Paragraph Builder | English for EmSAT Achieve PDF Download

What is a Paragraph?

A paragraph is a unit of writing that consists of one or more sentences, all of which relate to the same topic. Paragraphs are essential for organizing long pieces of writing such as novels, papers, or even emails. Each paragraph should focus on a single topic.

How is a Paragraph Structured?

Before diving into paragraph structure, let’s start with the meaning of a paragraph. A paragraph is an individual segment of writing that discusses a central idea, typically with more than one sentence. It even has its own paragraph symbol in copyediting, called the pilcrow (¶), which should not be confused with the section symbol, the silcrow (§), commonly used in legal code.

Here, we focus mainly on paragraph structure, but feel free to read our ultimate guide to paragraphs for more of the basics.

Parts of a Paragraph

Like other forms of writing, paragraphs follow a standard three-part structure: a beginning, middle, and end. These parts are the topic sentence, development and support, and conclusion.

Topic Sentence

The topic sentence, also known as the “paragraph leader,” introduces the main idea of the paragraph. It prepares the reader for the rest of the paragraph by stating clearly what topic will be discussed, without revealing too much on its own.

Development and Support

The development and support sentences act as the body of the paragraph. Development sentences elaborate and explain the idea with details too specific for the topic sentence, while support sentences provide evidence, opinions, or other statements that back up or confirm the paragraph’s main idea.

Conclusion

The conclusion wraps up the idea, sometimes summarizing what has been presented or transitioning to the next paragraph. Depending on the type of paragraph, it’s acceptable to end a paragraph with a final piece of support instead of a summary.

How Many Sentences Are in a Paragraph?

Most paragraphs contain between three and five sentences, but there are exceptions. For example:

• Narrative writing often uses single-sentence paragraphs.
• Nonfiction writing, like research papers or reports, usually includes at least three sentences: a topic sentence, a development/support sentence, and a conclusion sentence.

Some authors prefer longer, descriptive paragraphs, while others favor shorter, faster-paced ones.

Types of Paragraphs

Depending on the type of writing, you may need to use different types of paragraphs:

1. Expository: Common in nonfiction and essays, these paragraphs explain and discuss a single point or idea.
2. Persuasive: Similar to expository paragraphs, but they support opinions rather than facts.
3. Narrative: Used in storytelling, these paragraphs describe actions or events, with each sentence furthering or expanding upon the action.
4. Descriptive: These focus on describing a single topic, such as a person or an environment. Each sentence adds new details.

The type of paragraph used depends on the writing. For example, narrative paragraphs are unsuitable for research papers.

Example Paragraphs from Literature

Example 1: Bertrand Russell’s Essay Icarus, or the Future of Science

This nonfiction paragraph uses the same structure often seen in research papers and essays.

If men were rational in their conduct, that is to say, if they acted in the way most likely to bring about the ends that they deliberately desire, intelligence would be enough to make the world almost a paradise. In the main, what is in the long run advantageous to one man is also advantageous to another. But men are actuated by passions which distort their view; feeling an impulse to injure others, they persuade themselves that it is to their interest to do so. They will not, therefore, act in the way which is in fact to their own interest unless they are actuated by generous impulses which make them indifferent to their own interest. This is why the heart is as important as the head. By the “heart” I mean, for the moment, the sum-total of kindly impulses. Where they exist, science helps them to be effective; where they are absent, science only makes men more cleverly diabolic.

Notice how each sentence relates to the central idea—that humans act emotionally more than rationally. Each sentence contributes uniquely to the topic, and together, they connect logically.

Example 2: Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup

In this narrative paragraph, the author describes his emotions when faced with death.

I expected to die. Though there was little in the prospect before me worth living for, the near approach of death appalled me. I thought I could have been resigned to yield up my life in the bosom of my family, but to expire in the midst of strangers, under such circumstances, was a bitter reflection.

Every sentence focuses on the feeling described in the topic sentence. Northup waits until a new paragraph to continue the story, ensuring this paragraph remains focused solely on that emotion.

Example 3: Bram Stoker’s Dracula

This descriptive paragraph provides a detailed portrait of Count Dracula.

His face was a strong—a very strong—aquiline, with high bridge of the thin nose and peculiarly arched nostrils; with lofty domed forehead, and hair growing scantily round the temples but profusely elsewhere. His eyebrows were very massive, almost meeting over the nose, and with bushy hair that seemed to curl in its own profusion. The mouth, so far as I could see it under the heavy moustache, was fixed and rather cruel-looking, with peculiarly sharp white teeth; these protruded over the lips, whose remarkable ruddiness showed astonishing vitality in a man of his years. For the rest, his ears were pale, and at the tops extremely pointed; the chin was broad and strong, and the cheeks firm though thin. The general effect was one of extraordinary pallor.

While fiction is more flexible with rules, this paragraph includes both a topic sentence and a concluding summary. Stoker begins a new paragraph when shifting to a different part of Dracula’s appearance, treating it as a separate topic.

How to Write a Paragraph

Paragraph structure benefits both the reader and the author by organizing thoughts and communicating clearly. Below are steps for writing a paragraph, from planning to conclusion.

How to Plan a Paragraph

1. Understand the Context: Ensure the type of paragraph matches the writing style (e.g., expository, narrative).
2. Outline the Content: Decide on the topic, supporting details, and how the paragraph fits into the overall flow of writing.
3. Organize Thoughts: Sketch out the topic sentence, development/support, and conclusion for clarity.

How to Start a Paragraph

Begin with a topic sentence that introduces the subject without overexplaining. For example, Solomon Northup’s topic sentence, “I expected to die,” is brief and impactful, enticing the reader to continue.

How to Transition Within a Paragraph

Use transition words like “however”, “therefore”, or “similarly” to connect sentences and improve the flow. For lists or instructions, use ordinals like “first”, “second”, and “third.”

How/When to End a Paragraph

End a paragraph when you’ve covered the topic fully. Conclude with:

• A summary of the topic, or
• A final piece of support that leaves a strong impression.