Chapter 4- The Paragraph
A paragraph is a series of sentences all relating to the same topic
or central idea. The aim of all paragraphs is to communicate to the
reader that idea clearly and effectively. There is no hard and fast
rule about the length of a paragraph; it will depend on the topic
and what the writer wants to say. The paragraph should be long
enough to develop the idea expressed in the topic sentence
sufficiently. It should do what it sets out to do in the topic sentence.
If the topic sentence states that you will be explaining how to make
pizza, don’t forget the steps about turning on the oven and at which
temperature and how long the pizza should cook. Regardless of the
length, the paragraph must contain only one idea. Any irrelevant
sentences must be eliminated from the paragraph to ensure that it
maintains its unity.
Parts of a Paragraph
There are three parts to a paragraph: a topic sentence, supporting sentences, and a conclusion. Think
of a paragraph as an Oreo cookie. The first and last sentences are like the top and bottom chocolate
cookie of an Oreo; they are general statements about the topic, which tie the paragraph together. The
middle sentences are like the white creamy filling, which contains information, facts, opinions, and
examples that support or develop the topic sentence.
1. Topic Sentence
There are differences between a topic sentence and a title. The title is above the paragraph and
expands the topic. It should indicate what the essay is about, provoke interest, and be brief. The topic
sentence is usually the first sentence in the paragraph and limits the topic of the paragraph. A title is
usually not a complete sentence. The topic sentence is always a complete thought or sentence. Most
words in the title are capitalized. Only the first word and proper nouns are capitalized in the topic
sentence.
The most important sentence of a paragraph is the topic sentence because it contains the main ideas
of the paragraph. There are three elements in a topic sentence: the topic, a controlling idea, and the
point of view of the writer.
A. Topic
The topic is the subject, what is being written about in the paragraph. The main idea
expressed in the topic sentence should not be too general or too specific. If it is too general,
it will be difficult to develop it adequately in a single paragraph. If it is too specific, there will
be nothing left to say to develop the idea in the paragraph.
Look at the following topic sentences.
Everyone can benefit from exercise.
This topic sentence is too general. There are many different kinds of exercise and different
kinds of exercise have different benefits. Not all of them can be developed within one
paragraph.
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Doing aerobics for thirty minutes a day will strengthen a person’s cardio- vascular
system by twenty five percent.
This topic sentence is too specific. There is nothing else that can be said to support this
statement in the remainder of the paragraph.
There are three reasons why I exercise everyday.
This sentence is an adequate topic sentence. It limits the discussion of the paragraph to only
discussing the reasons that the writer exercises. Telling what those three reasons are and
what benefits the writer gains from exercise can be expanded upon in the paragraph.
B. Controlling idea
The controlling idea limits the topic of the paragraph to one definite idea or one aspect of
the topic that represents a particular idea, feeling, or opinion. The controlling idea must not
be too broad; it must be specific enough for the subject to be discussed within one
paragraph.
Look at these three topic sentences. Each has same topic, but contain different controlling
ideas.
Topic
The Grand Canyon is a favorite vacation spot for travelers worldwide.
(controlling idea: vacation spot)
The Grand Canyon is noted for it awe inspiring panorama.
(controlling idea: panorama)
The Grand Canyon is an ideal area to view the geologic history of the earth.
(controlling idea: geologic history)
Topic
The television is a major source of home entertainment.
(controlling idea: home entertainment)
The television is an effective educational tool.
(controlling idea: educational tool)
The television has become smaller since its initial invention.
(controlling idea: become smaller)
A divided topic sentence is useful in ensuring the sentence has a controlling idea. In a divided topic
sentence, the writer specifies or explains the divisions of the topic. Look at the following sentences
that illustrate a divided topic sentence.
There are three major professional sports in America.
Five essential ingredients are required in learning a foreign language.
To become a successful, writer one needs four basic skills.
All three of the topic sentences above clearly limit what will be discussed in the paragraph
(three sports, five ingredients, and four skills).
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C. Point of view
A good topic sentence also expresses the point of view of the writer. It may contain the
opinion or attitude of the writer. In the topic sentence
Digital cameras make photography easy and fun.
The writer’s point of view is easily determined- it’s easy and fun.
Compare with
Steven King has written many books.
In this statement the writer’s opinion of the works of Steven King is not evident, nor is there
any indication of whether being such a prolific writer is good or bad.
Exercise 4.1
Look at the following topic sentences and decide whether they are good or lacking. Put an X in the
space if it is a good topic sentence, a G or S if it is too general or specific, a C if it lacks a controlling
idea,
_____ The greatest boxer of all time was Mohammed Ali.
_____ Jogging is good exercise.
_____ Computers have changed the world.
_____ Bananas are the best fruit because they contain all the essential vitamins needed
for a healthy body.
_____ Using cell phones while driving can be a hazard.
_____ Religion is a crutch.
_____ The most challenging board game ever invented is chess.
_____ AIDS kills people every day.
_____ Music soothes the soul.
_____ Lawyers are too plentiful in the Unites States.
Exercise 4.2
Rewrite the following general statements and make them more specific and suitable as topic
sentences.
1. Italian food is healthy and easy to prepare.
________________________________________________________________________
2. The United States government is over burdened with citizen’s complaints.
________________________________________________________________________
3. Natural disasters create havoc for everyone.
________________________________________________________________________
4. The extinction of species of life on earth will have a profound effect on future generations.
________________________________________________________________________
5. Fairy tales are beneficial to children.
________________________________________________________________________
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Exercise 4.3
Identify the topic and controlling idea of the following topic sentences.
1. Children’s educational programs on TV are superior to cartoons for young minds.
Topic: __________________________________________________
Controlling idea: __________________________________________
2. Racial discrimination in the work place is a waste of human resources.
Topic: __________________________________________________
Controlling idea: __________________________________________
3. The exploration of space needlessly expends resources that could be put to better use
elsewhere.
Topic: __________________________________________________
Controlling idea: __________________________________________
4. Hobbies provide people with many benefits.
Topic: __________________________________________________
Controlling idea: __________________________________________
5. Learning a foreign language is also about learning the culture of that country.
Topic: __________________________________________________
Controlling idea: __________________________________________
6. Becoming a doctor requires skills other than just medical knowledge.
Topic: __________________________________________________
Controlling idea: __________________________________________
7. The time I spent in the Peace Corps was a horrendous experience.
Topic: __________________________________________________
Controlling idea: __________________________________________
8. Driving in Korea presents foreign drivers with many challenges.
Topic: __________________________________________________
Controlling idea: __________________________________________
9. A computer is a must for today’s college students.
Topic: __________________________________________________
Controlling idea: __________________________________________
10. Teaching children the basics of fire prevention at home is fast and easy.
Topic: __________________________________________________
Controlling idea: __________________________________________
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Exercise 4.4
Write topic sentences for the topics below.
Same sex marriage Dancing as exercise
Littering Dieting
Home safety White sandy beaches
Reading for pleasure Favorite pets
Basic first aid Games played as a child
1. ________________________________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________________________________
4. ________________________________________________________________________
5. ________________________________________________________________________
6. ________________________________________________________________________
7. ________________________________________________________________________
8. ________________________________________________________________________
9. ________________________________________________________________________
10. _______________________________________________________________________
2. Supporting sentences
The topic sentence is usually fairly general. The supporting sentences that follow it should be more
specific and develop the idea expressed in the topic sentence. Supporting sentences that are vague
merely restate the topic sentence. There are several methods that can be employed to make the
supporting sentences more specific. One is to use details, facts, statistics, examples, opinions,
research results, personal experience, or anecdotes. For example:
Seoul is a big city. (no statistics, just a broad statement)
Seoul, South Korea has a population of over 10 million people.
Another method of adding specificity is by using exact names of things rather than writing about them
in general terms. For example
He is a doctor. (a very general statement)
He is a pediatrician who has worked at City Hospital for the last 15 years.
(a very specific statement)
A final method is to use concrete words that allow the reader to imagine the topic being written about
in greater detail, and not just in general or abstract terms. For example:
Mr. Thompson enjoys life.
Mr. Thompson is almost always in a good mood, most often has a smile on his face,
is quick to laugh, and always sees the positive, even in terrible situations.
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Look at the following paragraph and note the supporting sentences.
The invention of the automobile has provided many benefits to travelers. With a car,
man is able to travel vast distances in short periods of time. What once took a two or
three weeks on horseback can now be done in a matter of hours. The comfort enjoyed
by travelers, compared to a horse drawn wagon, is amazing. No longer do travelers
have to endure the bone-jarring ordeal of riding on a stiff leather saddle or splinter-
infested wagon seat. Their voyage is now made on softly cushioned seats that can be
adjusted to fit the sojourners level of comfort. Travelers are no longer subjected to the
harsh elements of the weather. In the past, travelers had to suffer the biting cold of
winter and the blistering heat of summer, not to mention the suffering encountered by
gale force winds, blinding snow, and drenching rain. Today people can enjoy a soothing
and relaxing trip thanks to the totally enclosed interiors that offer air conditioning and
heating units in most vehicles. Needless to say, with all the advantages an automobile
has to offer, no one would dream of using the expression ‘Get a horse’ today.
Exercise 4.5
Select two topics that you wrote topic sentences for in exercise 4.4. Write five or six supporting
sentences for each topic.
1. _______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
2. _______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________
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3. Concluding sentence
The concluding sentence is the last sentence of the paragraph. Single
paragraph compositions should have a concluding sentence, however,
it may not be necessary all the time for a multi-paragraph composition.
The function of the concluding sentence is to signal the end of the
paragraph. Concluding sentences can either be a restatement of the topic
sentence, a summary of the supporting sentences, or contain a final
comment about the topic. The concluding sentence in a paragraph should
be a general statement that relates to the idea expressed in the topic
sentence, and not another fact or detail of support. If restating the topic
sentence, it should be expressed in different words, not an exact copy of
the topic sentence.
In the above paragraph about automobiles, the concluding sentence was a final comment about
automobiles. A concluding sentence that restates the topic sentence could be ‘The examples
mentioned above clearly demonstrate the many advantages of the automobile’. A concluding
sentence that summarizes the supporting sentences could be ‘Speed, comfort, and a controlled
environment are just a few of the advantages that a modern day car has over a horse’.
Many words or phrases can be used to signal the end of the paragraph in the concluding sentence.
Here are just a few (These require a comma followed them):
finally in conclusion in summary
therefore thus as a result
indeed in brief in short
Other phrases (which do not require commas) include:
we can see that . . .
it is clear that. . .
these examples show that. . .
there can be no doubt that. . .
the evidence suggest that. . .
Exercise 4.6
Read the sentences below and number the proper order for the sentences in a paragraph.
____ Temperatures on the continent frequently drop below 100º below zero.
____ It is no wonder that this harsh environment has no permanent residents.
____ Antarctica, the continent at the South Pole, is one of the coldest spots on earth.
____ The continent receives no sunlight for several months out of the year.
____ More than 95% of the land surface is covered by a tightly packed ice cap.
____ The sunlight it does receive is so slanted because of the tilt of the planet’s axis, that
the warmth for the sunlight is negligible.
____ The land is covered by thousands of feet of snow and ice.
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Exercise 4.7
Read the following paragraphs and write a topic sentence and a concluding sentence for each.
Topic sentence: _____________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Acid rain is the result of pollutants, which are released into the atmosphere from
automobiles and industry, which fall back to earth after being trapped by rain and snow.
There have been numerous scientific studies of the effects of acid rain on the
ecosystem in recent years. Pollutants contained in acid rain are destroying plant and
animal life when it enters lakes and rivers. Millions of acres of trees and plants have
been damaged or destroyed because of the harmful effects of acid rain on these
delicate ecosystems.
Concluding sentence: ______________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
Topic sentence: ______________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
It has only recently come under more intense investigation by proponents of western
medical practices. Acupuncture involves the insertion of small needles, with the
application of heat and electrical stimulation at precise acupuncture points on the body.
According to traditional Chinese doctors, the balance of yin and yang (opposing forces
that regulate spiritual, emotional, physical, and mental balance) are essential for good
health. Blockage of the gi flow (the energy that flows through the body via meridians or
pathways) creates an imbalance of yin and yang, which results in health problems or
illness. The insertion of needles into the skin during acupuncture treatments unblock
these channels and allow energy flows to optimize, resulting in improved health.
Concluding sentence: _________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Topic sentence: ______________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Angina refers to the pain caused from a lack of blood supply to the heart. The blood
supply is reduced due to a buildup of plague (deposits of cholesterol) in the arterial
walls. The pain of angina is brought on by physical exertion and normally subsides with
rest. The pain is typically located in the center of the chest, but may also radiate to the
left arm, neck, jaw, left chest, or back.
Concluding sentence: _________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
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Topic sentence: ______________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
Area 51, located on the desert floor of Groom Lake, Nevada, is reported to be a top-
secret military base established in the early 1950’s. The base, according to the
government, is a testing facility for advanced aircraft being developed by the military.
The U-2 spy plane was tested there in the early 1950’s. Other aircraft tested there
include the SR-71 Blackbird, the F-117 stealth fighter, and Orthrop's B-2 stealth
bomber. In 1989, a former employee of Area 51 claimed that the base was testing
UFO’s that the government received by trading with aliens. Some believe that Area 51 is
the site of a crash of an alien spacecraft and that secret research is being conducted on
the remains of the craft and its occupants.
Concluding sentence: ___________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Topic sentence: ______________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________
First, when another driver pulls into the lane I am driving in and I have to slow down. It
doesn’t matter if the other person is driving safely and there is no immediate danger of a
collision. I get peeved if I have to slow down just a little, even two or three miles an hour
for a few seconds, while the guy in front of me picks up speed. I see no reason why I
should slow down because someone else is in a hurry. The second thing that really gets
my in an uproar is when someone passes me on the right. In some states in the United
States it is actually against the law to pass on the right. Don’t those people realize that
passing on the right is dangerous? Have they never heard of the blind spot in the rear
view mirror? Do they not care that they could be putting people’s lives in jeopardy? The
last thing that I really hate to see when I drive is when a pedestrian walks into the road
without looking. Are they nuts? Do they have a death wish? Are they just plain stupid!
Have their parents never taught them that it is a bad idea to walk in front of a one ton
car traveling at forty miles an hour? Do they have no concept of bodily injury or death?
Concluding sentence: ___________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
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