Analyzing the Structure of Paragraphs

Which of the following would be the best topic sentence for the paragraph below? It is missing its topic sentence.

A short paragraph can be about four sentences long as you only need a few facts (evidence) to support your argument. If you are developing a complex idea or argument, then your paragraph may be longer. For example, a long paragraph could have up to ten sentences. Therefore, you should aim to write paragraphs that are between four and ten sentences in length.

• The topic sentence must be used to start a paragraph.

• The reader's attention is lost when paragraphs are too long.

• In formal academic writing, the length of a paragraph may vary.

• Paragraphs should be four to ten sentences long.

Comment on the following paragraph:

All students need to know how to write a good paragraph. The main parts of a paragraph are topic sentence, supporting sentences and concluding sentence. Students may receive lower marks for poorly constructed paragraphs. Paragraphs in Law essays are different from paragraphs in other subject areas.

• Incorrectly written, because the supporting sentences DO NOT MATCH the topic sentence.

• Incorrectly written, because a paragraph is a GROUP of sentences, so each sent ence DOES NOT start on a new line.

• Correctly written, because the paragraph sticks to the topic sentence AND starts the next sentence on the same line as the previous sentence.

Comment on the following paragraph:

All students need to know how to write a good paragraph.

However, not all students know how to master this skill when they begin university studies.

Poor paragraph writing can result in lowered marks in assignment tasks and exams because markers are unable to interpret students’ answers.

As academic success is so dependent on mastery of writing skills, students need to learn this skill as quickly as possible.

• Incorrectly written, because the supporting sentences DO NOT MATCH the topic sentence.

• Incorrectly written, because a paragraph is a GROUP of sentences, so each sentence DOES NOT start on a new line.

• Correctly written, because the paragraph sticks to the topic sentence AND starts the next sentence on the same line as the previous sentence.

Comment on the following paragraph:

All students need to know how to write a good paragraph. However, not all students know how to master this skill when they begin university studies. Poor paragraph writing can result in lowered marks in assignment tasks and exams because markers are unable to interpret students’ answers. As academic success is so dependent on mastery of writing skills, students need to learn this skill as quickly as possible.

• Incorrectly written, because the supporting sentences DO NOT MATCH the topic sentence.

• Incorrectly written, because a paragraph is a GROUP of sentences, so each sentence DOES NOT start on a new line.

• Correctly written, because the paragraph sticks to the topic sentence AND starts the next sentence on the same line as the previous sentence.

There are many different types of paragraphs. The five most common types are listed in the answers. What type of paragraph is this?

The topic sentence is a feature of paragraph structure. It is the first and most general sentence in the paragraph. This sentence states the subject and the controlling idea for the rest of the paragraph. The sentences that follow the topic sentence provide relevant evidence to support the point that is made in the topic sentence. Topic sentences, then, must be brief and to the point. (5 sentences)

• Chronological order (recounts in the order in which it happened)

• Description (provides specific details, features)

• Argument & persuasion (proves a point)

• Explanation (tells step-by-step how to do something)

• Compare (describes similarities) and contrast (describes differences).

There are many different types of paragraphs. The five most common types are listed in the answers. What type of paragraph is this?

Assignment writing as a method of assessment is only a fairly recent academic activity. Towards the end of the nineteenth century, most higher education assessment was dominantly oral. At the turn of the century, academic research became a popular activity, thus creating a writing culture. Up to the mid 1960s, most essay writing for assessment was done under exam conditions and mainly in Arts subjects. Setting assignment tasks has been a feature of university coursework since the 1960s when the role of essays as assignments became recognised for its educational advantage. (5 sentences)

• Chronological order (recounts in the order in which it happened)

• Description (provides specific details, features)

• Argument & persuasion (proves a point)

• Explanation (tells step-by-step how to do something)

• Compare (describes similarities) and contrast (describes differences).

There are many different types of paragraphs. The five most common types are listed in the answers. What type of paragraph is this?

For students to understand writing, it is essential that they have an explicit understanding of topic sentences. If a topic sentence is well written (i.e. it is doing its job of summarising the paragraph), then it helps the writer to write clear and acceptable paragraphs. Additionally, a reader can use topic sentences to scan paragraphs for an overview of the meaning of whole articles and chapters of writing. Therefore, a precise understanding of the function of topic sentences opens up the world of academic writing and reading for the learner. (4 sentences)

• Chronological order (recounts in the order in which it happened)

• Description (provides specific details, features)

• Argument & persuasion (proves a point)

• Explanation (tells step-by-step how to do something)

• Compare (describes similarities) and contrast (describes differences).