multiple example paragraph test

a short amusing story

anecdote

details arranged by according to time, as in relating an event, telling a story, or demonstrating cause & effect relationships. Ideal for expository writing; less useful in persuasive contexts.

chronological order

sensory details that activate the reader's imagination through the use of the five senses

details

the paragraph has enough detail and examples to support

elaboration

a person or thing regarded in terms of their fitness to be imitated or the likelihood of their being imitated.

example

specific instances that support your main idea; often backed up by a quote or paraphrased reference from a source.

examples

used in discussing the significance of something in the case

fact

information that supports the main idea and can be proven, usually by citing a reliable source such as a government agency or university research study. Includes statistics, which are facts that deal with numbers (i.e. 50% of smokers in 2005 had lung cancer at some stage)

facts

the "catch-all" organization strategy. Use it to make comparisons or classifications (sorting), or to demonstrate connections or other relationships between ideas that are not rooted in a particular time or space. Ideal for expository or persuasive writing.

logical order

details arranged by the magnitude of their impact on the main idea. Allows you to emphasize a particular strong detail. Also ideal for persuasive writing.

order of importance

Use this to describe all the sights, sounds, smells, and tastes of a carnival.

sensory detail

details arranged by their location in physical space. Ideal for describing maps, graphic organizers, and creating mental pictures of physical things (such as architecture, towns, etc.). Excellent for expository writing.

spatial order

Use this to tell what percentage of your classmates take the train.

statistic

The body or meat of a paragraph, the supporting sentences contain all details, support, examples, and/or quotes that back up, support, expand, or explain the main idea. Types of supporting sentences may include:

supporting sentences

The final sentence of the paragraph, the clincher often restates the topic sentence, summarizes the supporting details, or offers the reader a new perspective on the main idea to take away. The clincher may also contain transitional phrases if the paragraph is part of a larger essay.

the clincher sentence

This is the paragraph's purpose and focus. It may not appear word-for-word in the paragraph, but it should be clear to the reader and (especially) the writer.

the main idea

Usually the first sentence of a paragraph, the topic sentence puts the main idea into words in a complete sentence. It may also be designed to catch the reader's interest, but it does not include details or examples.

topic sentence