Paragraphs By the end of this sequence you will know what paragraphs are, why they are used, as well as how to use them.

So why do we use paragraphs? In sentences and within sentences, one idea goes to another, then another, and so on, until we have a whole page of writing (called text). To divide the page into random chunks of writing, all more or less the same size, shows that the point of using paragraphs is not understood. Paragraphs have nothing to do with the amount of writing, or how many sentences have been written; because paragraphs are like boxes for ideas. Which is the most important sentence in this paragraph? Can you explain why?

Characteristics of paragraphs 1 1) Paragraphs are made up of sentences. 2) Sentences contain one fact or piece of information, e.g. ‘The Tsunami struck the nuclear station and the water cooling system was damaged.’ The subject of the sentence is what? The conjunction – and, joins the two halves of the sentence, and in theory we could replace it with a full stop, but we would have to add another phrase because we would want to know ‘water cooling system’ of what?

Sentence development ‘The Tsunami struck the nuclear station and the water cooling system was damaged, causing overheating of the nuclear fuel.’ Further information either about the main subject which is?, or the secondary subject – which is? The structure of the sentence is a model of how a paragraph works.

Development One can add more sentences increasing the information given about either the damage to the cooling system or to the nuclear station itself; or even provide additional information by considering the consequences of damage to either. Doing the latter would produce a simple paragraph containing information about an event and the consequences.

Options for paragraph 2 Option A is to provide information about the nuclear station itself, where it is, how many reactors it has, etc. Option B is to take the Tsunami itself, and provide information about how it was caused, why it was so damaging etc. Whether you choose option A or option B, paragraph 1 must end with a linking subject that tells the reader what the main subject of the second paragraph is. Write the linking sentences for options A and B.

Characteristics of paragraphs. 2 1) A paragraph should contain no more than two points. 2) There must always be a linking sentence connecting the end of one paragraph to the subject of the next paragraph. 3) A visual marker for a paragraph is not only the space between them – which allows the reader to briefly stop reading and take in what they have just read, but also that the first sentence is indented – an extra space between the first word and the margin.

Newspaper Reports The opening paragraph usually answers the questions: What?, Where?, and When?, although a map may be used to answer the Where? Further paragraphs would then deal with answers to How?, Why?, and Who? questions. What would also take place would be that opinions about How? And Why? Might try to provide answers – directly, or indirectly, i.e. witnesses, interviews etc.

Argument writing If you had to answer the question: ‘Exams can do more harm than good’ – Discuss, then clearly there are two sides: agree side, and disagree side. This would be two paragraphs. The ‘discussion’ would also need and introduction, and some kind of summing up – why not a conclusion?

Argument writing development The simplest plan to answer the question: ‘Exams can do more harm than good’ – Discuss, would be four paragraphs. If you agreed, the agree points would be in the third paragraph – why? However, it is helpful to think of what an opponent would say about points made, which could lead to linking paragraphs using connective phrases like; On the other hand, Some however might say…The trick is not to answer with main points but fresh points, and it makes following the argument much more interesting because there are more than two simple opposing points of view.

Paragraph length 1. If sentence variety, mixing simple sentences with the complex, short with the long, makes reading for the reader much more interesting; so too does variety in paragraph length. It also visually makes it appear more readible.

Paragraph length 2 Persuasive writing is one example where variety of paragraph length is very important, because it enables emphasis to be given points in the argument: argument always being a feature of persuasive writing, does not have to be explicit – it can be implied, in an advertisement for example. One classic example would be the use of Rhetorical questions. To isolate one gives it emphasis. For example the kind that directly addresses the reader like: You would like to be like that, would you?

The dialogue convention. This was really established when books began to be printed. If two people/characters are having a flowing conversation, it is normal to treat what each new speaker says, as a new paragraph. Visually, we can see it is a conversation between two people : hence a new paragraph for each (new) speaker. What this helps reduce is the s/he said, detail which can become very mechanical and therefore boring. You only have to mention names once, for the reader to be able to follow the conversation.

To sum up: Paragraphs help the writer organise their thought, because of this paragraphing is also key writing assessment criteria. Paragraphs help the reader to follow the writer’s thoughts: being able to follow a writer’s thoughts is reading Using a variety of paragraphs and following conventions, such as the one for dialogue, make both writing and reading easier.

Over view