can add, the stronger the argument will be. Next, provide supporting sentences to further describe why studying the brain will help people understand psychology.

Understanding the physiologic mechanisms that underlie our responses to the environment around us will help to elucidate how these responses can be modified. The human experience can be explained by the physiologic underpinnings of the brain – the structures, the connectivity of the structures, and the modes of communication between structures (Ho et al, 2011). Proper functioning of these structures and their communication pathways allows for consistency of our responses to the world around us. Understanding variations in these responses allows us to modify our behaviors or responses (Petersen et al, 2015). Every behavior, thought, or emotion is a direct result of brain activity (Sadaghiani & Kleinschmidt, 2013). In 2014, the World Health Organization reported that mental illness affects 1 in 4 people worldwide (WHO, 2014). Clarifying the normal physiology of the brain will allow us to identify abnormalities that lead to aberrant behaviors. As Francis Crick (1994) stated in his book The Astonishing Hypothesis, “You, your joys and your sorrows, your memories and your ambitions, your sense of personal identity and free will, are in fact no more than the behavior of a vast assembly of nerve cells and their associated molecules.”

Do you see why studying the physiologic mechanisms of the brain can help to understand our responses to the world around us? Each additional sentence supports the main topic. The more details included (within reason!), the more persuasive the paragraph. Typically, a good paragraph needs at least 3 to 5 supporting sentences, but you are not limited by that number as long as you keep the sentences on topic.

Finally, when you’ve added all the details needed to support your topic sentence, close your paragraph with a strong conclusion. The conclusion sentence of the paragraph should summarize the central idea of the paragraph and provide a transition to the following paragraph. For example:

Understanding the physiologic mechanisms that underlie our responses to the environment around us will help to elucidate how these responses can be modified. The human experience can be explained by the physiologic underpinnings of the brain – the structures, the connectivity of the structures, and the modes of communication between structures (Ho et al, 2011). Proper functioning of these structures and their communication pathways allows for consistency of our responses to the world around us. Understanding variations in these responses allows us to modify our behaviors, or responses (Petersen et al, 2015). Every behavior, thought, or emotion is a direct result of brain activity (Sadaghiani & Kleinschmidt, 2013). In 2014, the World Health Organization reported that mental illness affects 1 in 4 people worldwide (WHO, 2014). Clarifying the normal physiology of the brain will allow us to identify abnormalities that lead to aberrant behaviors. As Francis Crick (1994) stated in his book The Astonishing Hypothesis, “You, your joys and your sorrows, your memories and your ambitions, your sense of personal identity and free will, are in fact no more than the behavior or a vast assembly of nerve cells and their associated molecules.” The information we gain from studying the physiologic mechanisms of the brain can be applied to enhance our understanding of human behavior.

The conclusion sentence is not simply the topic sentence restated, but rather pulls everything in the paragraph together. The conclusion sentence of each paragraph should link with the topic sentence of the next paragraph, thus providing a word map that allows readers to follow the logic of your argument.

When to Start a New Paragraph

The decision of when to start a new paragraph in writing depends on the topic, purpose, and structure of the text. Here are some general guidelines to follow:

• Start a new paragraph when introducing a new idea or topic. This helps to separate different thoughts and makes it easier for the reader to follow your argument.
• Start a new paragraph when transitioning from one idea to another. This can be done using transitional phrases or sentences that signal a change in focus or direction.
• Start a new paragraph when emphasizing a particular point. Breaking up long paragraphs can draw attention to important ideas and make them stand out more.
• Start a new paragraph when changing the setting or time frame of the narrative. This helps to establish a clear separation between different events

Things to Avoid When Constructing a Paragraph

When constructing a paragraph, there are certain things you should avoid to maintain clarity, coherence, and effectiveness. Here are some common pitfalls to steer clear of:

• Lack of unity: Ensure that all sentences within the paragraph directly contribute to the main idea stated in the topic sentence. Avoid introducing unrelated or tangential information that distracts from the central theme.
• Lack of coherence: Maintain logical connections and transitions between sentences to ensure a smooth flow of ideas. Avoid abrupt shifts or disjointed transitions that can confuse the reader.
• Repetition: Avoid repeating the same information or ideas in different sentences within the same paragraph. Repetition can make your writing redundant and lose the reader’s interest.
• Irrelevant details: Stay focused on the main point of the paragraph and avoid including unnecessary or unrelated information. Every sentence should serve a purpose and directly support the main idea.
• Lack of evidence or support: Ensure that your paragraph includes sufficient evidence, examples, or explanations to support your main idea. Avoid making unsubstantiated claims or statements without providing adequate backing.
• Inconsistency in verb tense or point of view: Maintain consistency in your writing by using the same verb tense and point of view throughout the paragraph. Inconsistent usage can confuse the reader and disrupt the flow of ideas.
• Lack of clarity: Strive for clarity in your writing by using clear and concise language. Avoid overly complex or convoluted sentences that can confuse the reader.
• Lack of a concluding sentence: Remember to include a concluding sentence that wraps up the main idea and provides closure to the paragraph. Avoid leaving the reader hanging without a clear sense of conclusion.

By avoiding these pitfalls, you can construct paragraphs that are clear, coherent, and impactful, enhancing the overall quality of your writing.

In general, each paragraph should be organized around a central idea or topic sentence, with supporting details and evidence presented in a logical and coherent manner. When in doubt, it’s better to err on the side of shorter paragraphs, as this can make your writing easier to read and understand.

• Ho VM et al. The cell biology of synaptic plasticity. Science. 2011; 334(6056):623-8.
• Petersen RB et al. From neurodegeneration to brain health: an integrated approach. J Alzheimers Dis. 2015;46(1):271-83.
• Sadaghiani S, Kleinschmidt A. 2013. Functional interactions between intrinsic brain activity and behavior. Neuroimage. 2013;15:80:379-86.
• http://www.who.int/whr/2001/media_centre/press_release/en/
• Crick, F. 1994. The astonishing hypothesis. The scientific search for the soul. NY. Scribner.

Want MORE Writing Tips?

Subscribe to our newsletter!

Email (required) *

Recent Articles

15 Tips for Self-Editing Your Science Manuscript

Discover 15 expert tips for self-editing your science manuscript and why hiring a professional editor could enhance its quality and impact.

The Art of Tailored Editing for Grant Applications and Scientific Manuscripts

Discover editing strategies for science grant applications and manuscripts to clearly communicate research and secure funding. 2 min read…

Optimizing Science Document Translations: Elevating Impact Through Post-Translation Editing

Learn the role of post-translation editing, ensuring manuscripts meet the standards of English-language journals for global impact.

Need Help With Your Writing?

At SciTechEdit, we are committed to delivering top-notch science editing services to enhance the impact and clarity of your research. We understand the importance of effective communication in the scientific community, and our team of experienced editors is here to help you refine and elevate your scientific manuscripts.

English that goes straight to the heart

Short Paragraph Examples

A paragraph is a short collection of well-organized sentences which revolve around a single theme and is coherent. A good paragraph expresses everything it has to say briefly.

To write a good paragraph you need an Introduction (key sentence), a Body (supporting sentence), and a Conclusion (closing sentence). In this post, we have added the top 20 short paragraph examples.

Daily Test - Attempt Now

Short Paragraph Examples #1

Why do Atoms Explode when they are Split?

Atoms of radioactive elements can split. According to Albert Einstein, mass and energy are interchangeable under certain circumstances. When atoms split, the process is called nuclear fission. In this case, a small amount of mass is converted into energy. Thus the energy released cannot do much damage. However, several subatomic particles called neutrons are also emitted during this process. Each neutron will hit a radioactive element releasing more neutrons in the process. This causes a chain reaction and creates a large amount of energy. This energy is converted into heat which expands uncontrollably causing an explosion. Hence, atoms do not literally explode. They generate energy that can cause explosions.

Short Paragraph Examples #2

WOMAN’S DAY

Since March 8, 1990, Women’s Day has been observed by SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) comprising seven countries namely India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives. The day is celebrated to highlight the problems of the girl child in these countries. It is very sad that girl children are subjected to extreme neglect and disrespect, especially in underdeveloped countries. The birth of a girl child is seen by parents as a cause of pity. They are deprived of proper nutrition, education, economic opportunities and social status or respect. We must eliminate these prejudices and provide a bright future for girls by educating them.

Short Paragraph Examples #3

Papermaking

Everyone knows that paper is made from trees. But when one looks at trees, one cannot imagine that something so soft and fragile as the paper is made is so hard and strong. Plant materials such as wood are made of fibres known as cellulose. It is the primary ingredient in paper making. Raw wood is first converted into pulp consisting of a mixture of Cellulose, lignin, water and some chemicals. The pulp can be made mechanically through grinders or through chemical processes. Short fibres are produced by mechanical grinding. The paper produced in this way is weak and is used to make newspapers, magazines and phonebooks.

Short Paragraph Examples #4

Gardening is my favourite hobby. I own a small plot of land next to our house. I cultivate gardening there. Every day, I spend half an hour gardening. After returning from my morning walk, I go to my garden with a spade and a bucket of water. I prepare the soil, prune the plants, and water them. I also use insecticides and fertilisers. My heart leaps with joy when I see the plants swaying in the wind. I feel heavenly pleasure as I watch them grow day by day.

Short Paragraph Examples #5

Home is the place where we return to rest after a day’s work, and where parents and children meet together and have a carefree and joyful time. Our family consists of three members—father, mother, and brother. We live in a rural area. It is free from the hustle and bustle of city life. It is especially famous for its scenic beauty. I am the most important member of the family. Everyone trusts my judgement and agrees to follow my suggestions.

Short Paragraph Examples #6

DOWRY SYSTEM

The Dowry system is bad in society. It has turned the sacred matter of marriage into a business deal. The bride is regarded as a marketable commodity. Bride’s parents are often put under inhumane pressure for a handsome dowry. Sometimes they become destitute to give their daughters in marriage. In many cases, young brides are brutally tortured or pushed to commit suicide. To eliminate this social evil, a complete change in society’s outlook is necessary. Women should be treated as equal partners to men.

Short Paragraph Examples #7

Technical Education

Training in a specific branch of applied science, such as engineering, agriculture, weaving, spinning, etc., is considered technical education. It contrasts with liberal education which aims to impart general knowledge of arts and sciences. In the modern  era , technical education is extremely important. Today, a country’s prosperity is determined by its industrial development. The more advanced the country is in industry, the more prosperous the country is. Technical knowledge is now the backbone of industrial progress, which holds the key to national prosperity.

Short Paragraph Examples #8

Rainy season

After summer comes the rainy season. It lasts from mid-June to the end of September. During this time of year, the sky is cloudy. It drizzles and rains cats and dogs sometimes. Rains provide relief from the oppressive summer heat. Green leaves are developed by the tree. Ponds and rivers are full of water. Monsoon is a boon for farmers. Rainwater softens the soil and makes it suitable for cultivation. Monsoon has some disadvantages. Due to heavy and incessant rainfall, the roads, especially in villages, become muddy.

Short Paragraph Examples #9

If I win a lottery

People love to daydream. I am no exception to this universal affection of people. I often daydream that I won the first prize in the lottery and became a millionaire. Now, if I win the lottery for five lakh rupees, I will spend two lakh rupees on my personal comforts and luxuries. I plan to demolish my father’s straw house and replace it with a two-story paved structure.

I will buy a laptop and a bike. I will spend the remaining three lakh rupees to ease the suffering of the people. I will keep the larger part of this money in a bank and help the poor people with the interest on this money.

Short Paragraph Examples #10

People live in society. Hence we cannot identify with those who live near us and work with us. This acquaintance sometimes turns into friendship. You will not find friendless people. Even monks have friends. I also have friends. Peter is my close friend. He is my friend since childhood. He comes from a poor family. But he is very talented. My next best friend is Lisa. She is a complete foil to Peter. She is the son of a big man. She is neither intelligent nor industrious. She often goes out hunting birds with a gun. I have some other friends. They are John, Nisha and Camellia.

Short Paragraph Examples #11

Television is a wonderful scientific gift. It combines the advantages of cinema and radio. The most important and effective form of entertainment is television. It broadcasts live telecasts of major events. It is also the most effective advertising medium. It facilitates mass education. It is very important in the world of sports and games. However, it has some drawbacks. It is used to enhance the image of specific individuals. Some programmes are inappropriate for pupils to watch. There is a danger of becoming addicted to television. As a result, academic performance suffers. It also has an impact on vision. As a result, programmes must be carefully chosen.

Short Paragraph Examples #12

Vocational education

Education for a vocation (profession) is known as vocational education. Some of its forms include computer applications, engineering, medicine, agriculture, business management, chartered accountancy, costing, etc. From the perspective of India’s economic progress, it is very important. Moreover, the country is undergoing rapid industrialization. Business is expanding. Vocationally trained personnel, especially in computer applications, are required to run various industrial units, business establishments and trade centres.

Also, Read Top 10 Biography Examples

Short Paragraph Examples #13

CHILD LABOUR

There are many children in our country who are deprived of education and the normal joyous experiences of childhood. While upper-middle-class boys and girls attend school, they work in tea shops or small factories. They work as servants in middle-class and upper-class households. Parents are very poor, so children are forced to take up all these occupations.

Government should come up with strict laws to solve this problem. Along with the law, the government should introduce some economic reforms which will bring down the poverty line to some extent. Apart from this, to solve this problem, illiteracy needs to be eliminated and the birth rate must be controlled.

You Asked, We Listened – Get All Types of Writing Lists 😍😍

Short Paragraph Examples #14

FAMILY (100+ Words)

Family is where you learn your first life lessons. Your family members are the only assets that will always be with you. Whatever the circumstances, family members are always there to support one another. In a family, good values and morals are always instilled. We are prepared in the family to respect our elders and love our children. Our family consistently teaches us lessons about honesty, dependability, kindness, and so on. Family always gives us the feeling of being loved and cared for.

Short Paragraph Examples #15

Christmas (100+ Words)

Christmas is one of the most famous and light-hearted festivals which is celebrated across the world by billions of people. People of the Christian religion celebrate Christmas to remember the great works of Jesus Christ. 25th December is celebrated as Christmas Day across the world. Christians celebrate Christmas Day as the birth anniversary of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ of Bethlehem was a spiritual leader and prophet whose teachings structure the premise of their religion. People follow popular customs including exchanging gifts, decorating Christmas trees, attending church, sharing meals with family and friends and, obviously, trusting that Santa Claus will arrive. 25th December, Christmas Day, has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1870.

Short Paragraph Examples #16

Health is Wealth (100+ Words)

Our greatest asset is our own health. A healthy body can earn a lot of money, but a wealthy person cannot. We live in a fast-paced world where people have no time for themselves. The majority of their lives are spent in pursuit of materialistic wealth in order to outshine others, but they lose their health along the way. Wealth is important, but it is not as important as health. Spending a lot of money on junk food in five-star hotels or other forms of entertainment, such as watching movies for a day, has no benefits other than self-satisfaction.

Short Paragraph Examples #17

Balanced Diet (100+ Words)

The “Balanced Diet” is a diet that contains all of the necessary ingredients in nearly the required quantity. A balanced diet is one that contributes to the maintenance or improvement of overall health. We should eat a well-balanced diet that includes liquids, adequate proteins, essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, and calories. To maintain a healthy body, we must eat fresh fruits, salad, green leafy vegetables, milk, egg, yoghurt, and so on on a regular basis. We need iron, calcium, sodium, potassium, and trace amounts of iodine, copper, and other minerals. Milk is possibly the only single item that can be considered a balanced diet in and of itself.

Also, Read Top 10 Long Paragraphs

Short Paragraph Examples #18

Co-education (100+ Words)

Co-education is an educational system in which boys and girls attend the same school or college. Co-education was uncommon in ancient times. It is a radical concept. Parents supported the case for adequate education for all children, regardless of gender. The countrymen realised that in the free world, boys and girls must move together and work hand in hand in all aspects of life. They began sending their children to co-educational schools. Co-education encourages competition among boys and girls through the activities they participate in at school. That is why students at co-educational institutions perform better in all aspects of their lives.

Short Paragraph Examples #19

Power of Positive Thinking

Positive thinking is an attitude or mindset characterized by optimism and happiness. A positive person hopes for the best and expects success in his life. Although many may scoff at the idea of ​​staying positive all the time, it has a plethora of benefits not only for the mind but also for the body. Positivity brings happiness to the soul and lightens one. It evokes our goodwill and joy.

Short Paragraph Examples #20

The Importance of Breakfast

You probably already know that it is important to have a king-size breakfast every morning. do you know why Your body is hungry in the morning because you haven’t eaten for about 8-10 hours? Breakfast is therefore the first meal of the day, and therefore, the most important. Imagine driving without fuel; This is exactly how your body feels without fuel from a nutritious breakfast. Nowadays many people skip breakfast to lose weight. Nutritionists are alarmed by this trend, as it is mandatory to eat breakfast within two hours of waking up. Depriving the body of energy can lead to serious health problems in the long run. Forget silly celebrities and their absurd ways to lose weight. Never miss breakfast!

200 Words Paragraph

Read More »

150 Words Paragraph

100 Words Paragraph

Paragraph on Making a Mess

Some people have a habit of messing things up. Ask them about anything and they’ll say they know it and can act like they know it all. In this …

Daily Reading Comprehension Test - Attempt Now

Discover more from english luv.

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Type your email…

Continue reading

Are you seeking one-on-one college counseling and/or essay support? Limited spots are now available. Click here to learn more.

30 Topic Sentence Examples

June 24, 2024

What is an essay without a topic sentence? Well, confusion. In your writing, the topic sentence introduces what the paragraph will be about. It should cover the topic of the paragraph and the prime focus of what you want to discuss in the next several lines. And it can assist in smoothly transitioning into the next paragraph, the next point you’re about to make. Depending on the complexity of your argument, the topic sentence can also weave together several paragraphs. So when the topic sentence is missing, it’s easy to lose track of what your specific message is. Below, you find 30 topic sentence examples.

Think of the topic sentence as a tool in your writing kit. It’s there to help you signpost and structure the argument of your essay. Having it, while making sure the topic is interesting and clear, is essential to help your reader truly understand your thesis.

How do you write a topic sentence?

When you’re about to write an essay, you won’t find yourself immediately thinking of every topic sentence example at once. Figuring out what your thesis is going to be, the very purpose and argument of your essay, will be a necessary first step . Then you might want to create an outline . The outline can draft out what you want to cover in each paragraph or how your argument will be supported.

This is where the topic sentence comes in. For every paragraph, you can begin to think of topic sentence examples that best sum up the rest of your idea. The more interesting you can make the topic sentence, the better it will be, so long as you can support it. Remember, the topic sentence will introduce what you are going to discuss and expand on in the rest of the paragraph.

Examples (Continued)

Let’s take a look at these six topic sentence examples below that introduce a paragraph:

1) Studies over the last ten years have shown that the use of social media has a significant role in teenage mental health.

2) Kate Jackson and her family, who have all been San Francisco residents for 30 years, noted that this was the hottest summer yet.

3) Book sales across the country have actually increased this year, contrary to popular belief.

4) During COVID-19, people rushed to adopt pets, but after the pandemic ended many of those pets were surrendered to shelters.

5) It is undeniable what impact the meat industry has had on our environment.

6) In the 19th century in France, the creation of the Braille system was a significant turning point for those with disabilities.

How do you imagine the rest of the paragraph will turn out? How can you best support your topic sentence to strengthen your overall essay?

Support your paragraph with evidence

The topic sentence of your paragraph will not hold well if it is not backed up with the right evidence. After writing a topic sentence like the topic sentence examples above, the rest of your paragraph should include strong examples of evidence to support your argument. Doing so will only help validate your topic sentence and allow your reader to have more insight into your thesis.

Considering each topic sentence examples above, try to think of what types of evidence you would expect in that same paragraph. There could be reports on statistics, interviews, and other forms of evidence provided. How will yours be?

Where should the topic sentence go?

Now you know that your topic sentence should be followed by the right evidence. So it’s safe to assume that the topic sentence belongs at the very beginning of the paragraph.

Yet depending on the paragraph you’re working on, you can also place your “main” topic sentence after an “intro” topic sentence. Let’s take a look at the two examples below:

7) Due to rising temperatures around the world, people have had to flee their homes and relocate to areas less prone to fires or floods. (Intro topic sentence)

8) However, many have found that even these “safer” locations are still susceptible to eventual natural disasters. (Main topic sentence)

When we combine the two sentences, we get:

Due to rising temperatures around the world, people have had to flee their homes and relocate to areas less prone to fires or floods. However, many have found that even these “safer” locations are still susceptible to eventual natural disasters.

The first (intro) topic sentence example is more generic and introductory, functioning like a summary of an observation. The second (main) topic sentence example then presents another contradictory argument to that first point. Depending on the tone or argument you want to make in your paragraph, you can format your topic sentences in such a way to further sharpen your thesis. Whenever you have doubt though, you can always place one topic sentence at the beginning of the paragraph.

Sometimes less is more in writing the topic sentence

The topic sentence introduces the key concept of that paragraph, along with evidence and research findings. It can even be written as more than one sentence or perspective, as noted directly above. However, you also don’t want to say too much. Why?

You don’t want to give all of your information away at once. While it is imperative to write a clear, specific, and even complex topic sentence, it’s just as important to avoid being too general or too informative. Striking the right balance is going to help you structure the rest of your essay. After all, you have the rest of the paragraph and the rest of your essay to do that, which leads us to our next point.

Topic sentences for smoother transitions

Like a game of dominoes, your paragraphs are all connected and should flow smoothly into the next statement you are making. As you are building your outline, or even as you’re already writing, consider how your previous paragraph transitions into the next . This depends on the intention of each paragraph and how you are structuring your argument.

Topic sentences for paragraph transitions have many functions. They will elaborate on more examples. They can wrap up or summarize a preceding point you made, providing another perspective. Also, they can go against a fact or opinion you wrote, which is a great way to strengthen your overall thesis and they can also be posed as a question.

Take a look at these transitional topic sentence examples below:

9) In fact, walking as a form of exercise has shown to reduce cortisol levels.

10) Furthermore, city council representatives have said that environmental sustainability has remained at the top of the agenda, but activists have largely disagreed.

11) While the strike in Hollywood has come to an end, many writers are still without employment and searching for new ways to restart their careers.

12) However, grocery prices across the country still seem to have risen.

13) Despite the state’s discontinued funding for the arts, is there another feasible way for these students to gather together and flourish as young artists at their school?

More than one paragraph: Topic sentences that expand into several key points

So far we’ve covered topic sentences that elaborate on just one paragraph. However, you might find that one topic sentence (or two) can best address several paragraphs. This usually occurs when you’re trying to introduce a bigger argument to serve your essay.

Let’s take one of the single paragraph topic sentences from earlier above and expand it by adding a connecting topic sentence to it:

14)Book sales across the country have actually increased this year, contrary to popular belief.

15) A report from the Association of American Publishers’ StatShot program states that in April sales over a year there has been an 18% increase.

These two topic sentence examples can even serve as their own introductory paragraph. This can then lead into more paragraphs related to the topic of specific book sales increasing across the country:

Book sales across the country have actually increased this year, contrary to popular belief. A report from the Association of American Publishers’ StatShot program states that in April sales over a year there has been an 18% increase.

Make the topic sentence interesting, not obvious

Check out 15 more topic sentence examples below. How do they introduce the topic, and what does it make you want to learn more about? You can imagine what kind of paragraph, or paragraphs, might follow afterwards:

16) When brewed correctly, coffee can hold strong, subtle hints of flavors such as chocolate or fruit, depending on the level of acidity.

17) Although today life in 1920s Paris is often romanticized for its glamor, jazz, and fashion, the city was still struggling to recover from the devastation of World War I.

18) Strict social rules dominated the Victorian Era, despite Britain’s expansion around the world in pursuit of wealth and power.

19) Dogs have a keen sense of time, so much so that they can predict when you’re late to take them out for a walk.

20) Before winter arrives, birds such as cranes and waterfowl follow preferred aerial pathways during their yearly migrations.

21) Conservation methods have helped local farms in their efforts to prioritize sustainability.

22) Did you know that humans would have a better chance of reaching Mars if they had a base set up on the moon?

23) The Pacific Ocean covers more than 30 percent of the earth’s surface, and it is home to so many life forms that have not yet been studied.

24) It is often debated whether or not student athletes should be paid for their performance, considering the cost for them to succeed.

25) Becoming a successful CEO doesn’t just happen overnight.

26) Although purchasing a home is considered a great form of investment, potential buyers should look at the real estate market first.

27) Watching my mother work three jobs to support our family has taught me the importance of resilience and strong work ethic.

28) Historical fiction not only has the power to teach us of actual past events. It also allows us to step into the lives of those we would have never met.

29) Parents and teachers at Sunnyroad School District are advocating for schools to provide free computers for their students – but the administrators aren’t so sure.

30) Across the country, the debate around whether teenagers should be allowed to use smart phones on campus has been circulating.

The topic sentence as a guide

One way to look at topic sentences is to imagine them as guiding compasses of your essay. Whatever point you are trying to make, the topic sentence has the power to guide your reader down a certain path. Choose wisely! And if you’re ever unsure about how to steer your essay and you need a personal guide, we’re here to help .

Additional Resources

• 100 Creative Writing Prompts for Middle & High School
• 100 Tone Words to Express Mood in Your Writing
• 160 Good Argumentative Essay Topics for Students in 2024
• How to Write the AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay (With Example)
• How to Write the AP Lang Argument Essay (With Example)
• 400 Adjectives to Describe a Person
• High School Success

Joanna Hong

With a BA from Pitzer College and an MA from University College London, Joanna has worked in London, Berlin, and Los Angeles covering many cultural and political issues with organizations such as Byline Media, NK News, and Free Turkey Media. A freelancer for The New York Times, her work has also appeared in Newsweek, Dazed and Confused Magazine, and The Guardian, among others. In addition, Joanna was the recipient of the 2021 PEN America Emerging Voices Fellowship in Fiction and is currently completing her first novel.

• 2-Year Colleges
• Application Strategies
• Best Colleges by Major
• Best Colleges by State
• Big Picture
• Career & Personality Assessment
• College Essay
• College Search/Knowledge
• College Success
• Costs & Financial Aid
• Data Visualizations
• Dental School Admissions
• Extracurricular Activities
• Graduate School Admissions
• High Schools
• Homeschool Resources
• Law School Admissions
• Medical School Admissions
• Navigating the Admissions Process
• Online Learning
• Outdoor Adventure
• Private High School Spotlight
• Research Programs
• Summer Program Spotlight
• Summer Programs
• Teacher Tools
• Test Prep Provider Spotlight

“Innovative and invaluable…use this book as your college lifeline.”

— Lynn O'Shaughnessy

Nationally Recognized College Expert

College Planning in Your Inbox

Join our information-packed monthly newsletter.

Have a language expert improve your writing

Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.

• Knowledge Base
• How to write an argumentative essay | Examples & tips

How to Write an Argumentative Essay | Examples & Tips

Published on July 24, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

An argumentative essay expresses an extended argument for a particular thesis statement . The author takes a clearly defined stance on their subject and builds up an evidence-based case for it.

Instantly correct all language mistakes in your text

Upload your document to correct all your mistakes in minutes

Table of contents

When do you write an argumentative essay, approaches to argumentative essays, introducing your argument, the body: developing your argument, concluding your argument, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about argumentative essays.

You might be assigned an argumentative essay as a writing exercise in high school or in a composition class. The prompt will often ask you to argue for one of two positions, and may include terms like “argue” or “argument.” It will frequently take the form of a question.

The prompt may also be more open-ended in terms of the possible arguments you could make.

Argumentative writing at college level

At university, the vast majority of essays or papers you write will involve some form of argumentation. For example, both rhetorical analysis and literary analysis essays involve making arguments about texts.

In this context, you won’t necessarily be told to write an argumentative essay—but making an evidence-based argument is an essential goal of most academic writing, and this should be your default approach unless you’re told otherwise.

Examples of argumentative essay prompts

At a university level, all the prompts below imply an argumentative essay as the appropriate response.

Your research should lead you to develop a specific position on the topic. The essay then argues for that position and aims to convince the reader by presenting your evidence, evaluation and analysis.

• Don’t just list all the effects you can think of.
• Do develop a focused argument about the overall effect and why it matters, backed up by evidence from sources.
• Don’t just provide a selection of data on the measures’ effectiveness.
• Do build up your own argument about which kinds of measures have been most or least effective, and why.
• Don’t just analyze a random selection of doppelgänger characters.
• Do form an argument about specific texts, comparing and contrasting how they express their thematic concerns through doppelgänger characters.

Receive feedback on language, structure, and formatting

Professional editors proofread and edit your paper by focusing on:

• Academic style
• Vague sentences
• Style consistency

See an example

An argumentative essay should be objective in its approach; your arguments should rely on logic and evidence, not on exaggeration or appeals to emotion.

There are many possible approaches to argumentative essays, but there are two common models that can help you start outlining your arguments: The Toulmin model and the Rogerian model.

Toulmin arguments

The Toulmin model consists of four steps, which may be repeated as many times as necessary for the argument:

• Make a claim
• Provide the grounds (evidence) for the claim
• Explain the warrant (how the grounds support the claim)
• Discuss possible rebuttals to the claim, identifying the limits of the argument and showing that you have considered alternative perspectives

The Toulmin model is a common approach in academic essays. You don’t have to use these specific terms (grounds, warrants, rebuttals), but establishing a clear connection between your claims and the evidence supporting them is crucial in an argumentative essay.

Say you’re making an argument about the effectiveness of workplace anti-discrimination measures. You might:

• Claim that unconscious bias training does not have the desired results, and resources would be better spent on other approaches
• Cite data to support your claim
• Explain how the data indicates that the method is ineffective
• Anticipate objections to your claim based on other data, indicating whether these objections are valid, and if not, why not.

Rogerian arguments

The Rogerian model also consists of four steps you might repeat throughout your essay:

• Discuss what the opposing position gets right and why people might hold this position
• Highlight the problems with this position
• Present your own position , showing how it addresses these problems
• Suggest a possible compromise —what elements of your position would proponents of the opposing position benefit from adopting?

This model builds up a clear picture of both sides of an argument and seeks a compromise. It is particularly useful when people tend to disagree strongly on the issue discussed, allowing you to approach opposing arguments in good faith.

Say you want to argue that the internet has had a positive impact on education. You might:

• Acknowledge that students rely too much on websites like Wikipedia
• Argue that teachers view Wikipedia as more unreliable than it really is
• Suggest that Wikipedia’s system of citations can actually teach students about referencing
• Suggest critical engagement with Wikipedia as a possible assignment for teachers who are skeptical of its usefulness.

You don’t necessarily have to pick one of these models—you may even use elements of both in different parts of your essay—but it’s worth considering them if you struggle to structure your arguments.

Regardless of which approach you take, your essay should always be structured using an introduction , a body , and a conclusion .

Like other academic essays, an argumentative essay begins with an introduction . The introduction serves to capture the reader’s interest, provide background information, present your thesis statement , and (in longer essays) to summarize the structure of the body.

Hover over different parts of the example below to see how a typical introduction works.

The spread of the internet has had a world-changing effect, not least on the world of education. The use of the internet in academic contexts is on the rise, and its role in learning is hotly debated. For many teachers who did not grow up with this technology, its effects seem alarming and potentially harmful. This concern, while understandable, is misguided. The negatives of internet use are outweighed by its critical benefits for students and educators—as a uniquely comprehensive and accessible information source; a means of exposure to and engagement with different perspectives; and a highly flexible learning environment.

The body of an argumentative essay is where you develop your arguments in detail. Here you’ll present evidence, analysis, and reasoning to convince the reader that your thesis statement is true.

In the standard five-paragraph format for short essays, the body takes up three of your five paragraphs. In longer essays, it will be more paragraphs, and might be divided into sections with headings.

Each paragraph covers its own topic, introduced with a topic sentence . Each of these topics must contribute to your overall argument; don’t include irrelevant information.

This example paragraph takes a Rogerian approach: It first acknowledges the merits of the opposing position and then highlights problems with that position.

Hover over different parts of the example to see how a body paragraph is constructed.

A common frustration for teachers is students’ use of Wikipedia as a source in their writing. Its prevalence among students is not exaggerated; a survey found that the vast majority of the students surveyed used Wikipedia (Head & Eisenberg, 2010). An article in The Guardian stresses a common objection to its use: “a reliance on Wikipedia can discourage students from engaging with genuine academic writing” (Coomer, 2013). Teachers are clearly not mistaken in viewing Wikipedia usage as ubiquitous among their students; but the claim that it discourages engagement with academic sources requires further investigation. This point is treated as self-evident by many teachers, but Wikipedia itself explicitly encourages students to look into other sources. Its articles often provide references to academic publications and include warning notes where citations are missing; the site’s own guidelines for research make clear that it should be used as a starting point, emphasizing that users should always “read the references and check whether they really do support what the article says” (“Wikipedia:Researching with Wikipedia,” 2020). Indeed, for many students, Wikipedia is their first encounter with the concepts of citation and referencing. The use of Wikipedia therefore has a positive side that merits deeper consideration than it often receives.

An argumentative essay ends with a conclusion that summarizes and reflects on the arguments made in the body.

No new arguments or evidence appear here, but in longer essays you may discuss the strengths and weaknesses of your argument and suggest topics for future research. In all conclusions, you should stress the relevance and importance of your argument.

Hover over the following example to see the typical elements of a conclusion.

The internet has had a major positive impact on the world of education; occasional pitfalls aside, its value is evident in numerous applications. The future of teaching lies in the possibilities the internet opens up for communication, research, and interactivity. As the popularity of distance learning shows, students value the flexibility and accessibility offered by digital education, and educators should fully embrace these advantages. The internet’s dangers, real and imaginary, have been documented exhaustively by skeptics, but the internet is here to stay; it is time to focus seriously on its potential for good.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

• Ad hominem fallacy
• Post hoc fallacy
• Appeal to authority fallacy
• False cause fallacy
• Sunk cost fallacy

College essays

• Choosing Essay Topic
• Write a College Essay
• Write a Diversity Essay
• College Essay Format & Structure
• Comparing and Contrasting in an Essay

 (AI) Tools

• Grammar Checker
• Paraphrasing Tool
• Text Summarizer
• AI Detector
• Plagiarism Checker
• Citation Generator

An argumentative essay tends to be a longer essay involving independent research, and aims to make an original argument about a topic. Its thesis statement makes a contentious claim that must be supported in an objective, evidence-based way.

An expository essay also aims to be objective, but it doesn’t have to make an original argument. Rather, it aims to explain something (e.g., a process or idea) in a clear, concise way. Expository essays are often shorter assignments and rely less on research.

At college level, you must properly cite your sources in all essays , research papers , and other academic texts (except exams and in-class exercises).

Add a citation whenever you quote , paraphrase , or summarize information or ideas from a source. You should also give full source details in a bibliography or reference list at the end of your text.

The exact format of your citations depends on which citation style you are instructed to use. The most common styles are APA , MLA , and Chicago .

The majority of the essays written at university are some sort of argumentative essay . Unless otherwise specified, you can assume that the goal of any essay you’re asked to write is argumentative: To convince the reader of your position using evidence and reasoning.

In composition classes you might be given assignments that specifically test your ability to write an argumentative essay. Look out for prompts including instructions like “argue,” “assess,” or “discuss” to see if this is the goal.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Caulfield, J. (2023, July 23). How to Write an Argumentative Essay | Examples & Tips. Scribbr. Retrieved July 4, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/academic-essay/argumentative-essay/

Is this article helpful?

Jack Caulfield

Other students also liked, how to write a thesis statement | 4 steps & examples, how to write topic sentences | 4 steps, examples & purpose, how to write an expository essay, get unlimited documents corrected.

✔ Free APA citation check included ✔ Unlimited document corrections ✔ Specialized in correcting academic texts

Surfer Academy Live Demo and SEO Best Practices with Michał Suski  Looking for practical tips and tricks for growing your traffic with Surfer? Join us live on July 9th at 6 PM CET

Hold that thought

Before you hit that X in the corner, remember that not using Surfer will add hours to your workflow, frown lines to your writers’ foreheads, and give an undeniable competitive edge to all those pages you’re trying to outrank!

The choice is yours, but the answer is clear.

Join 150k+ Agencies, Marketers, and SEOs.

16 Steps To Writing A Great Article [with examples]

Staring at a blinking cursor on a blank page can be daunting. You want to write a great article but don’t know where or how to begin. 

Even if you have a great idea, if you can’t get it out of your head and put pen to paper or onto a Word doc, then you can’t share it with anybody. 

Writing a great article is a little like solving a 100 piece jigsaw puzzle.

There’s lots of smaller pieces that, when put together, create an entertaining read. Your tone of voice, writing style, and ability to lean into stories and anecdotes are a few must-have components of a great article.

But don’t worry. You won’t have to stare at that blinking cursor for much longer.

Continue reading to discover how to write an article.

What you will learn

• Writing articles from start to finish
• Why to choose a subject you are knowledgeable in
• Where to publish your finished article
• How to structure your article and write introductions
• The importance of a first draft

1. Choose a subject

You can’t bake a cake without ingredients, just like you can’t write a good article without a topic to write about. 

Ideally, your article will be on a topic in which you are a subject-level expert or, at the very least, very knowledgeable.

This ensures you provide quality informative content for the readers. Moreover, you should also explain why you are an expert on the topic in your article.

Anyone can write an article on the colonization of Mars—but if you’re an astronaut at NASA, people are more likely to listen.

To showcase your expertise, you should add your credentials to your byline. This helps showcase a quality article.

For example, I’m no astronaut.

Have I seen Interstellar a handful of times? Yes.

But that doesn’t make me qualified to talk about when we’ll settle on Mars. Instead, I write about SEO because that’s what I have experience in.

Add your credentials to your author byline to build trust. Stick to specific instances and situations where you have engaged with the topic!

2. Select your publishing platform 

Before article writing, research potential platforms before writing and choose one that aligns with your topic and audience. 

You wouldn’t post your article on the colonization of Mars on a racing forum. 

It’s a good idea to research the types of articles published on each platform to decide which platform best aligns with your article.

For example, publishing an article or social media posts on LinkedIn and an article on Medium has two different audiences.

You need to do your research!

Once you’ve decided on a platform, analyze the tone and language used in the platform's articles.

Take note of the writing style, readability and reading level, and the platform’s audience and sophistication level.

Your article writing format will differ depending on your audience and desired publication.

Copy an article from your chosen platform into the Hemmingway Editor . This crafty tool will show you the article’s readability.

If the article is written well, aim for a similar reading score. However, a poor readability score does not always mean the article is constructed poorly—it could mean it uses more complicated jargon and technical terms.

For example, if we paste this NASA article into the Hemingway editor, it shows grade 15. 

Let’s compare this to an article published on Medium about the French Formula One racing driver, Esteban Ocon.

The Medium article gets a readability score of 6. It adopts less technical jargon and is a much lighter read.

Study similar articles 

You might find it useful to read and study similar articles on the same topic before writing your own article. This will help you create a structure that is logical and easy to follow.

You can find similar articles by searching your topic on Google.

Stick to the top search results for the best articles—you don’t want to accidentally inherit bad writing practices from other articles.

3. Brainstorm ideas

Brainstorming techniques, such as mind mapping or free writing, are great ways to come up with ideas. It’s a part of the writing process!

You can use this technique to help generate title ideas, the angle of your article, and the structure, i.e., what you will talk about and in what order.

You can use tools such as MindNode or Mind Meister to brainstorm. If you’re feeling extra creative, putting pen to paper can help—I like to use A3 to visualize how the article will look.

A brainstorm is a little like emptying a jigsaw puzzle and rearranging the pieces so they fit together. 

When brainstorming:

• Eliminate repetitive, uninteresting, or unnecessary points
• Review your list and cross out ideas that add no value or are redundant
• Expand on points that stand out as particularly interesting or important

You can also use your brainstorming session to develop detailed sub-points or sub-headers for your main talking points—more on this below.

4. Structure your points logically 

Your article should flow naturally—the points and sub-heads should read in a logical order. 

Create an outline that maps out the flow of your article from start to finish. You can do this in your brainstorming session or on a blank Google Doc.

You don’t have to stick to the order once it’s down on paper, but this exercise will help you visualize how your article will piece together. 

It also makes sure your article is not mismatched—looking somewhat like a Mr Potato Head from Toy Story with his parts on wrong. 

An excellent example of an article that structures its points logically is this guide on how to become a cybersecurity analyst by BrainStation . 

Here's the outline of the article.

• H1: How to Become a Cybersecurity Analyst
• H2: 1. Learn Cybersecurity Fundamentals
• H3: Cybersecurity Fundamentals
• H2: 2. Practice Cybersecurity Technical Skills
• H2: 3. Earn a Cybersecurity Certificate
• H2: 4. Research the Cybersecurity Industry
• H2: 5. Apply to Cybersecurity Jobs
• H3: Cybersecurity Roles
• H2: What is a Cybersecurity Analyst?
• H2: Why Is Cybersecurity Important?
• H2: Cybersecurity Benefits
• H2: Is Cybersecurity a Growing Field?
• H2: What Is a Cybersecurity Analyst?
• H3: Cybersecurity Roles and Responsibilities
• H2: How Do I Become a Cybersecurity Analyst With No Experience?

As you can see, the outline makes great use of headings to explain how to become a Cybersecurity Analyst, breaking down each step in more detail.

Their content marketing strategy is to create in-depth guides that flow from one stage to the next.

To weave your ideas together, use transitional phrases —this will also improve the flow of your writing.

Example transnational phases include:

• Furthermore
• By comparison
• For example
• In conclusion 

Furthermore, replace phrases such as “however” with “but” and “therefore” with “so.”

If there’s a $1 alternative to a $2 word, use it.

This increases the readability of your article without it sounding too formal—unless you want it to be formal, of course! 

5. Begin with a strong introduction

The average human attention span is 8.25 seconds.

We live in a distracted world of constant notifications, TikToks, and Instagram reels. If your article fails to grab their attention immediately, there’s a good chance they’re going to click off your article to continue doom scrolling.

To combat this, show the reader they’re in the right place by starting with a strong introduction and a relevant eye catching image. You’ll also need an excellent hook. 

How to write a good hook 

The hook is how you grab the reader’s attention. Your first couple of lines should reel your target audience in, capturing their attention to continue reading.

But how do you do it?

To write a great hook, consider using: 

• a proven copywriting formula
• a strong, impactful statement 
• a compelling quote or question
• an anecdote or metaphor to draw readers in

6. Address your reader

Use simple and direct language that is easy to understand. This makes your writing more relatable and engaging because you’re talking directly to your target audience.

Take it a step further by mentioning the reader’s pain points in your article.

For example, if your article is about how to write an article—just like the post you’re reading now—pain points may include:

• Not knowing how to come up with an idea for the article
• Not knowing where or how to publish the article 
• Unsure how to adjust language and tone for your target audience
• Not knowing what SEO is or how to optimize it for your article

Address these pain points to keep readers engaged—you’re answering their concerns and objections.

To find these pain points, you can use the aforementioned brainstorming technique. You can also use forum websites and online communities such as Reddit or Quora. 

For example, find a relevant subreddit and then use a custom Google search using phrases and modifiers such as, “how to” and “what.”

This trick will help you find relevant pain points.

Add relevant questions and pain points to a brainstorm and refer back to these writing a rough draft.

It’s a good idea to mention the primary pain point in the introduction of your article. This tells the reader they are in the right place. 

7. Use writing formulas 

Writing formulas are a writer’s best friend. When used correctly, they help improve your messaging—you can talk directly to the reader and their problems.

Use proven copywriting formulas to help craft your introduction and other parts of your article.

Examples of proven copywriting formulas include: 

• PAS (problem, agitate, solution)
• AIDA (attention, interest, desire, and action) 
• SCQA (situation, complication, question, answer)

I find myself using the PAS formula the most in my work.

I use it when writing LinkedIn posts to hook the reader by relaying a specific problem to my audience.

Furthermore, I often find myself using it to write an article introduction, showing the reader they are in the right place.

Adopting writing formulas can also help you get articles out faster on days you're not feeling creative.

The problem agitate solution is one of the more popular copywriting formulas. It’s easy to use and is very effective. 

• First, identify the problem your audience is having and make sure it is a problem that really affects them.
• Next, agitate the problem by highlighting pain points and consequences to make the the issue feel urgent and pressing.
• Finally, provide your solution and show how it successfully solves the problem.

Using PAS in your writing can get people to connect with you and buy from you. For the PAS formula to be the most effective, it’s important to do your research.

If you don’t know what your audience’s pain points are, then you’ll struggle to talk to them directly. So do your research! 

Attention, interest, desire, action—AIDA for short.

• First, start by grabbing the reader’s attention, whether a striking headline or controversial first sentence. 
• Second, capture their interest by revealing more information—unique benefits and features, for example. 
• Third, create a desire to continue reading; how will reading the article improve their life or solve their problem. 

And finally, encourage the reader to take action, in this example, you want them to continue reading your article. 

Although not as popular as the above two formulas, the situation, complication, question, and answer copywriting formula is great for creating clear messaging. 

• Begin by describing the reader’s current situation.
• Second, introduce the complication that makes their situation worse.
• Third, pose a question about their situation—what would happen if the situation was resolved?
• And finally, provide your answer, whether a call to action or to continue reading your article.

8. Lean into stories and anecdotes 

People love to hear from other people. It’s human nature.

We love stories.

Lean into personal stories and anecdotes to make your article more interesting and relatable. It also makes for engaging articles.

Paint a picture for the reader—when and where did the event take place, what was the weather like, how did you feel?

Use descriptive language and help the reader step into your shoes, experiencing the story for the first time as if they were there.

A great example of this is an article titled, “Surfing the American Dream.”

The article's introduction dives into the specifics, from how the author held their board to the temperature and the abysmal surfing conditions. 

And while you might not be able to use personal stories and anecdotes for all articles, use them where possible.

Again, people love hearing from other people. So make the most of it and share your personal experiences—this is where writing on a topic you’re familiar with comes in useful.

9. Pick an angle

There’s an old quote from the American General, Douglas MacArthur, that says, “Rules are meant to be broken.”

And while he wasn’t talking about writing, breaking the odd rule or two can help improve your writing.

Typically, most writers read existing content on the same topic and adopt the same or a very similar writing angle.

By changing the angle, you can offer a fresh perspective and a unique take that differs from the common viewpoint.

Take a look at this article by The Atlantic. The title and hook take a new spin on the tennis player, adding a personal perspective that goes against the common viewpoint.

If you want to grab the reader’s attention—and you do—find ways to add a new spin to your article.

Use personal stories and anecdotes, as previously discussed, and go against the common viewpoint.

10. Write a first draft 

Writing a rough draft is arguably the most difficult part of writing an article. Use this first draft to write a non-polished article—flesh out the structure with detailed sections and expand on each main point with supporting explanations.

Develop each idea fully before moving on to the next to ensure clarity and depth.

John Swartzwelder, known for his comedy writing on the Simpsons, summarizes this perfectly in an interview in The New Yorker .

Although Swartzwelder is talking about scriptwriting, a lot of the same rules apply.

You can use an AI writing tool like Surfer to generate a first draft for you.

Enter your main topic and select a preferred tone of voice, and Surfer AI will create an outline for you that you can edit.

You will have a first draft ready in about 20 minutes that you can then continue to improve on.

Focus on getting your ideas down without worrying too much about perfection. It’s called a first draft for a reason—make the most of it!

11. Adjust language and tone 

There is no one perfect writing language or tone. Your choice of language and tone of your article depends on your audience.

Going back to our NASA example—the language and tone are very different to say, an article on how to ride a bike.

The audience is completely different—one is likely a space enthusiast, while the other is looking for simple instructions to most likely teach a kid to ride a bike.

If you adopt a more informal approach, i.e., you’re not writing about space or an academic piece, a good piece of advice is to write as if you were having a conversation with the reader.

Quality content doesn't have to be formal.

Use casual and informal language and avoid overly complex words when easier to read alternatives are available. 

To nail the language and tone of your article, visualize your reader.

• How old are they?
• What do they look like?
• What hobbies and interests do they have?
• What pain points do they experience?

Give them an identity to take it a step further.

Throughout your article, sprinkle in idiomatic expressions—that’s sayings such as “bite the bullet” or “feeling under the weather.”

They don’t take on the literal meaning of the phrase, but help make your article more lively. You can also use colloquial language and phrases—such as “hit the road” or “that was a piece of cake.”

If your article is more factual than personal, you can adopt a more neutral tone by showcasing facts and figures and avoiding personal opinions and arguments.

Instead, provide all the information for the reader to form their own opinions and judgements.

The below example is an article of current events on Tesla from Emerging Tech Brew—it’s factual and neutral throughout.

12. Take a break before editing 

Do as Swartzwelder says and take a break between your first draft and editing.

This is one of the most overlooked approaches when it comes to writing. All too often, people want to write and edit in one sitting. 

Although leaving your first draft for a day—or at the very least a few hours—helps you gain a fresh perspective.

When ready, return to the article. You’ll find it much easier to spot mistakes and identify any unclear or weak sections that require improvement. 

Personally, I like to read my first and final draft on my iPad in a different room from where I write. The change in screen and setting help me find mistakes easily.

I take notes and highlight text I want to change before doing a final deep dive edit.

Edits I often make include making my main argument clearer and consistent throughout, using fewer words to get my point across, and adding bullet points to break down a particular topic or key points.

Keeping paragraphs short is also key to keeping the reader engaged.

13. Revisit your first version 

Your first draft and your finished article are very different. Your first draft is an opportunity to get down your ideas.

Nothing more!

Once that’s complete, revisit your draft and start rewriting. Editing is what differentiates a professional writer from a casual one.

It’s much easier to rewrite your first draft than it is to write and edit at the same time.

Once you accept this, your writing will likely improve, and you’ll be better and faster at it. 

So, when revisiting your draft, what should you look for? What should you improve? 

Transform mediocre sentences 

Edit and rewrite mediocre sentences into engaging and descriptive prose. 

Improve readability 

Rewriting your draft is an excellent opportunity to improve the overall readability of your article.

Replace $2 words with $1 alternatives.

Furthermore, use varied sentence structure and vivid language to make your article easy to read and engaging. 

If your article is more academic, use high-level vocabulary or relevant vernacular where needed.

Show; don’t tell 

When article writing, add descriptive details to engage the reader—show, don't tell. Use sensory details and emotive language to help the reader experience your story first-hand.

Use images to support your writing, especially if you're creating a how to article or walkthrough guide.

An example of telling:

“It was hot outside.” 

An example of showing:

“When he stepped outside, beads of sweat trickled down his face. The heat hit his face like the final knockdown blow of a ten-round fight.”  

Moreover, if you are writing a more academic or formal piece, you can show by adding visuals, charts, screenshots, and relevant examples. 

Use the rule of three 

The great Julius Caesar may have said, "I came, I saw, I conquered," but he also employed the persuasive language technique known as the rule of three.

Grouping three items together is more memorable and persuasive than one or two ideas.

Use the rule of three to engage the reader. 

Always support your claims 

Always perform research and include supporting evidence from reliable sources where necessary. This adds credibility to your article.

This way, if a reader wants to dig deeper, they can check the studies.

Furthermore, you might choose to conduct interviews and add expert quotes from trusted sources, too.

Professional writers and journalists do this often to add further trust and credibility when article writing.

It's a little extra effort but it’s very worthwhile.

Use vivid imagery 

Vivid imagery that uses short paragraphs is an excellent way to capture your audience’s attention, helping them stay engaged throughout the entire article.

For an illustrative example of vivid imagery, check out the text below from an article on Pompeii for Hyperallergic .

The writing creates a clear picture of the events, and helps the target audience understand how the events unfolded. 

14. Come up with a compelling title 

Similar to writing a first draft, I always write a draft title.

You likely wouldn’t marry the first person you dated, either.

Generate a few draft titles ideas and choose your favorite one.

To write a compelling title:

• Use intriguing language or play on ones to make the title stand out
• Consider using rhetorical questions, references, or alliteration
• Make the title memorable and engaging, prompting curiosity 

It’s very important that your title accurately reflects your article.

Yes, exaggerating your title may get more people’s attention at first, but if you don’t follow through, you’ll quickly lose their trust.

Avoid misleading titles that do not represent the article’s main points. 

Here’s an example of a compelling title that follows the above advice.

The article offers unique insights, and while it looks like hyperbole at first glance, it’s not. 

15. Optimize for SEO

SEO, or search engine optimization, is a way to help your article reach a wider audience.

Everyday, we search queries on search engines using keywords. Keywords are what people will use to find your article.

So you need to use the right phrases to help people find your article in the search engine results page.

‍ Surfer can help you here, showing you suggested keywords and phrases for your article.

Knowing which keywords to include can save you time in research that you can put to other content marketing efforts.

Once you have a primary keyword(s), you want to include them in 4 main places in your article:

• Your meta title 
• In paragraph tags (naturally throughout your article)

For example, this article from Investopedia on how to trade stocks uses their main keyword in all of the above recommended places.

This helps the article show up in search engines for relevant keywords.

16. Ask for feedback

Receiving feedback on your article is a great way to not only improve that article, but also your overall writing.

If you’re lucky enough to work with an editor, they will often highlight and comment on your document with suggested changes.

You may even have a style guide to refer to. But if you don’t have an editor, you can ask a friend, family member, or colleague to read your article.

They can help catch errors, spelling mistakes and grammatical errors and ensure your article’s content makes sense.

You can also submit your article to a writing group or someone proficient in the topic for valuable feedback.

When sending your article off for review, it can be helpful to send the submission guidelines—if you have any—to receive better and more accurate revisions. 

Key takeaways 

• Write an article on a topic you are knowledgeable about
• Publish on a relevant platform for the best engagement 
• Study similar articles before you start writing to grasp tone of voice and writing style
• Use brainstorming to plan your article structure 
• Structure your points logically and use transitional phrases to weave ideas together
• Capture attention with a solid introduction 
• Use proven copywriting formulas for effective article writing
• Address your reader by highlighting pain points and using second-person
• Use stories and anecdotes to make your writing more relatable 
• Write a messy first draft and rewrite as needed
• Ensure your article covers your chosen topic adequately
• Use simple language and less complex words when possible to improve readability
• Take a break before editing to spot mistakes
• Come up with a compelling title 
• Optimize for search engines to increase the reach of your article
• Ask for feedback before publishing 

https://surferseo.com/blog/how-to-write-an-article/

Get started now, ‍7 days for free

Choose a plan that fits your needs and try Surfer out for yourself. Click below to sign up!