Write
Building a Paragraph
Use this page when you are writing or revising a paragraph and want it to develop one clear idea.
What a college paragraph does
In college writing, a paragraph develops one main idea. It tells the reader the idea, supports it, and explains why the support matters. When a new idea starts, a new paragraph starts.
Readers in U.S. colleges expect the main idea near the beginning of the paragraph. They read the first sentence to learn what the paragraph is about, and they expect the rest to stay on that idea.
- Topic sentence:
- the sentence that states the main idea of a paragraph. It is usually the first sentence.
- Support:
- reasons, examples, facts, or ideas from a source that show the main idea is true.
- Transition:
- a word or phrase that connects one idea to the next, such as for example or as a result.
Four parts of a strong paragraph
- Point. The topic sentence. State the main idea in one sentence.
- Support. Give a reason, an example, a fact, or an idea from a source.
- Explain. Say how the support proves your point. This is the part writers most often skip.
- Link. End by connecting back to the main idea, or forward to the next paragraph.
A paragraph can repeat steps 2 and 3. A strong paragraph often has two pieces of support, each with its own explanation.
Most college paragraphs are four to eight sentences. A one-sentence paragraph usually needs more support. A paragraph that fills a whole page usually has more than one idea.
Example: a paragraph from an essay
This paragraph comes from an essay that argues that colleges should offer more evening classes. Each number matches a note below.
Evening classes make college possible for students who work during the day.1 According to a campus survey, more than half of our students have a job.2 This means that many of them cannot attend a class at 10 a.m. without losing pay.3 For example, my coworker wanted to study welding, but every section met in the morning.4 She waited a year until an evening section opened, and she lost a year of progress.5 More evening sections would help working students start and finish their programs on time.6
- Point. The topic sentence states one main idea. Every other sentence supports it.
- Support from a source. According to names where the fact comes from.
- Explain. The writer says what the fact means for the argument. Without this sentence, the reader has to make the connection.
- Support from experience. For example introduces a real case.
- Explain. The writer shows the cost of the problem.
- Link. The last sentence returns to the main idea and shows why it matters.
Language focus: transitions
Words that connect ideas
A transition tells the reader how the next sentence connects to the one before it. Choose the transition that matches the connection.
| To show | Transitions | Example |
|---|---|---|
| an example | for example, for instance | For example, my coworker wanted to study welding. |
| more of the same | also, in addition, another | In addition, evening classes help parents. |
| a result | as a result, so, therefore | As a result, she lost a year of progress. |
| a contrast | however, but, on the other hand | However, evening classes cost more to staff. |
| what it means | this means that, in other words | This means that many students cannot attend. |
Use a transition when it helps, not in every sentence. A paragraph where every sentence starts with a transition is hard to read. A comma usually follows a transition at the start of a sentence: As a result, she waited.
Sentence starters
Fill in each blank with your own words.
- Point is important because .One reason is .
- SupportAccording to , .For example, .
- ExplainThis means that .This shows that .
- LinkFor these reasons, .This is why .
Practice
Read this paragraph. Then answer the questions.
(1) Online tutoring helps students who cannot come to campus. (2) Some students live an hour away. (3) The library has new computers. (4) A video session lets these students get help from home. (5) This saves them two hours of driving.
- Which sentence is the topic sentence?
- Which sentence does not belong? Why?
- Which sentence explains why the support matters?
- Write a last sentence that links back to the main idea.
Show suggested answers
- Sentence 1. It states the main idea, and the other sentences support it.
- Sentence 3. New computers in the library are not about students who cannot come to campus.
- Sentence 5. It shows what the support means: time saved.
- One possible answer: “For these students, online tutoring makes help possible.” It returns to the main idea. Other answers are possible.
Next step
Check one paragraph in your draft
- Underline the topic sentence. Does it state one main idea?
- Does every sentence support that idea?
- After each piece of support, did you explain what it shows?
- Does the last sentence link back or forward?