Typically, an essay has five paragraphs: an introduction, a conclusion, and three body paragraphs. However, there is no set rule about the number of paragraphs in an essay.
The number of paragraphs can vary depending on the type and scope of your essay. An expository or argumentative essay may require more body paragraphs to include all the necessary information, whereas a narrative essay may need fewer.
To enhance the coherence and readability of your essay, it’s important to follow certain rules regarding the structure. Take a look:
1. Arrange your information from the most simple to the most complex bits. You can start the body paragraph off with a general statement and then move on to specifics.
2. Provide the necessary background information at the beginning of your essay to give the reader the context behind your thesis statement.
3. Select topic statements that provide value, more information, or evidence for your thesis statement.
There are also various essay structures , such as the compare and contrast structure, chronological structure, problem method solution structure, and signposting structure that you can follow to create an organized and impactful essay.
An impactful, well-structured essay comes down to three important parts: the introduction, body, and conclusion.
1. The introduction sets the stage for your essay and is typically a paragraph long. It should grab the reader’s attention and give them a clear idea of what your essay will be about.
2. The body is where you dive deeper into your topic and present your arguments and evidence. It usually consists of two paragraphs, but this can vary depending on the type of essay you’re writing.
3. The conclusion brings your essay to a close and is typically one paragraph long. It should summarize the main points of the essay and leave the reader with something to think about.
The length of your paragraphs can vary depending on the type of essay you’re writing. So, make sure you take the time to plan out your essay structure so each section flows smoothly into the next.
When it comes to writing an essay, the introduction is a critical component that sets the tone for the entire piece. A well-crafted introduction not only grabs the reader’s attention but also provides them with a clear understanding of what the essay is all about. An essay editor can help you achieve this, but it’s best to know the brief yourself!
Let’s take a look at how to write an attractive and informative introductory paragraph.
1. Construct an attractive hook
To grab the reader’s attention, an opening statement or hook is crucial. This can be achieved by incorporating a surprising statistic, a shocking fact, or an interesting anecdote into the beginning of your piece.
For example, if you’re writing an essay about water conservation you can begin your essay with, “Clean drinking water, a fundamental human need, remains out of reach for more than one billion people worldwide. It deprives them of a basic human right and jeopardizes their health and wellbeing.”
2. Provide sufficient context or background information
An effective introduction should begin with a brief description or background of your topic. This will help provide context and set the stage for your discussion.
For example, if you’re writing an essay about climate change, you start by describing the current state of the planet and the impact that human activity is having on it.
3. Construct a well-rounded and comprehensive thesis statement
A good introduction should also include the main message or thesis statement of your essay. This is the central argument that you’ll be making throughout the piece. It should be clear, concise, and ideally placed toward the end of the introduction.
By including these elements in your introduction, you’ll be setting yourself up for success in the rest of your essay.
Let’s take a look at an example.
The Wright Brothers’ invention of the airplane in 1903 revolutionized the way humans travel and explore the world. Prior to this invention, transportation relied on trains, boats, and cars, which limited the distance and speed of travel. However, the airplane made air travel a reality, allowing people to reach far-off destinations in mere hours. This breakthrough paved the way for modern-day air travel, transforming the world into a smaller, more connected place. In this essay, we will explore the impact of the Wright Brothers’ invention on modern-day travel, including the growth of the aviation industry, increased accessibility of air travel to the general public, and the economic and cultural benefits of air travel.
You can persuade your readers and make your thesis statement compelling by providing evidence, examples, and logical reasoning. To write a fool-proof and authoritative essay, you need to provide multiple well-structured, substantial arguments.
Let’s take a look at how this can be done:
1. Write a topic sentence for each paragraph
The beginning of each of your body paragraphs should contain the main arguments that you’d like to address. They should provide ground for your thesis statement and make it well-rounded. You can arrange these arguments in several formats depending on the type of essay you’re writing.
2. Provide the supporting information
The next point of your body paragraph should provide supporting information to back up your main argument. Depending on the type of essay, you can elaborate on your main argument with the help of relevant statistics, key information, examples, or even personal anecdotes.
3. Analyze the supporting information
After providing relevant details and supporting information, it is important to analyze it and link it back to your main argument.
End one body paragraph with a smooth transition to the next. There are many ways in which this can be done, but the most common way is to give a gist of your main argument along with the supporting information with transitory words such as “however” “in addition to” “therefore”.
Here’s an example of a body paragraph.
The Wright Brothers’ invention of the airplane revolutionized air travel. They achieved the first-ever successful powered flight with the Wright Flyer in 1903, after years of conducting experiments and studying flight principles. Despite their first flight lasting only 12 seconds, it was a significant milestone that paved the way for modern aviation. The Wright Brothers’ success can be attributed to their systematic approach to problem-solving, which included numerous experiments with gliders, the development of a wind tunnel to test their designs, and meticulous analysis and recording of their results. Their dedication and ingenuity forever changed the way we travel, making modern aviation possible.
A powerful concluding statement separates a good essay from a brilliant one. To create a powerful conclusion, you need to start with a strong foundation.
Let’s take a look at how to construct an impactful concluding statement.
1. Restructure your thesis statement
To conclude your essay effectively, don’t just restate your thesis statement. Instead, use what you’ve learned throughout your essay and modify your thesis statement accordingly. This will help you create a conclusion that ties together all of the arguments you’ve presented.
2. Summarize the main points of your essay
The next point of your conclusion consists of a summary of the main arguments of your essay. It is crucial to effectively summarize the gist of your essay into one, well-structured paragraph.
3. Create a lasting impression with your concluding statement
Conclude your essay by including a key takeaway, or a powerful statement that creates a lasting impression on the reader. This can include the broader implications or consequences of your essay topic.
Here’s an example of a concluding paragraph.
The Wright Brothers’ invention of the airplane forever changed history by paving the way for modern aviation and countless aerospace advancements. Their persistence, innovation, and dedication to problem-solving led to the first successful powered flight in 1903, sparking a revolution in transportation that transformed the world. Today, air travel remains an integral part of our globalized society, highlighting the undeniable impact of the Wright Brothers’ contribution to human civilization.
Most essays are derived from the combination or variation of these four main types of essays . let’s take a closer look at these types.
1. Narrative essay
A narrative essay is a type of writing that involves telling a story, often based on personal experiences. It is a form of creative nonfiction that allows you to use storytelling techniques to convey a message or a theme.
2. Descriptive essay
A descriptive essay aims to provide an immersive experience for the reader by using sensory descriptors. Unlike a narrative essay, which tells a story, a descriptive essay has a narrower scope and focuses on one particular aspect of a story.
3. Argumentative essays
An argumentative essay is a type of essay that aims to persuade the reader to adopt a particular stance based on factual evidence and is one of the most common forms of college essays.
4. Expository essays
An expository essay is a common format used in school and college exams to assess your understanding of a specific topic. The purpose of an expository essay is to present and explore a topic thoroughly without taking any particular stance or expressing personal opinions.
While this article demonstrates what is an essay and describes its types, you may also have other doubts. As experts who provide essay editing and proofreading services , we’re here to help.
Our team has created a list of resources to clarify any doubts about writing essays. Keep reading to write engaging and well-organized essays!
What is the difference between an argumentative and an expository essay, what is the difference between a narrative and a descriptive essay, what is an essay format, what is the meaning of essay, what is the purpose of writing an essay.
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Bethany is a certified Special Education and Elementary teacher with 11 years experience teaching Special Education from grades PK through 5. She has a Bachelor's degree in Special Education, Elementary Education, and English from Gordon College and a Master's degree in Special Education from Salem State University.
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What is a body paragraph, how to write a body paragraph, body paragraph structure, body paragraph example, lesson summary.
A body paragraph is a crucial part of most standard essays or papers. The role of the body paragraph is to provide key information in an essay. Most essays have multiple body paragraphs, which make up the bulk of an essay. To further understand the body paragraph, review the basic format of an essay.
Generally, an essay or paper consists of three major components:
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Every writer needs to know how to write a body paragraph. The three basic steps are:
These steps can be remembered by the mnemonic TEC (topic/evidence/conclusion).
A body paragraph topic sentence introduces the main idea of the paragraph and tells the reader what to expect. For example, if an essay is laying out an argument, the topic sentence of the body paragraph should reveal which point in the argument will be discussed in that paragraph.
Be sure your topic sentences are both informative and precise. Present the paragraph's main idea and set the stage for the rest of the paragraph.
The middle section of a body paragraph consists of evidence or supporting details. If the topic sentence is a claim, then the following sentences should provide evidence of that claim. Present your evidence in a logical sequence. Transition words for body paragraphs can help to clarify the flow of ideas. Some transition words include:
because | although | yet | obviously | for instance | for example | therefore | then |
later | soon | in fact | consequently | in addition | first | conversely | meanwhile |
in this case | to demonstrate | besides | furthermore | soon | next | by comparison | in contrast |
If a body paragraph is part of a narrative or opinion essay, supporting details should be used to explain and strengthen the paragraph's claim. For example, if the topic sentence is ''Visit Montana to experience its unsurpassed beauty,'' then the supporting details should describe some beautiful parts of Montana.
Knowing how to end a body paragraph is crucial. The concluding sentence needs to summarize the main point of the paragraph without repeating the topic sentence verbatim. It can emphasize the importance of the supporting details used or comment on connections between the details. The concluding sentence should also provide a bridge to the following paragraph.
Here is a possible concluding sentence for the Montana paragraph:
This sentence reiterates the paragraph's theme in different wording, then hints at the next body paragraph.
A good body paragraph needs a solid body paragraph structure. Before writing, create a body paragraph outline including ideas for the topic sentence, supporting sentences, and conclusion. One way to picture the structure of a body paragraph is an inverted triangle, moving the information from general statements to specific details. Look at the illustration for one graphic organizer that shows how to start a body paragraph.
Body paragraph examples can be found in a variety of literary essays and speeches. In an essay entitled ''American Literature,'' John Macy discusses his thesis that American literature is an extension of English literature, relying heavily on English and European sources for topics and settings. Each body paragraph in the essay explains one point in his argument.
Following is a body paragraph from this essay:
''The novelists are the worst offenders. There have been few of them; they have not been adequate in numbers or in genius to the task of describing the sections of the country, the varied scenes and habits from New Orleans to the Portlands. And yet, small band as they are, with great domestic opportunities and responsibilities, they have devoted volumes to Paris, which has an able native corps of story-makers, and to Italy, where the home talent is first-rate. In this sense American literature is too globe-trotting, it has too little savor of the soil.''
This body paragraph example from John Macy fulfills the role of body paragraph by presenting one argument that supports the thesis given in his introduction.
What is a body paragraph? The body paragraph definition is a paragraph that provides key information in an essay and follows the format of a paragraph. The average essay is made up of an introductory paragraph, one or more body paragraphs, and a conclusion paragraph.
A body paragraph needs:
What is a body paragraph.
Imagine that it's spring. The birds are chirping, the flies are getting in through the window, the plants are budding their newborn leaves. Now, imagine that you want to tell someone about it all. First, you need a topic sentence to begin the conversation; maybe something like: You wouldn't believe how beautiful the birdsongs are this year, or My gosh, there must be at least a million flies coming in through the kitchen window or The trees and the bushes are bursting with green.
Now, in order to continue the conversation, you will need to have supporting details that include examples of what you are talking about. You might describe the birdsongs, using examples of the most beautiful songs. You might describe the flies, using examples of where the majority of the flies have landed, or describe the trees and bushes using examples of particular trees or bushes that are most lush and green. These are your supporting sentences.
Then, you need a statement that emphasizes the importance of birds chirping, flies getting in and the new green leaves. It might be something as simple as I could listen to birds singing forever, or I have got to get some fly strips or Man, am I glad spring is finally here! These are your concluding sentences, and they emphasize the importance of the birdsongs, flies and new green leaves.
In writing, the body paragraph is the main part of your essay or paper. Each body paragraph contains a topic sentence that tells readers what the paragraph is going to be about, supporting explanation sentences that discuss the idea or ideas in the topic sentence, using examples and/or evidence to support that discussion, and a concluding sentence that emphasizes the importance of the supporting examples or evaluates the connections between them. In a fully developed essay, a minimum of three body paragraphs should be written to support the thesis of the essay.
Each body paragraph will have a topic sentence, which tells readers what your paragraph is going to be about and what you want to say about your topic. For example: One of the challenges that is unique to space is the fact that space is a vacuum, which is a risk for various reasons. This topic sentence tells readers that the paragraph that follows it will be about one of the challenges that is unique to space: the fact that it is a vacuum and the reasons why that vacuum is a risk factor.
Each body paragraph will have supporting explanation sentences that develop the idea or ideas in your topic sentence. These explanations would be supported with examples and cited evidence to support that discussion. This evidence can be quotes, statistics, or relevant facts from researched sources, or they can be real-life examples, such as anecdotes, personal experiences, or observations.
For example: First, in a vacuum there is no atmosphere and therefore no air pressure. Without air pressure, the human body has no oxygen to sustain itself. (Include supporting evidence for this statement.) After too many minutes without oxygen, a person would lose consciousness and eventually die. (Include supporting evidence for this statement.) Also, in a vacuum a person's blood will gradually begin to boil. Finally, without an atmosphere, the rays of the sun can cause radiation poisoning. (Include supporting evidence for this statement.)
These explanation sentences follow the topic sentence and tell readers what one of those reasons is and why it is a risk by giving examples of how a lack of an atmosphere and air pressure affects the human body: losing consciousness and eventually dying, the blood beginning to boil and radiation poisoning from the sun. The evidence provides concrete details that support and prove the explanation.
Each body paragraph will contain a concluding sentence that emphasizes the importance of the supporting examples or evaluates the connections between them. For example: These adverse reactions to the environment in space make space travel particularly challenging. This sentence shows the relationship between the presented facts and the topic sentence, providing a closure to the paragraph.
Here is another sample body paragraph. See if you can identify the three required components.
Another difficulty that is unique to outer space is the presence of meteors and micro-meteors. These are pieces of rock and metal that are left over from the formation of the solar system. Many of these objects travel at very high speeds. Under the Earth's blanket of air, people are usually protected from meteor impacts. According to Nasa, ''No known asteroid poses a significant risk of impact with Earth over the next 100 years. The highest risk of impact for a known asteroid is a 1 in 714 chance'' (Talbert). However, in space, people and spaceships are vulnerable to collisions with meteors. It is true that the chance of meteor impacts is relatively small, but if even a small micro-meteor happens to collide with a spacecraft, it could cause serious damage.
In this body paragraph, the author establishes the topic as the presence of meteors and micro-meteors; emphasizes the importance of the examples of pieces of rock and metal traveling at very high speeds causing serious damage out in space, no matter how small; and the protection we have from these impacts because of the Earth's blanket of air. The author provides a piece of cited evidence to support the explanation and concludes with the acknowledgment that although a collision happening is rare, the damage that does occur when it happens is serious.
Remember, in writing, the body paragraph is the main part of your essay or paper, with essays having a minimum of three body paragraphs. Each body paragraph contains a topic sentence that tells readers what the paragraph is going to be about; supporting explanation sentences that discuss the idea or ideas in the topic sentence, using examples and cited evidence to support that discussion; and a concluding sentence that emphasizes the importance of the supporting examples or evaluates the connections between them.
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Learning to support your main ideas with pertinent details
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In composition , development (also known as elaboration ) is the process of adding informative and illustrative details to support the main idea in a paragraph or essay . Paragraphs and essays can be developed in many different ways. In conventional composition courses, the following patterns of exposition are often presented as the standard methods of development in expository writing :
"[The] methods of development aren't empty jugs to pour full of any old, dull words. Neither are they straitjackets woven by fiendish English teachers to pin your writing arm to your side and keep you from expressing yourself naturally. The methods are tools for achieving your purpose in writing, whatever that purpose may be. They can help you discover what you know, what you need to know, how to think critically about your subject, and how to shape your writing." —From "The Bedford Reader" by X.J. and Dorothy M. Kennedy
"Possibly the most serious—and most common—weakness of all essays by novice writers is the lack of effectively developed body paragraphs . The information in each paragraph must adequately explain, exemplify, define, or in some other way support your topic sentence . Therefore, you must include enough supporting information or evidence in each paragraph to make your readers understand your topic sentence. Moreover, you must make the information in the paragraph clear and specific enough for the readers to accept your ideas." —From "Steps to Writing Well" by Jean Wyrick
"What the opening of an essay promises, the body of the essay must deliver. This is known as 'developing your ideas,' but I like to use a body-building metaphor because it implies adding not just bulk to a framework, but musculature. In other words, good essay development strengthens , not merely fills out. . . .
"What is the best way to reinforce the main idea of your essay? You can do some by making good use of any combination of the following six methods of development:
"By using these bodybuilding elements, you are telling your readers, 'I don't expect you to take my word for these claims ; I want you to see for yourself!" —From "LifeWriting: Drawing from Personal Experience to Create Features You Can Publish" by Fred D. White
"Although most short papers may employ one primary pattern with other patterns woven throughout, longer papers may have two or more primary patterns of development . For example, if you are writing a paper on the causes and effects of child abuse in the foster care system, you might, after the causal analysis, shift the primary focus of the essay to prevention, thus continuing the essay with a process analysis of what the state might do to prevent child abuse. Then you might end the essay by addressing the objections from those defending the system, shifting the focus of the essay to argumentation .
"Your decision to include other primary patterns depends on your purpose and audience . Your thesis makes your purpose clear to your reader. Then as you develop your essay, you may integrate other patterns into your paragraphs." —From "Bridges to Better Writing" by Luis Nazario, Deborah Borchers, and William Lewis
Pasco-Hernando State College
Topic sentence – purpose of a paragraph.
Unless you are writing specialized report such as a scientific research paper or a feasibility study that may otherwise show the purpose of a paragraph such as a heading , a well written paragraph must have a topic sentence which states what the paragraph is about.
Whether you are writing a paragraph for a specific assignment, an academic essay, a research paper, or a simple letter, each paragraph should include a topic sentence. The topic sentence should be the first sentence of the paragraph so that the reader knows what the paragraph is about. The topic sentence in a body paragraph of an essay must be support for the thesis: a reason why the thesis is true or accurate.
The rest of the sentences in the paragraph of an essay support, elaborate, and/or further explain the topic sentence.
The first sentence is the topic sentence. See how the rest of the sentences support, elaborate, and/or or further explain it.
Almost every aspect of modern life has been improved through convenience provided by technology. From the alarm clock in the morning to the entertainment center at night, everyday life is improved. The automatic coffee maker has the coffee ready at a certain time. Cars or public transportation bring people to work where computers operate at the push of a button. At home, there’s the convenience of washing machines and dryers, dishwashers, air conditioners, and power lawn mowers. Modern technology has made life better with many conveniences.
Everything in this paragraph is about how modern life has been improved through convenience provided by technology.
A paragraph must have unity.
All of the sentences of a particular paragraph must focus on one point to achieve one goal: to support the topic sentence.
A paragraph must have coherence.
The sentences must flow smoothly and logically from one to the next as they support the topic sentence.
The last sentence of the paragraph should restate the topic sentence to help achieve unity and coherence.
Almost every aspect of modern life has been improved through convenience provided by modern technology. From the alarm clock in the morning to the entertainment center at night, everyday life is improved. The automatic coffee maker has the coffee ready at a certain time. People are more concerned about health issues and good air quality, so they have started walking or riding a bike to work even though they have the option of using a car or public transportation. There’s the convenience of washing machines and dryers, dishwashers, air conditioners, and power lawn mowers. Modern technology has made life better with many conveniences.
See how just one non-supporting sentence takes away from the effectiveness of the paragraph in showing how modern conveniences make life better since the unity and coherence are affected. There is no longer unity among all the sentences. The thought pattern is disjointed and the paragraph loses its coherence.
Not only has modern technology improved life through convenience, it has improved life through efficiency. The time saved with machines doing most of the work leaves more time for people to develop their personal goals or to just relax. Years ago, when doing laundry could take all day, there wasn’t time left over to read or go to school or even just to take a leisurely walk. Nowadays, people have more time and energy than ever to simply enjoy their lives thanks to the efficiency of modern technology.
Note: See how all the sentences work together to support the point that technology has improved lives through efficiency.
Transitions are words, groups of words, or sentences that connect one sentence to another or one paragraph to another.
They promote a logical flow from one idea to the next.
While they are not needed in every sentence, they are missed when they are omitted since the flow of thoughts becomes disjointed or even confusing.
There are different types of transitions such as the following:
These are just a few examples. The idea is to paint a clear, logical connection between sentences and between paragraphs.
Not only has modern technology improved life through convenience, it has improved life through efficiency. The time saved with machines doing most of the work leaves more time for people to develop their personal goals or to just relax. Years ago, when doing laundry could take all day, there wasn’t time left over to read or go to school or even just to take a leisurely walk. Nowadays , people have more time and energy than ever to simply enjoy their lives thanks to the efficiency of modern technology.
Each part of a paragraph must support the topic sentence. In addition, the sentences must flow logically from one to the other.
Growing flowers is fun. The sun rises in the morning and warms the soil. Flowers come in all different sizes, shapes, and colors. Sometimes, there is not enough rain. Flowers also bloom during different times of the year. Flowers need nutrients to grow strong and beautiful. There are some children who like to pick the flowers. There are different growing seasons in different parts of the country. Flowers that will grow high should be planted behind those that will not grow as high. Some people let their dog’s leash extend allowing the dog to go into the flower beds which is not very nice. Designing a flower bed has to consider the different times the flowers will bloom. A substitute for rainfall should be planned. It is fun to grow flowers.
Growing flowers is fun. Planning the garden is the first step, and it is part of the fun. Flowers must be selected for their size, color, and time of bloom. Selections should be made so that there is at least one type of flower blooming throughout the season and that taller flowers are behind shorter ones. Meeting the challenges to assure growth such as with an irrigation system or hand watering and fertilizing when needed is also part of the fun. It’s wonderful to check the garden every day to see the little green sprouts starting to appear. It gives a great sense of accomplishment and joy to see the flowers in bloom. It is fun to grow flowers.
There are several reasons to select my company to do this job. We are a family owned and operated business and have been in business in this county for thirty-five years. In addition to thousands of satisfied customers, we have proudly sponsored many community events and organizations. All of our employees live in this county, and most have stayed with us for years. We have successfully kept our overhead low and pass those savings onto our customers. By far, we are the best company to complete this project.
Note: See how all the sentences work together to support the point that we are the best company to hire.
I am happy that the warm weather is finally here! It’s been a cold winter. There are several reasons to select my company to do this job. By far, we are the best company to complete this project. I have a large family, and in addition to having Sunday dinners, we work together in the company which has many satisfied customers. Some of my employees take the bus to work, so I am concerned about our public transportation system. We have proudly served our community, and we use cost saving methods to keep prices low.
Beginning January 1, we will have a revised policy concerning new customers. The updated intake form includes additional information, so please be sure to read through and complete each section. Pay particular addition to the additional questions at the bottom as they are now required by the insurance company. We would like to have e-mail addresses as well. You can assure customers that we will not be sending them solicitations nor giving the list to any other business. Be sure to fill in the information neatly and accurately. It is preferred that the information be entered directly into the computer although we realize there are times when that is not practical and a hard-copy form will have to be completed by hand. Review the instructions on the back page of the form for more details on the revised policy for new customers.
Note: See how all the sentences work together to support the point shown in the topic sentence that modern technology has expanded accessibility.
The last sentence of a paragraph should remind the reader of the point of the paragraph and transition into the next paragraph if there is one. See how the last sentence, for example, in the above paragraph reminds the reader of what the paragraph is about: Review the instructions on the back page of the form for more details on the revised policy for new customers.
Most paragraphs we see are part of a multi-paragraph document: newspaper and magazine articles, books, business letters and inter-office memorandum, “how-to” documents, and other informational documents. Usually, there is an organization of the paragraphs in a specific way. The opening paragraph generally gives some idea of what the document is about. The middle paragraphs give more details about the specific point. The last paragraph ends the writing, generally by summing up and repeating the point.
There are some context-specific documents that have more clearly defined paragraphs which are something included as sections of the writing. For example, a feasibility report might have paragraphs as follows: abstract and/or summary, introduction, discussion, conclusion, recommendations.
Business letters and inter-office memorandums basically have the same organization of the content: an introduction paragraph, paragraphs that prove or further explain, and a concluding paragraph which sums up and repeats the point. A business letter, however, is generally written on company stationery and has the date and address block in the upper left, a Re: line, a salutation such as Dear Mr. Haller (although some are no longer using a formal salutation), and a complimentary closing such as Sincerely. An inter-office memorandum is generally written on plain paper, sometimes with the company logo as part of the template, lines with To:, From:, Date:, and Re: in the upper left, and no complimentary closing.
Informational documents.
This refers to groups of writings that are designed to give information about a topic or position on a topic. While they all include a specific thesis (point), have an introduction and concluding paragraph, and have paragraphs that proof or explain the point, there can be wide variety on where the thesis is expressed and the ancillary information presented that is supplemental to the thesis. These are sometimes called essays. However, academic essays do have a very specific organizational pattern.
The introduction paragraph and the concluding paragraph of an essay are different from a general paragraph. An introduction contains general background information on a topic and leads into a thesis statement. The sentences with background information are not really in support of the thesis, but they are relevant and logically flow into the thesis. In other words, there must be unity and coherence in an introduction paragraph as well.
While the body paragraph of an academic is the same as a general paragraph in that they have a topic sentence and sentences that support it, the topic sentence must be a reason why the thesis of the essay. Body paragraphs should be clearly in support for the thesis and not contain any extraneous information.
A concluding paragraph sums up the proof and restates the thesis. Some instructors ask for a statement drawing an implication of the information presented instead of or in addition to a restatement of the thesis. In either case, while a concluding paragraph, as with the introduction paragraph, does not start with a topic sentence and has the rest of the sentences support the topic sentence, the concluding paragraph is similar in that the summary of the proof ties directly into the thesis or statement of general implication. There are no extraneous, off-topic sentences.
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A paragraph is a component of fictional prose and non-fiction writings. When writing essays, research papers, books, etc., new paragraphs are indented to show their beginnings. Each new paragraph begins with a new indentation. The purpose of a paragraph is to express a speaker's thoughts on a particular point in a clear way that is unique and ...
Paragraphs are the building blocks of papers. Many students define paragraphs in terms of length: a paragraph is a group of at least five sentences, a paragraph is half a page long, etc. In reality, though, the unity and coherence of ideas among sentences is what constitutes a paragraph. A paragraph is defined as "a group of sentences or a ...
A paragraph is a series of sentences on a specific point or topic. A well written paragraph must have a topic sentence which states the main idea: what the paragraph is about. While some say the topic sentence can be anywhere in the paragraph, it is best to put it as the first sentence in a paragraph. The rest of the sentences in the paragraph ...
A paragraph is a series of sentences on a specific point or topic. A well written paragraph must have a topic sentence which states the main idea: what the paragraph is about. While some say the topic sentence can be anywhere in the paragraph, it is best to put it as the first sentence in a paragraph. The rest of the sentences in the paragraph ...
Table of contents. Step 1: Identify the paragraph's purpose. Step 2: Show why the paragraph is relevant. Step 3: Give evidence. Step 4: Explain or interpret the evidence. Step 5: Conclude the paragraph. Step 6: Read through the whole paragraph. When to start a new paragraph.
8. All paragraphs need to be relevant to the marking criteria. 9. Only include one key idea per paragraph. 10. Keep sentences short. 11. Keep quotes short. Paragraph structure is one of the most important elements of getting essay writing right.
Coherence is the trait that makes the paragraph easily understandable to a reader. You can help create coherence in your paragraphs by creating logical bridges and verbal bridges. Logical bridges. The same idea of a topic is carried over from sentence to sentence. Successive sentences can be constructed in parallel form.
A paragraph is a block of sentences within a larger piece of writing, this piece of writing could be fictional, an essay, an article or any other piece of written text. Most commonly, a paragraph will be used to discuss a particular theme within the writing, for example, if a piece of writing is talking about animals, the author might use ...
The highlighted sentence in the paragraph is important to note because it is a detail that does not relate closely enough to the topic sentence to be included in the essay. While the sentence does ...
A strong paragraph in an academic essay will usually include these three elements: A topic sentence. The topic sentence does double duty for a paragraph. First, a strong topic sentence makes a claim or states a main idea that is then developed in the rest of the paragraph. Second, the topic sentence signals to readers how the paragraph is ...
A paragraph is a distinct section of writing covering one topic. A paragraph will usually contain more than one sentence. A typical paragraph will be 5-7 sentences, but this is by no means a rule. The length is determined by the topic and the content.
A paragraph is a group of sentences that fleshes out a single idea. In order for a paragraph to be effective, it must begin with a topic sentence, have sentences that support the main idea of that paragraph, and maintain a consistent flow. • informs and entertains your reader about your paper's overall idea.
Paragraphing is the practice of dividing a text into paragraphs. The purpose of paragraphing is to signal shifts in thinking and give readers a rest. Paragraphing is "a way of making visible to the reader the stages in the writer's thinking" (J. Ostrom, 1978). Although conventions about the length of paragraphs vary from one form of writing to ...
Parts of an essay. An impactful, well-structured essay comes down to three important parts: the introduction, body, and conclusion. 1. The introduction sets the stage for your essay and is typically a paragraph long. It should grab the reader's attention and give them a clear idea of what your essay will be about.
Essay. An essay is, generally, a piece of writing that gives the author's own argument, but the definition is vague, overlapping with those of a letter, a paper, an article, a pamphlet, and a short story. Essays have been sub-classified as formal and informal: formal essays are characterized by "serious purpose, dignity, logical organization ...
A body paragraph is a crucial part of most standard essays or papers. The role of the body paragraph is to provide key information in an essay. Most essays have multiple body paragraphs, which ...
Updated on September 21, 2019. In composition, development (also known as elaboration) is the process of adding informative and illustrative details to support the main idea in a paragraph or essay. Paragraphs and essays can be developed in many different ways. In conventional composition courses, the following patterns of exposition are often ...
The topic sentence in a body paragraph of an essay must be support for the thesis: a reason why the thesis is true or accurate. The rest of the sentences in the paragraph of an essay support, elaborate, and/or further explain the topic sentence. Here is an example of a paragraph: The first sentence is the topic sentence.
What is artificial intelligence? Artificial intelligence (AI) is the theory and development of computer systems capable of performing tasks that historically required human intelligence, such as recognizing speech, making decisions, and identifying patterns. AI is an umbrella term that encompasses a wide variety of technologies, including machine learning, deep learning, and natural language ...