A paragraph is a collection of related sentences dealing with a single topic. This handout breaks the paragraph down into its conceptual and structural components. The conceptual components — ...

Writing a strong topic sentence that establishes the subject of the paragraph Using "echo words" -- i.e., consistent terms for the concepts throughout Applying transitions to link sentences logically ...

Each of the paragraphs below contains three underlined sentences. Read each paragraph and then click on the sentence (or sentences) that you think is the topic sentence of that paragraph. Carpeting ...

The following topic sentences have controlling ideas. Click on the underlined segment of the topic sentence that contains the controlling idea.

Jeff: Oooh and yip, I think the crowd have lost interest Janine. Janine: Classic mistake here Jeff. He’s not used paragraphs. Jeff: Why don’t you break it down for the viewers at home Janine. Janine: ...

You may remember those kids in grade school who struggled to "get it." The concept of paragraphing seemed to elude them, so their words spilled out on paper in a haphazard frenzy. Their work became ...

When looking at the effect that writers are trying to have on their reader, it is important not just to look at the language they have chosen to use. You must also look at the structural features of ...