1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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)

6. 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.

7. ➔ 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.