Writing a Well-Developed

Paragraph
What does “well-developed”
even mean?

“Well developed” means that every idea

discussed in the paragraph is
adequately explained and supported
with evidence and details that work
together to prove the paragraph’s
controlling idea.
 Step 1: The Topic Sentence
• The topic sentence is the controlling idea of
the paragraph. It is what everything in the
paragraph is about.
• When you write a paragraph about literature
that is not a part of a larger essay, please
mention the title and author in the topic
sentence.
• Example: “In Julia Alvaraz’s In the Time of the
Butterflies, Dede Mirabal’s greatest weakness
is her inability to speak her mind honestly.”
 Step 2: Evidence
Evidence is simply the textual support that you use to
prove your point. It should consist of a direct quote you
find in the text which proves your point. Remember that
you must introduce your text support, so that your
reader can follow your thinking. Don’t forget to include
a parenthetical citation for each quote.
When the journalist asks
about Virgilio Morales,
When the gringa
Minerva’s special friend, When Dede begins to
dominicana journalist
Dede snaps back at her, think about the revolution,
asks Dede for an
claming that Lio was a Jaimito urges her to
interview, Dede thinks,
special friend of hers too. compromise. Dede
Evidence “But this is March…
Doesn’t she have seven
Then she thinks to
herself, “There she has
responds, “’I see,’ …
already beginning to
more months of
said it, so why doesn’t it compromise with the man
anonymity?” (Alvarez 3).
feel good?” Fighting with she was set to marry”
However, Dede still
her dead sister over a (Alvarez 79).
agrees to the interview.
beau, my goodness”
(Alvarez 66).
 Step 3: Explanation
After every quote, you need an explanation to explain
exactly how the quote that you chose proves your point.
When the gringa When the journalist asks When Dede begins to
dominicana journalist about Virgilio Morales, think about the revolution,
asks Dede for an Minerva’s special friend, Jaimito urges her to
interview, Dede thinks, Dede snaps back at her, compromise. Dede
“But this is March… claming that Lio was a responds, “’I see,’ …
Doesn’t she have seven special friend of hers too. already beginning to
Evidence more months of
anonymity?” (Alvarez 3).
Then she thinks to
herself, “There she has
compromise with the man
she was set to marry”
However, Dede still said it, so why doesn’t it (Alvarez 79).
agrees to the interview. feel good?” Fighting with
her dead sister over a
beau, my goodness”
(Alvarez 66)
This shows that Dede It is shown here that When Ded says this, it
doesn’t really want to do Dede never expressed shows that she
the interview, but she her true feelings for Lio, disregards her beliefs
can’t speak her mind, so therefore she still harbors about the revolution,
she ends up having to some resentment in her simply because Jaimito
Explanation relive her sisters’ deaths
for the interview.
heart that Minerva
developed a stronger
asks her to do so. She
does not speak her mind,
relationship with him. If but does as her husband
she had spoken her says instead.
mind, this problem would
not exist.
Step 4: The Closing Sentence
The closing sentence simply wraps up what you
have said in the paragraph before, in a different
way than stated in the topic sentence.
When the gringa dominicana
journalist asks Dede for an
interview, Dede thinks, “But
this is March… Doesn’t she
have seven more months of
Evidence anonymity?” (Alvarez 3).
However, Dede still agrees to
the interview.
Dede doesn’t really want to do
the interview, but she can’t
speak her mind, so she ends
Explanation up having to relive her sisters’
deaths for the interview.
Ultimately, Dede Mirabal misses out on several opportunities and ends up
unhappy due to the fact that she avoids speaking up for herself.
When the journalist asks about When Dede begins to think
Virgilio Morales, Minerva’s about the revolution, Jaimito
special friend, Dede snaps urges her to compromise.
back at her, claming that Lio Dede responds, “’I see,’ …
was a special friend of hers already beginning to
too. Then she thinks to
herself, “There she has said it,
compromise with the man she
was set to marry” (Alvarez 79).
so why doesn’t it feel good?”
Fighting with her dead sister
over a beau, my goodness”
(Alvarez 66).
Dede never expressed her true Dede disregards her beliefs
feelings for Lio, so she still about the revolution, simply
harbors some resentment in because Jaimito asks her to do
her heart that Minerva
developed a stronger
so.
relationship with him.
Step 5: Wording and Transitions
• Once you have your topic sentence, evidence, and
explanations, your paragraph is practically written!
• You may have to tweak your wording a little to ensure
that your paragraph flows clearly.
• Don’t forget to add transitions between different
pieces of evidence (such as: in addition, secondly,
finally, etc.) to keep things flowing smoothly.
• Practice reading your paragraph out loud if you’re
unsure about the flow.
 MLA Reminders
• Place a heading in the upper left-hand corner (Name,
Teacher, Class, Date).
• Create a header in the upper right-hand corner (Last
Name and Page #). http://www.hasd.%20Format.pdf
• Double-space the entire paper and use 12-point
Times New Roman font.
• Include an MLA citation for the book:
Alvaraz, Julia. In the Time of the Butterflies. Chapel
Hill: Algonquin Books, 1994. Print.
• Use parenthetical citations after quotes within the
paragraph: “It started with Patria wanting to be a nun”
(Alvaraz 11).
 Other Reminders
• Avoid first person in a literary response
(no “I”, “me”, “we”, “us”, you, etc.)
• Try to stay in the present tense.
• Be sure to proofread and use the spell
checker!