1. The Always Interesting Paragraph
My pain for your gain.

2. The Basics
As a general rule paragraphs should be at least 11 sentences – about 275 words
There will be exceptions, of course, but unless told otherwise stick with at least 11
A paragraph has three basic parts
Topic sentence
Supporting sentences
Concluding sentence (clincher)

3. The Topic Sentence
Usually the first sentence of an academic or professional paragraph
It is the most general sentence of the paragraph
Example: “I have only been paintballing once and while it a lot of fun, there is a reason I’ve never done it again.”

4. Supporting Sentences Supports or explains the topic sentence
Should be 8-10 sentences
All supporting sentences should point back to and support the main idea in the topic sentence
Ways to get to 10 sentences
Examples
Explanations – every example needs an explanation
Details – sensory details (sight, sound, touch, smell, taste)

5. Supporting Sentences Examples
“Several years ago, I had a chance to drive into the Iowa “wilderness” to play paintball. On a hot summer day, dressed in everything but what would hide me, I picked out a weapon, filled it with paint balls, and spent the afternoon jumping over logs, crawling on my belly, and generally getting my butt kicked. But I was having a blast. Until the last game that is. During the final game the usual chaos ensued and I quickly found myself hugging the dirt in a ravine next the main road. But then, as I wiped away the condensation from the inside of my mask, I saw the perfect opportunity. Up high on the road, hiding behind some logs of his own, I saw an enemy popping up and taking shots in the opposite direction. But to me he was oblivious - and completely exposed.

6. Supporting Sentences Examples
Perhaps if I had been a better shot, things would have turned out differently, but it was not to be, and there I sat taking shot after careful but not-even-close shot. Finally, the enemy realized he was being shot at; he turned around and, as if he were just trying to brush away an annoying mosquito, he fired off several rounds in my direction. A pain that I had not yet felt that day exploded; I woefully, breathlessly, and instinctively grabbed my crotch and fell over, curling up into a little, protective, simpering ball of pain.”

7. Concluding Sentences
Summarizes the main points to drive home the topic sentence
Sometimes it’s like a topic sentence in reverse
In a paper often times the concluding sentence will transition into the next paragraph – or, sometimes, the transition could be in the topic sentence.
Example: “For most of the day, I had had more fun running around like a spastic toy soldier on far too much Red Bull, but after that one shot, my days of paintballing were over.”

8. Put it all together…
(see the handout)