The paragraph is a series of sentences

developing one topic.

 The Topic Sentence
• What is the topic sentence?
The topic sentence is the first
sentence in a paragraph.
• What does it do?
It introduces the main idea of the
paragraph.
• How do I write one?
Summarize the main idea of your
paragraph. Indicate to the reader
what your paragraph will be about.
• The ideal topic sentence should do
the following:

• Make a discussible point

• Make a single point
A fairy tale is a story about someone who faces
difficulties but overcomes them. The lovely
Cinderella is forced to stay home and clean the fire
place while her mean stepsisters go to the royal
ball. Sleeping Beauty is poisoned by her envious
stepmother and falls into a deathlike sleep. As far
as I’m concerned, fairy tales are silly. In a sense,
fairy tales reflect life as a challenge to succeed
despite over-whelming odds. But fairy tales always
have happy endings: Goodness is rewarded
whereas evil is punished. In the end, Cinderella
marries the handsome prince, and Sleeping Beauty
is awakened. Of course, real life does not always
have happy endings. Fairy tales are the ideal and
represent life with hope.
 Example
There are three reasons why Canada is one of
the best countries in the world. First, Canada
has an excellent health care system. All
Canadians have access to medical services at a
reasonable price. Second, Canada has a high
standard of education. Students are taught by
well-trained teachers and are encouraged to
continue studying at university. Finally, Canada's
cities are clean and efficiently managed.
Canadian cities have many parks and lots of
space for people to live. As a result, Canada is a
desirable place to live. 
The rest of the
paragraph consists
of sentences that
develop or explain
the main idea.
 Supporting Details
• What are supporting sentences?
They come after the topic sentence,
making up the body of a paragraph.
• What do they do?
They give details to develop and support
the main idea of the paragraph.
• How do I write them?
You should give supporting facts,
details, and examples.
Developing a Paragraph
AAttoopic
picsseennttence
m ence
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ddeevveelop
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bbyyggivin icc
ivingg t o p
p i
eexxaammpplleess.. AAto em m a ayy
t e
nn cce
n
sseente eveellooppeedd
bee dev ng
d
s e n t eenn cce e b
y t
e ell liing
o pi c s e n t bby t n
•• AAttopic l o p e d d aan t
y b e ddeevvee l o p e i d ennt
mm aa y b e i l s . n
iinc c i d e
v i ng dd eet a
t a i l s .
bbyyggiiving
Through the centuries rats have
managed to survive all our efforts to
destroy them. We have poisoned them
and trapped them. We have fumigated,
flooded, and burned them. We have
tried germ warfare. Some rats even
survived atomic bomb tests conducted
on Eniwetok atoll in the Pacific after
World War II. In spite of all our efforts,
these enemies of ours continue to prove
that they are the most indestructible of
pests.
 Closing Sentence
• What is the closing sentence?
The closing sentence is the last
sentence in a paragraph.
• What does it do?
It restates the main idea of your
paragraph.
• How do I write one?
Restate the main idea of the
paragraph using different words.
There are three reasons why Canada is one of
the best countries in the world. First, Canada
has an excellent health care system. All
Canadians have access to medical services at a
reasonable price. Second, Canada has a high
standard of education. Students are taught by
well-trained teachers and are encouraged to
continue studying at university. Finally, Canada's
cities are clean and efficiently managed.
Canadian cities have many parks and lots of
space for people to live. As a result, Canada is a
desirable place to live. 
 Unity in the Paragraph
Every sentence in a paragraph should
support the main idea expressed in the
topic sentence.
main idea
sent
e e nc e
t e n c
se n senten
n c e c e
n t e
se
 Coherence
Coherence in
in aa Paragraph
Paragraph
• Coherence means that all the information of
the paragraph is well-organized, logically
ordered and easy to follow.
• Put details or examples or 4
incidents in logical order. 2
3

chronological 1

in order of importance
Connecting Sentences Within
the Paragraph
Transition words
chronological order in order of
importance
first
however
meanwhile
furthermore
later
as a result
afterwards
in fact
finally
yet
There are three reasons why Canada is one of
the best countries in the world. First, Canada
has an excellent health care system. All
Canadians have access to medical services at a
reasonable price. Second, Canada has a high
standard of education. Students are taught by
well-trained teachers and are encouraged to
continue studying at university. Finally,
Canada's cities are clean and efficiently
managed. Canadian cities have many parks and
lots of space for people to live. As a result,
Canada is a desirable place to live.