Paragraph

A paragraph is the combination of sentences which must be related to a single topic/central idea.
Almost every piece of writing you do that is longer than a few sentences should be organized into
paragraphs. This is because paragraphs show a reader where the subdivisions of an essay begin and end,
and thus help the reader to see the organization of the essay and grasp its main points. Furthermore;
paragraphs can contain different kinds of information. A paragraph can contain a series of brief
examples or a single long illustration of a general point. It might describe a place, character, or process,
narrate a series of events, compare or contrast two or more things, classify items into categories, or
describe causes and effects.

Regardless of the kind of information they contain, all the body paragraphs share certain characteristics.
One of the most important of these is a topic sentence. A well-organized paragraph supports or
develops a single controlling idea, which is expressed in a sentence called the topic sentence. A topic
sentence has several important functions: it substantiates or supports an essay's thesis statement; it
unifies the content of a paragraph and directs the order of the sentences; and it advises the reader on
the subject to be discussed and how the paragraph will discuss it. Readers (examiners) generally look at
the first few sentences in a paragraph to determine the subject and perspective of the paragraph. That
is why it is often best to put the topic sentence at the very beginning of the paragraph. The vast majority
of your paragraphs, however, should have a topic sentence.

In simple words, a paragraph is a combination of 6-8 sentences about a single idea. According to FPSC
Examiners’ Report, the key reason of failure is that most of the students do not know how to write a
paragraph/paragraph structure. The practice of writing paragraphs is essential to make writing effective.
Paragraphs help to break up large chunks of text and make the content easier for readers to digest. They
guide the reader through arguments by focusing on one main idea or goal.

However, knowing how to write a good and well-structured paragraph can be little tricky. This is divided
in two types;

1. Unusual Paragraphs (Introduction, Conclusion and Transitional)

2. Usual/Body Paragraphs

Unusual Paragraph

Unusual paragraph is the beginning or end of an essay which consists of 12-16 sentences, usually ten
percent of the whole essay, and provides the complete summary and this is called unusual paragraph
because it never follows the rules of 6-8 sentences and concept of single idea.
It does the same job for an essay as the topic and concluding sentences do for a paragraph. In a
paragraph, the topic sentence tells the reader what the subject of the paragraph will be and how it will
be developed. In an essay unusual paragraphs introduce and conclude the topic. There are three parts of
unusual paragraphs: the opening statement (three general sentences – means background of the topic -
and three specific sentences -illustration/explanation of the topic -), twelve supporting sentences (in the
form of primary and secondary statements for Descriptive Essay or your and opponents’ stance in
Argumentative Essay) and the thesis statement (brief of the whole essay in one sentence that leads the
examiners mostly to the form of plan or stance).

There are many ways to write unusual paragraphs, but It Is necessary to Include each of the three parts,
Furthermore, it has two types:

A. Introduction

B. Conclusion

Introduction

An introduction serves as a map of the essay, outlining to your reader the main arguments and points
which you prove and develop in your essay. Introductions begin with an orientation in the form of a
brief general statement (story, quotation or background information) that leads the reader to the topic
showing how the specific topic relates to bigger issues and concept. There are three parts of an
introduction: the opening statement which can be further divided in general and specific statements
(three general sentences - means background of the topic - and three specific sentences
-illustration/explanation of the topic -), twelve supporting sentences (in the form of primary and
secondary statements for Descriptive Essay or your and opponents’ stance in Argumentative Essay) and
the thesis statement (brief of the whole essay in one or two sentences that leads the examiners mostly
to the form of plan or stance). There are many ways to write an introduction, but it is necessary to
include each of the three parts. This always ends by thesis statement, which is your concise response to
the essay question, then an outline of the argument presented in the essay. Its parts/components can
be categorized in the following way;

Structure of an Introduction of Descriptive Essay

1. Opening Statements (6 sentences)

a. General statement: Ideally two to three sentences to introduce the topic in the form of background
of the topic, story or quotation.

b. Specific statement: This portion defines the topic.

2. Additional Statements (10-12 sentences)

b. Secondary Statements: This is the portion of an essay which has not been asked by the examiner
categorically but if you add and that seems relevant you get more marks as this always makes an essay
more comprehensive. For example, if the essay topic is

Global Warming: Its Causes and Consequences, your primary headings are causes and consequences but
the addition of solutions will make the essay more comprehensive and the same will help the students
to meet the required length that is 2500-3000 words.

3. Thesis Statement (1 sentence). The thesis statement of an essay acts as a brief and explicit guide for
your reader. It is a one or two sentence summary of the plans that you are trying to make in your essay
and acts as a summary of the whole essay.

Topic: Has Democracy Failed to Deliver in Pakistan? (Specimen)

It is not too long ago when humanity learned to live in groups and developed principles to govern
themselves. Even the earliest communities demonstrated the practice of choosing a leader among them
to follow. This simple Idea evolved Into an array of complex systems of governance and leadership
(General Statement). Democracy, the most widely accepted system, can be defined in the famous
words of Abraham Lincoln as “Government of the people, by the people and for the people. The core
Idea behind democracy Is the will of the people and its key ingredients include provision of basic needs
to masses, free and fair elections, protection of basic human rights, freedom of speech, rule of law,
women empowerment and independence of the judicial system (Specific Statement). As far as Pakistan
is concerned, it has had a chequered history of democracy since it came into existence, from which it
can be deduced that democracy has failed to deliver in Pakistan. A major piece of evidence is that
majority of population does not have access to clean water and food. The country is still unable to
conduct free and fair elections due to widespread interference and rigging observed by everyone.
Democratic governments have compromised on the supremacy of the constitution many times which is
against the very essence of democracy. However military intervention alone cannot be blamed as the
state institutions have also failed to deliver even under civilian rule. They have been involved in many
evils that include the menace of corruption and nepotism that have infiltrated the social fabric of
society. Rule of law is missing from many parts of the country that rejects democracy and gives rise to
many conflicts in the shape of sectarianism and terrorism. Lacking a strong judiciary also handicaps the
democratic process and results in many instances of human rights abuse all over the country (Your
Stance). On the other hand, those who disagree with the failure of democracy, argue that many of the
problems faced today are deep rooted and date back even before the creation of Pakistan. Therefore,
democracy cannot be entirely blamed in Pakistan where it is still ever young (Opponents Stance).
Although there is truth to this; however, they have forgotten that nations younger than Pakistan - those
created after the disintegration of the USSR and a few others - have weeded out their shortcomings
using the tool of democracy (Antithesis of Opponent Stance). Hence, it can be deduced that in Pakistan,
democracy has failed to deliver the prosperity it promises. (Thesis Statement).