Introduction to Paragraph Writing

Concluding Sentence

A concluding sentence is sometimes used in longer paragraphs to sum up the ideas presented. It expresses the same idea as the topic sentence but in different words. It can start with a transition such as clearly or in conclusion.

Paragraph

A paragraph is a collection of related sentences dealing with a single topic. Learning to write good paragraphs will help you as a writer stay on track during your drafting and revision stages.

Supporting Sentences

The supporting sentences are the middle sentences of the paragraph. They provide details such as explanations or examples that expand on or support the topic sentence. Supporting sentences are sometimes connected by transition words or phrases.

Topic Sentence

The topic sentence is usually the first sentence of the paragraph. It states the main idea of the paragraph. A good topic sentence tells the reader exactly what the rest of the paragraph will be about.

Transitional Words

These are words or phrases that help carry a thought from one sentence to another, from one idea to another, or from one paragraph to another. Transitional devices link sentences and paragraphs together smoothly so that there are no abrupt jumps or breaks between ideas. Some examples are: and, again, and then, besides, on the other hand, however, nevertheless.