Module Transcripts:

Paragraph Development

Slide 3          

Title: Paragraph Development

Speaker: Paragraphs are the building block of all written materials. Paragraphs organize ideas in order to group like ones together; they create emphasis on the most important ideas; they think through complex ideas and theories, and paragraphs keep readers on track with the writer. Crafting a strong paragraph, however, can be tricky. The purpose of this module is to help writers create organized and concise body paragraphs. Please take some time to review the objectives before beginning the tutorials.

Slide 4

Title: What Is A Paragraph?

Speaker: Paragraphs may vary depending on the genre. Explore these genres to learn more.

Slide 10

Title: Review: What is a Paragraph?

Speaker: For the purpose of this module, a paragraph is defined as a chunk, a piece, or a section of a longer work that focuses on one idea at a time. We will be looking at body paragraphs, not introductions or conclusions.

Slide 3

Title: Using Topic Sentences

Speaker: We know that each paragraph must focus on one idea. That idea should be stated in the topic sentence, which is a sentence that appears near the beginning of a paragraph. We will explore what creates a strong topic sentence throughout this tutorial.

 

Slide 6

Title: Determining the Topic Sentence

Speaker: First we will look at adding topic sentences to existing paragraphs. Click on the sentences in this paragraph to see and hear the big ideas of each sentence. These big ideas are needed in order to determine the main idea and write a topic sentence.

 

Slide 7

Title: Determining the Topic Sentence

Speaker: Looking at this list of big ideas, we know that the topic sentence must reflect and capture those points. Click the arrows to reveal a few example topic sentences that state the main idea of the value of earning magnet designation.

 

Slide 8

Title: Determining the Topic Sentence

Speaker: Please note that any paragraph could have many possible topic sentences that capture the main idea and point of the paragraph. You, as the writer, will be able to craft and choose the best topic sentence. Explore these topic sentences by clicking on them to learn what may make each a good choice.

 

Slide 12

Title: Determining the Topic Sentence

Speaker: Now we will talk about writing topic sentences before paragraphs exist. Making a list of the main points you wish to write about before you start writing can help create a rough outline which can then be used to create topic sentences and, ultimately, paragraphs to go with them.

Here a student is writing a discussion board post on professional development funding. He knows he wants to write about these three ideas. Click each one to see how it can be stated in a complete sentence.

 

Slide 14

Title: Weak Topic Sentences

Speaker: These two topic sentences are weak. Can you guess why? Click the arrows to reveal why these are weak topic sentences.

 

Slide 15

Title: Pro Tips!

Speaker: Some quick tips regarding topic sentences are: Remember that a paragraph is a small section of a larger piece that focuses on a single idea. If that idea changes during revision, the topic sentence should also be revised. Also, topic sentences don’t usually include research because they are an overall statement of the focus of the paragraph and not a specific point from the research. This is not always the case, but it is a good practice. Last, a topic sentence can include a transitional word or phrase like “in addition to” or “however.” This is because a topic sentence helps to move the reader from idea to idea as well as simply naming the main idea of the paragraph.

Slide 3

Title: Inside the Paragraph

Speaker: Once you have a topic sentence that clearly states the main idea of your paragraph, you have to ensure that all of the content that goes inside the paragraph relates to that main idea. Content may include anything from this list, but what is important is that that content is relevant and related to the main idea of the paragraph and of the topic sentence.

 

Slide 7

Title: Pro Tip1

Veronica: To ensure that I stick to one idea per paragraph, I make sure I have a clear and specific thesis, and that my body paragraphs follow the claim points in my thesis in the order that I list them in my thesis. Then, I only include relevant information that supports a specific topic sentence for a paragraph.

For instance, say my thesis is as follows: Dark roast coffee is healthier than light roast coffee because it has less caffeine, provides more antioxidants, and provides a good percentage of daily minerals. My body paragraphs are going to follow the main claims I set up in my thesis. Starting with the first main claim, which is dark roast coffee is healthier than light roast coffee because it has less caffeine. Since this is my first main claim, it will serve as the topic sentence for my first body paragraph. Therefore, I will want to ensure that all my discussion points and examples in that first body paragraph are focused on this topic sentence.

So for instance, I wouldn’t want to discussion points and sources here about how dark roast coffee provides more antioxidants or how it provides a good percentage of daily minerals. As well, I would not want to include any information that is not necessary or directly relevant to this topic sentence.

So as an overview, my tips for ensuring that I stick to one idea per paragraph are that 1) I have a clear and specific thesis, 2) I ensure that my body paragraphs follow the claim points in my thesis in the order that I list them in my thesis,  and 3) I only include relevant information that supports my topic sentence for a paragraph.

Melissa: When I am working on a piece of academic writing, I make sure I stick to one idea per paragraph by putting a lot of time and energy into the pre-writing and outline phases of the writing process.

As I’m taking notes – and these are notes on the research I’m reading, notes on my own ideas, notes on whatever I want to include in my writing – When I’m done taking those notes I stop and think about what the major points of the paper will be.

I make a list of those points, all three or four or 10 of them or whatever it may be. Then I give each one a color. I go back to my notes and I mark each note that relates to one of my major points with the same color. So for example, everything about the decline of major US cities will be marked with red. Everything about transportation as a way to revitalize cities will be green.

I then can easily find those like ideas to group them together into a written paragraph – because they are all the same color in my notes!

 

Claire: One thing that I like to do when I am looking at my paragraphs for revision is to read the whole paragraph and then take a look back at the topic sentence, the first sentence of my paragraph, and make sure that they are matching up.

So, at the beginning of my paragraph, I have identified one main idea or topic that I’m going to be covering. Then I’ll be reading back through my paragraph, and I might look see if all the things I’m bringing up in the paragraph related to that topic sentence that I have.  And if they’re not – if I ended up veering away from the focus of that topic sentence – I might want to pull those sentences out. I might want to take them out, set them aside, and see if they fit somewhere else in my paper or if I need them at all.

Likewise, if I find that they are really important and I really need them, I can either develop them into their own paragraphs or I might want to go and add them into my original topic sentence. So I go back and re-read that topic sentence, and rephrase it so it encompasses all of the ideas I’m going to be talking about in the paragraph – assuming that they are pretty interrelated.

So that’s a good way to kind of go back, look at that topic sentence, see if it is still fitting – am I talking about what I set out to talk about? – and if it changed, do I need to move that information around or do I need to revise that topic sentence?

 

Slide 14

Title: Review: Inside the Paragraph

Speaker: No matter what the content is, from expert quotes to personal experience, from dense statistics to analysis and explanation—whatever the content is, for each paragraph, that content must stick to one idea or topic.

Slide 3

Title: Solidifying the Main Idea

Speaker: The end of a paragraph is the place to solidify the main idea by repeating it, emphasizing an important take away, or reminding the reader what is important or interesting. It is the writer’s chance to tie everything together.

 

Slide 6

Title: Solidifying the Main Idea

Speaker: This paragraph is missing a wrap up sentence. One technique to wrap up a paragraph is to repeat the main idea of the paragraph. Choose the sentence that best repeats the topic of this paragraph.

 

Slide 7

Title: Solidifying the Main Idea

Speaker: Another technique to wrap up a paragraph is to state the importance of the topic of the paragraph. Choose the sentence that best states the importance of the topic of this same paragraph.

 

Slide 8

Title: Pro Tip!

Speaker: A citation at the end of a paragraph means the last sentence is a quote or paraphrase. That inclusion of research is important, but the last sentence of the paragraph should be in your voice as you wrap up the paragraph by repeating a main idea or reinforcing a statement of importance.