Paragraph Development II

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0 Paragraph Development
Paragraph Writing Conventions II
 The Paragraph
 The Features of the Paragraph
 One Central Idea: The Topic Sentence
 Unified or Focused
 Coherence or Continuity
 Transitions within Paragraphs
 Parallel Structure within Paragraphs
 Transitions between Paragraphs
 The Body of the Paragraph
 The Conclusion of the Paragraph

The Paragraph
0 In college level compositions, a paragraph constitutes the basis of the writing process
because it must discuss one central idea, be narrowed or limited, be unified and focused,
contain coherence or continuity, and comprise fifteen to twenty-five related sentences. The
first sentence of a paragraph is called a topic sentence—the one main idea treated in the
paragraph is stated in the topic sentence. The topic of a paragraph must be stated in a single
sentence. The sentences following the topic sentence are called body sentences: They provide
the explanations, supporting details, and illustrations used to treat the one central idea. The
function of the paragraph, then, is to treat fully the single topic under discussion. Each
sentence of the body paragraph must relate back to the topic sentence. Six elements
constitute the features of the paragraph:
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1. contain one central idea: the topic sentence
2. be unified or focused
3. contain coherence or continuity
4. contain 15 to 25 sentences: the body
5. each sentence must relate back to its topic
6. contain a conclusion
The Constituent Parts of the Paragraph
The topic sentence introduces the
one main idea of the paragraph; the
body sentences describe, qualify,
expand, refute, define, illustrate, or
evaluate the one main idea of the
paragraph; the conclusion cleverly
restates the topic sentence, or it
summarizes the information used to

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describe, qualify, expand, refute,

define, illustrate, or evaluate the one
main idea of the paragraph.
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3 The paragraph consists of three constituent parts. Illustrated, the paragraph looks like the
following:
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5 The Topic Sentence
6 _________________________________________________________________
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8
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10
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12 The Body
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15
16
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18 _________________________________________________________________
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20 The conclusion
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Features of the Paragraph

1. contain one central idea: the topic sentence
2. be unified or focused
3. contain coherence or continuity
4. contain 15 to 25 sentences: the body
5. each sentence must relate back to its topic
6. contain a conclusion
One Central Idea: The Topic Sentence
0 A topic sentence is a group of related words that expresses one narrowed, limited, and
focused central idea; and it states what the paragraph will say about that singular idea; hence,
it is divided into two parts: a topic and a direction.
1 As the first sentence of a paragraph, a topic sentence controls the content and
organization of a paragraph; each sentence within the paragraph must relate back to its topic
sentence. If a sentence within the paragraph does not relate back to its topic sentence, it must
be removed: It is irrelevant to the topic under discussion.

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Paragraph Development II
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Unified or Focused
23 All paragraphs must be unified or focused: unity or focus means that each sentence in the
paragraph must relate back to the topic of the paragraph; it means that each sentence of the
body paragraph must describe, qualify, expand, refute, define, illustrate, or evaluate the one
main idea stated in the topic sentence of the paragraph. To achieve unity within a paragraph,
make sure that each sentence within the paragraph clearly supports and clearly relates back to
its topic sentence. That method of development is referred to as deductive development
because the supporting details of the body paragraph follow the central idea stated in the
topic sentence. In deductive development, if a sentence does not relate back to its topic
sentence, it must be removed because it violates the unity or focus of the paragraph.
Model Paragraph 1
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26 Steve J. J. Smirk
Professor Love
27 English 000, Section 000
Paragraph Development
25 January, 2015
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29 My cat looks hideous, but I cherish him because he is the most loving creature in
my life. His name is Pumpkin, and he is a half-and-half: half-Siamese and half-Burmese, which
may account for his hideousness. Pumpkin looks appalling for three major reasons: He is
overweight; he has a bold spot in the center of his gigantic head; and his body is covered with an
awful yellow fur. Despite his weight and huge head, however, his fur is a monstrosity to most
people who meet him. However, his yellow fur is so fluffy and soft that it makes me feel cozy
and relaxed when I hold him. Because he is overweight, he feels so warm and comfortable that I
would not trade him for the finest Persian cat in the world. After lecturing and reading essays all
day, caressing my hideous cat is a most wonderful experience—his presence is so relaxing.
When my repulsive cat leaves the house to amble around the neighborhood in search of feline
companionship, I feel lonely and abandoned. Nevertheless, when my revolting cat returns home
after a night around the neighborhood, I feel serene and relaxed because my cat is the most
loving and hideous looking creature in the world.
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Coherence or Continuity
31 Paragraphs must contain coherence or continuity: coherence or continuity means that the
interconnections of the sentences must be smooth and flow without interruption. Therefore,
coherence or continuity is used to join and illustrate the relationships of ideas between and
among sentences within paragraphs. To secure coherence or continuity within paragraphs,
you must incorporate the following into your paragraphs:

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Coordination
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33 1. Parallelisms: parallel structures are repeated words, ideas or structures
2. Coordinating conjunctions
3. Correlating conjunctions
4. Pronouns referring to the preceding sentence
34 5. Compound Sentences
0 6. Complex Sentences
7. Compound-Complex Sentences
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36 Subordination
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38 8. Adverbial conjunctions
39 9. Subordinate or Dependent Clauses
10. Transitional expressions

40 Coherence or continuity is the trait that makes the paragraph easily understandable to the
reader. When sentences, ideas, and details fit together clearly, readers can follow along
easily, and the writing is coherent. The ideas tie together smoothly and clearly. To establish
the links that readers need, you can use the methods listed above.
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Below is an example of a paragraph that contains one central idea, unified, coherent, and
adequately developed. As you read it, observe the following:
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43 (1) the clear statement of the controlling idea in the first sentence
44 (2) the development of that idea in the sentences which follow
45 (3) the orderly arrangement of the supporting facts
46 (4) the close relationship of the sentences to the central idea and to
47 one another.
48 Example:
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Actually, American English 101 college professors seem to employ at least three
languages: with their family and their close friends, on the ordinary, unimportant occasions of
daily life; they utter a monosyllabic sort of shorthand. On more important occasions and when
dealing with strangers in their official or college relations, they exert a more formal speech,
more complete, less allusive, more politely qualified, and more wisely reserved; in addition, they
have some experience with the literary speech of their language—that is, they understand it
when they read it and often enjoy it, but they hesitate to use it in the presence of their students
because they fear that a preponderance of their students might drop their courses. At times of
emotional stress, however, hot fragments of it may come out of them not only like a lava flow
but also like a cyclone; furthermore, in times of fake emotion, as when giving a commencement

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address or interviewing for an employment opportunity, cold, greasy gobbets of it will ooze
forth.
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51 The central idea of the above paragraph is "English 101 college professors employ at
least three languages." The sentences developing the central idea classify the languages and
describe how they are used; these points are well organized, progressing from informal
speech in ordinary situations to formal speech on rare occasions. Repeated references to
times and situations, the comparison of the languages, and transitional devices (such as the
phrase "in addition") link the sentences within the paragraph, which contribute to its
coherence.
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To incorporate coherence or continuity into paragraphs and essays, it is necessary to master __I
said master__two lectures: College Syntactical Structures I: Coordinate Clauses and College
Syntactical Structures II: Dependent or Subordinate Clauses. Therefore, print those lecture notes
from the course Internet home page to prepare for your lectures.

Transitions within Paragraphs

53 Transitional words and phrases are used to illustrate relationships between and among
ideas in sentences; they are used to relate ideas between and among paragraphs in essays.
Transitional words and phrases are incorporated into paragraphs to establish the coherence,
the connections, and the links between and among the points presented in paragraphs.
Transitions are divided into three categories: logical, temporal, and spatial:
Logical
54 Logical transitions are incorporated into paragraphs to illustrate
the following relationships between and among sentences:
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 To Connect by Proof
 To Connect by Exception
 To Connect Example
 To Connect by Summary or Conclusion
 To Connect by Result
 To Connect by Cause or Effect
 To Connect by Focusing

Temporal
56 Temporal transitions refer to the arrangement of order, sequence,
and movement of events in time. They are incorporated into
paragraphs to illustrate the following relationships between and
among sentences:
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 To connect by Sequence

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 To Connect by Addition
 To Connect by Time

Spatial
58 Spatial transitions refer to the arrangement of events and items in
terms of space or location. They are incorporated into paragraphs
to illustrate the following relationships between and among
sentences:
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 To Connect by Space
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61 To establish the coherence, the connections, and the links between and among the points
presented in paragraphs, incorporate the following into your paragraphs:
To Connect by Addition:
62 in addition, 63 additionally,
64 also, 65 moreover,
66 first, 67 second,
68 third, 69 and,
70 again, 71 and then,
72 besides, 73 equally important,
74 further, 75 furthermore,
76 too, 77 next,
78 last, 79 finally,

To Connect by Proof:
80 because, 81 for,
82 since, 83 for the same reason,
84 obviously, 85 evidently,
86 furthermore, 87 moreover,
88 besides, 89 indeed,
90 in fact, 91 in addition,
92 in any case, 93 that is,
94 for this reason, 95 therefore,
96 although, 97 thus,
98 so, 99 consequently,

To connect by Comparison and Contrast:

100 instead, 101 whereas, 102 nonetheless, 103 on the other
hand,
104 on the 105 except, 106 also, 107 nevertheless,
contrary,
108 by 109 in contrast, 110 where, 111 compared to,

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comparison,
112 up against, 113 yet, 114 balanced 115 vis-a-vis,
against,
116 but, 117 still, 118 although, 119 conversely,
120 meanwhile, 121 likewise, 122 after all, 123 in contrast,
124 once more, 125 however, 126 on the one 127 on the other
hand, hand,
128 in the same 129 again, 130 similarly 131 by the same
way, token

To Connect by Exception:
132 yet, 133 still,
134 however, 135 nevertheless,
136 in spite of, 137 despite,
138 of course, 139 all the same,
140 nonetheless 141 even though

To Connect by Emphasis:
142 definitely, 143 extremely,
144 absolutely, 145 positively,
146 naturally, 147 surprisingly,
148 always, 149 forever,
150 perennially, 151 eternally,
152 never, 153 emphatically,
154 unquestionably, 155 without a doubt,
156 certainly, 157 undeniably,
158 without reservation 159

To Connect by Sequence:
160 first, 161 second, 162 third, and so forth;
163 a, b, c, and so forth; 164 next, 165 then,
166 following this, 167 at this time, 168 now,
169 at this point, 170 after, 171 afterward,
172 subsequently, 173 finally, 174 before this,
175 consequently, 176 previously, 177 simultaneously,
178 concurrently, 179 thus, 180 therefore,
181 hence, 182 next, 183 and then,
184 again, 185 besides 186 furthermore

To Connect by Example
187 for example, 188 for instance,
189 in this case, 190 in another case,
191 on this occasion, 192 in this situation,

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193 take the case of ..., 194 to demonstrate,

195 to illustrate, 196 as an illustration

To Connect by Summary or Conclusion

197 in brief, 198 on the whole,
199 summing up, 200 to conclude,
201 in conclusion, 202 hence,
203 therefore, 204 accordingly,
205 thus, 206 as a result,
207 to sum up, 208 in brief,
209 in summation, 210 in short,
211 in other words, 212 to be sure,
213 as has been noted, 214 in fact,
215 indeed, 216 in any event

To Connect by Time
217 after a few days, 218 afterward, 219 again and again,
220 all the while, 221 at length, 222 at that time,
223 at the inception, 224 at the same time as, 225 at the time,
226 briefly, 227 during, 228 during,
229 eight months from 230 eventually, 231 hourly,
now,
232 immediately, 233 in 2015, 234 in August,
235 in the meantime, 236 in the middle of, 237 later,
238 meanwhile, 239 now, 240 occasionally,
241 often, 242 pending, 243 soon,
244 subsequently, 245 the whole time, 246 when,
247 while, 248 249

To Connect by Result
250 hence, 251 therefore,
252 accordingly, 253 consequently,
254 thus, 255 there-upon,
256 as a result, 257 then,
258 for that reason, 259 so,
260 ergo, 261 on that account,
262 from this cause, 263

To Connect by Cause or Effect

264 as a result, 265 as,
266 because, 267 by reason of,
268 consequently, 269 due to,
270 for, 271 hence,

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272 on account of, 273 since,
274 then, 275 therefore,
276 thus, 277

To Connect by Spatiality
278 above, 279 across, 280 adjacent, 281 alongside,
282 away from, 283 away, 284 below, 285 beside,
286 beyond, 287 close to, 288 closer to, 289 down,
290 elsewhere, 291 facing, 292 far, 293 farther,
294 here, 295 immediate, 296 in back of, 297 in front of,
298 in the distance, 299 juxtaposed, 300 near, 301 nearby,
302 on the left, 303 on, 304 opposite to, 305 remote,
306 removed, 307 sideways, 308 there, 309 to the right,
310 to, 311 toward, 312 up, 313 over

To Connect by Focusing
314 accurately, 315 after all,
316 chiefly, 317 namely,
318 especially, 319 exactly,
320 in fact, 321 in other words,
322 in particular, 323 indeed,
324 mainly, 325 particularly,
326 precisely, 327 principally,
328 specifically, 329 strictly,
330 that is, 331 unequivocally,

To Connect by Concession
332 absolutely, 333 absolutely,
334 admittedly, 335 assuredly,
336 certainly, 337 granted,
338 naturally, 339 of course,
340 positively, 341 surely,
342 unquestionably, 343 without a doubt,
344 without fail, 345 yes indeed,
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347 Avoid the overuse of transitions within paragraphs; assure that the transitional words,
phrases, or expressions convey their correct meaning, and assure that the relationships
between and among the connections convey your intended meaning.
Model Paragraph 2
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1 Steve J. J. Smirk
Professor Love

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2 English 000, Section 000

Paragraph Development
25 January, 2015
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4 Old Las Vegas is a different community at this time than it was a few years ago.
Numerous transformations have taken place since then. For example, in just a short period of
time, Old Las Vegas has been transformed from a tiny conservative community where
everybody were on a first-name-basis to a large suburban community where people never speak
to each other, even their own neighbors. Just a short while ago, the youth of Old Las Vegas
hiked to playgrounds and to high school together. Today, they all own cars, or they rent
limousines to take them to school. Old Las Vegas used to be a tranquil, conservative community.
Now it is a hustling, liberal metropolis. Neighborhood restaurants have been replaced by colossal
casino centers where people can eat twenty-fours-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week. Four-wheel-
drive vehicles have replaced the family car. Similarly, bicycles have been replaced by mopeds.
With all the changes that have taken place, Old Las Vegas, as a community, is only a memory
now, and the community that once was can never be resurrected again; thus such is the way of
change.
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348

Parallel Structure
349 Another method of achieving coherence within paragraphs is to incorporate parallelisms
into sentences: the repetition of equal grammatical or syntactical structures. The repetition of
grammatical structures provides smooth transitions between sentences and ideas by
establishing a balance or a rhythm within paragraphs. Certain words, clauses, or phrases are
incorporated into sentences to establish parallel structures:
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 Because Robert's course work is excellent, because Robert's attendance is remarkable, and
because Robert's attitude is exceptional, two students, one teacher, and three administrators
nominated him for the Outstanding Student Award. [The parallel clauses establish the
balance and rhythm within the sentence.]
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 The students chased the cat through the door, down the steps, and into the mouth of a
gargoyle. [The parallel phrases establish the balance and rhythm within the sentence.]
354
355 An excellent example of parallel structures is Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.
Underline all of the parallel structures within the address.
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357 Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, upon this continent, a
new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created
equal.

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358
359 Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any
nation so conceived, and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met here on a great
battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of it as a final resting place for
those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper
that we should do this.
360
361 But in a larger sense we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not
hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled, here, have consecrated it
far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember,
what we say here, but can never forget what they did here. It is for us, the living, rather to be
dedicated here to the unfinished work which they have, thus far, so nobly carried on. It is
rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these
honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here gave the last full
measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in
vain; that this nation shall have a new birth of freedom; and that this government of the
people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
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362 Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address: Transcript of the Hay Copy
363
0 In addition, the incorporation of coordination and subordination establish parallelism within
sentences and paragraphs. (Refer to coordination and subordination for complete details on
these structures.)
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The Body of the Paragraph

365 Every sentence of the body paragraph must relate back to the topic of the paragraph.
Each sentence of the body paragraph must describe, qualify, expand, refute, define, illustrate,
or evaluate the one main idea of its paragraph. Make sure that each sentence within the
paragraph clearly supports and clearly relates back to the topic sentence. If a sentence does
not relate back to the topic sentence, remove it. That method of development is referred to as
deductive development: The supporting details of the body paragraph follow the central idea
stated in the topic sentence. In deductive development, if a sentence does not relate back to
its topic sentence, it must be removed because it violates the unity or focus of the paragraph.
Model Paragraph 3
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1 Steve J. J. Smirk
Professor Love
2 English 000, Section 000
Paragraph Development
25 January, 2015

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The Topic Sentence

366
367 To prepare a delicious vegetable stir-fry, you should follow several steps as
meticulously as possible.
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The Body Sentences of the Paragraph

369
370 First, you should assemble the following cooking ingredients: one small spaghetti
squash, 1 cup of vegetable oil, ½ cup of chicken stock, 1 cup of green cabbage, 1 cup of sliced
mushrooms, 1 tablespoon of fresh ginger root, 2 teaspoons of garlic, 1 package of snow peas or
sugar snap peas, 1 jar of baby corn, 1 red bell pepper, ½ cup of sliced water chestnuts, 1
tablespoon of light soy sauce, 2 teaspoons of cornstarch, ½ teaspoon of sugar, and ½ teaspoon of
black pepper. In addition, you should assemble the following cooking utensils: a broiler, paper
towels, a microwave oven, a sharp knife, a large, non-stick skillet, a cooking spatula, a fork, and
a plate. After gathering the cooking ingredients and utensils, you should make sure that
everything is clean. Next, put 1 cup of vegetable oil in the broiler as you preheat it. Meanwhile,
place the squash on a paper towel in the microwave oven; microwave it on high for 14 minutes.
After cooking about 7 minutes, turn it over; continue cooking for another 7 minutes, or until it is
tender when you pierce it with the tip of your sharp knife. At this point, let the squash stand
uncovered for about 10 minutes while you prepare the vegetables for stir-frying. Coarsely chop
the cabbage, slice the mushrooms, chop the bell pepper, and mince the ginger and garlic
(optional). Then, stir-fry them in the preheated broiler. After stir-frying the vegetables about 2
minutes, drain the oil from the skillet, but leave the vegetables in the skillet. Again, preheat the
broiler and add ½ cup of chicken stock to the vegetables in the large skillet __make sure that the
heat is on high. When the mixture starts to boil, reduce the heat to medium. Stir the mixture
with the spatula, and cook it until the cabbage begins to wilt. Following that, drain the baby
corn; add the snow peas or sugar snap peas, baby corn, and water chestnuts to the mixture __stir
them together well. While the mixture is cooking, stir in the soy sauce, cornstarch mixture, sugar
(optional), and black pepper. With the spatula, stir the mixture until the liquid thickens and
shines; this process takes about 5 minutes. After that, place the spaghetti squash into the plate,
and cut it crosswise in half; remove the seeds and fibers. Finally, scrape the fork across the
squash to pull its flesh into strands; place them into the plate next to the squash; pour the mixture
from the skillet over the spaghetti squash and serve.
371

The Conclusion of the Paragraph

372
373 Now, sit back and prepare to enjoy a gastronomical feast of vegetable stir-fry that
is not only delicious but also retains all of the vitamins within the vegetables, all of the natural
color of the vegetables, and all of the mild crispness within the vegetables.
374

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The Conclusion
375 The final part of the paragraph is called the conclusion. This section of the paragraph
provides the closure necessary to end the discussion. The conclusion must illustrate the
following:
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1. reiterate points that support the main idea of the paragraph [or]
2. imaginatively restate the idea of the topic sentence [and]
3. complete the paragraph with a full sense of closure
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2 The concluding paragraph, then, provides an opportunity to reemphasize the topic sentence that
has been supported throughout the paragraph. Do not introduce new information in your
concluding paragraph. Because it is the end of your discussion, the conclusion is not the place to
incorporate new materials.

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