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Using Paragraphs - University of Leicester

This document provides guidance on writing effective paragraphs. It explains that paragraphs should each focus on one main idea and introduce a new point or stage in the writing. As a guideline, paragraphs should typically be 2-3 sentences long and there should be 2-3 paragraphs per page. The document also outlines the basic structure of paragraphs, noting they should have an introduction stating the main point, development through examples or evidence, and a conclusion that links back to the introduction or transitions to the next paragraph. Following these guidelines can help writers clearly convey their ideas and create a coherent written work.

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242 views

Using Paragraphs - University of Leicester

This document provides guidance on writing effective paragraphs. It explains that paragraphs should each focus on one main idea and introduce a new point or stage in the writing. As a guideline, paragraphs should typically be 2-3 sentences long and there should be 2-3 paragraphs per page. The document also outlines the basic structure of paragraphs, noting they should have an introduction stating the main point, development through examples or evidence, and a conclusion that links back to the introduction or transitions to the next paragraph. Following these guidelines can help writers clearly convey their ideas and create a coherent written work.

Uploaded by

Vin Bitz
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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StudentLearningDevelopment

Usingparagraphs
Studyguide

ForaprinterfriendlyPDFversionofthisguide,clickhere
Thisguideexplainshowtomakeeffectiveuseofparagraphsinyourwriting.Thefunctionandfeatures
ofaparagraphareexplained,togetherwithguidelinesforusingparagraphstocreateaclearandcoherent
writtenstructure.
Otherusefulguides:Usingthecomma,Sentencestructure.

Whatisaparagraph?
Writingofanylengthrequiressubdivisionintoanumberofpointsorstages,andthesestagesareexpressedinaparagraph.
Paragraphs,whetherdenotedbyanewlineandanindentationoralinebreak,provideastructureforyourwriting.Theendofa
paragraphrepresentsasignificantpauseintheflowofthewriting.Thispauseisasignposttothereader,indicatingthatthe
writingisabouttomoveontoadifferentstage.Eachparagraphshoulddealwithoneideaoraspectofanidea,anditshouldbe
cleartothereaderwhatthismainideais.

Howlongshouldaparagraphbe?
Thereisnoabsoluterule:veryshortorlongparagraphscanworkwhenusedbyanexperiencedwriter.However,asaguideline,
paragraphsshouldusuallybenolessthat2or3sentenceslongandthereshouldbe2or3paragraphsperpageofA4.The
lengthofaparagraphdependsontheideabeingtreated,butifaparagraphisshorterthan2or3sentences,checktoseeifitis
notreallypartofthepreviousornextparagraph.Ifyourparagraphislongerthanhalfapage,checktoseeiftheideawouldbe
betterexplainedintwoormoreparagraphs.

WhendoIstartanewparagraph?
Startanewparagraphforeachnewpointorstageinyourwriting.Whenyoubeginaparagraphyoushouldalwaysbeawareof
themainideabeingexpressedinthatparagraph.Bealerttodigressionsordetailsthatbelongeitherinadifferentparagraphor
needaparagraphoftheirown.

HowdoIwriteaparagraph?
Aparagraphcanhaveaninternalstructurewithanintroduction,mainbodyandconclusioninthesamewayasanessayThe
examplebelowshowsaparagraphwhich:
introducestheparagraph'smainpoint
developsandsupportsthepoint
showsthesignificanceofthepointmade.

Thepreviousexampleshowedonestyleofparagraph.Itisausefulrulealwaystohavethreestagesinaparagraph:
introduction,developmentandconclusion.

Theintroduction

Theintroductionmakesthepurposeoftheparagraphclearsothereadercanreadtheparagraphwiththispurposeinmind.It
isusuallynecessarytoshowtheplacetheparagraphhasinthestructureofthepieceasawhole.Thiscanbedonewithjusta
word(Nevertheless,However,Furthermore)oritmayneedaphrase(Anotherpointtoconsideris....).Inanessay,thismight
meanshowinghowthemainideaoftheparagraphanswerstheessayquestion.Insomecaseswhentheparagraphbeginsanew
section,itmaybenecessarytowriteaseparateparagraphwhichexplainshowthefollowingsectionrelatestothepieceasa
whole.

Thedevelopment
Thebodyoftheparagraphshoulddeveloptheideathathasbeenintroducedatthebeginningoftheparagraph.Thiscanbe
doneby:
redefiningtheidea
givingexamples
commentingonevidence
showingimplicationsorconsequences
examiningopposingideas.

Theconclusion
Theendoftheparagraphcanshowthesignificanceofthepoint,linkbacktothebeginningoftheparagraph,commentonthe
implicationsofthepointasawhole,ormakealinktothenextparagraph.Itisimportantnottoendtheparagraphwitha
digressionorirrelevantdetail.Eachsentenceintheparagraphshouldbepartoftheinternalstructure.
Anotherexampleofaparagraphusingthisthreepartstructureisgivenbelow.

Summary
Paragraphsprovideastructureforyourwritingwhichenablesthereadertoidentifyandfollowthedevelopingstagesinyour
treatmentofthematerial.Rememberthatparagraphsshouldhavetheirowninternalstructurewhilstfittingintothelarger
structureofthewholepieceofwriting.Beclearwhatthemainideaforeachparagraphis,dealwithitasfullyasisnecessaryfor
yourpurpose,butbealerttodigressionorirrelevancies.Checkyourownuseofparagraphsbyreadingthefirstsentencetoseeif
itoutlinestheparagraph'smainidea.Theeffectiveuseofparagraphscanbeseeninwritingwhenthereadercangainan
overviewofthecontentbyreadingthefirstsentenceofeachparagraph.
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