Exploring Writing - Gary Robert Muschla 2011

Exercise 2.4 Constructing Paragraphs
Building Paragraphs
Part 2. Writing the Draft

A well-written paragraph is constructed of sentences related to one main idea. The paragraph contains a topic sentence that states the main idea of the paragraph. Other sentences support the main idea with details and examples.

Although the topic sentence is the first sentence in most paragraphs, it may appear in the middle or at the end. Many writers find that placing the topic sentence at the beginning of the paragraph makes it easier to organize the paragraph and provide details.

Paragraphs may vary in length, depending on their main idea and supporting details. A paragraph must be long enough to fully develop its main idea.

Many students use general main ideas or supporting ideas that lack details. Try to develop your paragraphs one sentence at a time, starting with the topic sentence, and then support it with details and examples.

Exercise 2.4 Constructing Paragraphs

Study this example of an undeveloped paragraph:

The movie was great. It was the best movie I ever saw.

Although it is clear the writer liked the movie, he or she offers no supporting details. The absence of supporting ideas weakens the main idea. What kinds of details could be included that would support and strengthen the main idea in this paragraph? Possible details include the following:

✵ The title of the movie

✵ The type of movie

✵ The actors and actresses and how they helped to make the movie great

✵ A brief description of the plot and how it helped to make the movie great

✵ Why the author liked the movie