Paragraphs In good writing, sentences that relate to one idea are grouped into a paragraph. ➔ The idea that the sentences relate to is the main idea. ◆ It is the most important idea in the paragraph.

Paragraphs ➔ All the sentences in that paragraph tell about Marcus’s success in his job at a hospital. ➔ That is the main idea of the paragraph: ◆ Marcus is a success for many reasons, as stated in the first sentence. ● The sentences after that explain or give examples of that idea. They support the main idea. For that reason, the sentences are called supporting details.

Main Idea and Supporting Details ➔ Topic: what a piece of writing is about; its subject matter ➔ Main idea: most important idea in a paragraph, or what the writer’s main point is about the topic. ➔ Topic Sentence: a sentence that states or leads into the main idea of a paragraph

Topic Sentences ➔ Topic Sentence: a sentence that states or leads into the main idea of a paragraph ◆ Very often the topic sentence is the first sentence of the paragraph; however, it can be located anywhere in the paragraph. ◆ Watch out for topic sentences that are too general or too specific. ◆ Remember that a topic sentence should state the topic and the main point that the rest of the sentences make about the topic.

Main Idea and Supporting Detail Supporting detail: words, phrases, or sentences that tell more about the main idea or topic sentence; types include: reasons: details that tell why an opinion is valid or an event occurs facts: statements that can be proved Statistics: facts expressed in numbers Examples: specific instances that explain or support a point Sensory details: details that appeal to one or more of the five senses Anecdotes: brief stories about a character or an event ➔ (See Sample Paragraph on the Handout)

Relevancy and Order of Ideas ➔ Relevancy: when an idea does not relate to the main idea of a paragraph, it confuses the reader. All supporting sentences within a paragraph should relate to the main idea. ◆ Don’t be fooled by a sentence that “sounds” as if it belongs in a paragraph. ◆ Make sure it specifically relates to the topic of the paragraph along with the other supporting sentences.

➔ Order of Ideas: the way in which ideas/ supporting sentences are arranged within a paragraph should be presented logically. ◆ order of importance, order of time, order of space/direction, etc. ◆ When writing, be sure to use transitional words and phrases to show how ideas are ordered and arranged.