Writing an effective paragraph takes time and effort. Follow the strategy below and you will be sure to write the most effective of paragraphs.
Step 1: If you are composing one paragraph for an assignment, write an effective lead. If you are writing several paragraphs, your introductory paragraph will include your lead.
Step 2: Your paragraph MUST have a topic sentence. This sentence states precisely what your paragraph is about and allows your reader the opportunity to know your intention for writing.
Step 3: Write an explanatory sentence. You want your reader to be 100% sure of your topic. Be sure to explain exactly what your intention is when writing your topic sentence.
Step 4: Begin to focus on your topic by writing a detail---simply put, a statement or fact that shares about your topic.
Step 5: Follow this detail with back-up. This is in the form of an explanation or example that supports what you wrote in your detail. ANYONE CAN SAY ANYTHING! A powerful piece of writing is one that is clearly backed up with examples and explanations. You may use the transitions "for example," or "to explain," to support your detail.
Step 6: Repeat steps 4 and 5 until you have completed your writing in reference to you topic sentence. This is important. You do not want to sway off the topic, or you will have a runaway, boring and confusing paragraph.
Step 7: Close with an effective conclusion. You want to restate the topic sentence so that the reader is left with a closing idea of the content of the paragraph.
SAMPLE:
Please, Come to TwixesImagine living on a planet that is entirely covered with chocolate. That's right...chocolate. I live on Twixes where the dirt is chocolate, the people are gigantic and the atmosphere very special. Out of all the things that exist on our planet those are the three most unique of the entire solar system.This is a planet that everyone would dream of living on and is far enough away from the sun that the outside layer is neither soft nor hard. For example, in some places the dirt can be snapped off and eaten, and in others, the dirt can be used for hot fudge sundaes! Having chocolate for dirt is a good thing, but it causes all of us to be very large creatures. The average Twixian weighs at least 500 pounds! For us, this is normal and we actually think of all you on Earth as way too thin. Because of our size we need to breath in much of our atmosphere which is made up of tiny particles of what you call ice cream. There is an infinite supply of it, so there is enough for all eternity. Perhaps some day you will take a flight out to visit us. Just be sure to bring your spoon!
OK--Let's look at one sentence at a time.
LEAD: Imagine living on a planet that is entirely covered with chocolate. That's right...chocolate.
TOPIC SENTENCE: I live on Twixes where the dirt is chocolate, the people are gigantic and the atmosphere very special.
EXPLANATORY SENTENCE:--It explains why I am writing about these three topics: Out of all the things that exist on our planet those are the three most unique of the entire solar system.
DETAIL: This is a planet that everyone would dream of living on and is far enough away from the sun that the outside layer is neither soft nor hard.
BACK UP:-This two sentences support the detail: For example, in some places the dirt can be snapped off and eaten, and in others, the dirt can be used for hot fudge sundaes!
LEAD INTO NEXT DETAIL:--This sentence prepares the reader for the next detail: Having chocolate for dirt is a good thing, but it causes all of us to be very large creatures.
DETAIL: The average Twixian weighs at least 500 pounds!
BACK-UP: For us, this is normal, and we actually think of all you on Earth as way too thin.
LEAD INTO THE NEXT DETAIL AND CONNECTION TO PREVIOUS SENTENCE: Because of our size we need to breath in much of our atmosphere which is made up of tiny particles of what you call ice cream.
BACK-UP: There is an infinite supply of it, so there is enough for all eternity.
CONCLUSION: Perhaps some day you will take a flight out to visit us. Just be sure to bring your spoon!