Understanding Paragraphs and Essays

Coherence

All ideas are arranged in a logical order. ( Logical, spatial, chronological, order of importance)

Unity

All supporting sentences work

Body

Emphasis, unity, coherence, elaboration

Introduction

First paragraph, grabs reader's attention, offers background information, contains the thesis

Parts of an Essay

Introduction, Body, Conclusion

Types of Paragraphs

Introductory, Supporting, Transition, Concluding

Paragraphs develop....

One main idea

Attention getters

Question, Anecdote, startling fact idea or opinion, address the reader directly, vivid description, take a stand, quotation

Elaboration

Refines, develops, supports the main idea

Conclusion

Restate thesis, call to action or recommendation, clincher statement

Clincher sentence

Restates topic sentence, summarizes details, offers closure, refocuses the main idea, Bold and clever

Common errors in Conclusions

Reverse ending, introducing new points, obvious beginnings ("In Conclusion"), re-writing the thesis word for word

Types of supporting sentences

Sensory details, facts and stats, examples, anecdotes

Order

Sentences are arranged deductively or inductively

Topic sentence

States main idea, often first or second sentence in paragraph, can appear at the end to emphasize or summarize, should be lively and interesting, should contain an action verb

Thesis

Subject, stance, action verb.

Supporting sentences

Support, elaborate on main idea, offer illustration and relevance,

Parts of a Paragraph

Topic sentence, supporting sentences, clincher sentence