What is a Paragraph?

A paragraph is a short collection of well-organised sentences which revolve around a single theme and is coherent.

Parts of a Paragraph

• Introduction: It constitutes the opening sentences of the paragraph. It introduces the main idea. Good introductions often capture the interest of the reader.
• Body (Supporting Sentences): It constitutes the supporting sentences and ideas. It provides the reader with additional details about the main idea.
• Conclusion: It ties up loose ends of the paragraph and helps in reiterating or highlighting the main idea.

Characteristics of a Well-written Paragraph

• Concise: A good paragraph expresses everything it has to say briefly.
• Unified: A paragraph revolves around a single idea. The first line of the paragraph often gives it away. All the other details support the main idea of the passage.
• Sequenced: The sentences of the paragraph cannot be written haphazardly. The ideas progress in a sequential order.
• Coherent: The sentences in the paragraph do not function independently. They are well-connected to be readable. If a paragraph is not coherent, then it may sound illogical or clumsy to the reader.
• Complete: A complete paragraph expresses everything without leaving any gaps as far as the information is concerned. It does not end abruptly without offering a sensible conclusion.

Example:

• The sentences underlined in RED comprise the introduction of the paragraph. It simplifies or explains the idea given in the title for the reader.
• The sentences underlined in PURPLE comprise the body of the paragraph. It provides all the information to support the main idea of the paragraph.
• The sentences underlined in BLUE comprise the conclusion of the paragraph. It reiterates or highlights the main idea and the final opinion of the writer.
• The paragraph conveys its main ideas briefly. It is therefore concise.
• The entire paragraph focuses on a single idea. It therefore has unity.
• In the paragraph, the ideas in the introduction are well connected to the body of the paragraph.
• That in turn is connected to the conclusion of the paragraph. Connectives like „not only…but also…‟ are added to connect the ideas smoothly and logically. It is therefore sequential and coherent.
• The paragraph does not end abruptly. It repeats the idea that is explained in the beginning of the paragraph. By using closing sentences such as „It is undeniable…‟ it puts emphasis on the writer‟s final opinion. The paragraph is therefore complete.
• Hence, we can say that the above paragraph is well-written.

Types of Paragraphs

• Descriptive Paragraph: As the name suggests, through the Descriptive Paragraph, the writer describes something to the reader. It may be based on what the writer has seen, heard or felt. The writer uses rich descriptions that appeal to the reader‟s senses. This helps the reader place himself in a world that the writer creates.

Sample 1

• Narrative Paragraph: This type of paragraph tells a story or an incident to the reader. In other words, it simply narrates a tale that is meaningful. Such paragraphs often follow a linear or a chronological order of narration.

Sample 2

• Expository Paragraph: This type of paragraph explains an instruction, a method or a process. The purpose of such a paragraph is to simply explain something to the reader. Often, the writer of such paragraphs does a lot of research on the topics he or she wishes to explain. The writer uses expository paragraphs to share the knowledge that he or she already has with the readers.

Sample 3

Steps to Write a Paragraph

• Step 1: Think about the idea given in the title or the prompt.
  • What type of paragraph will be appropriate?
  • What could be the main ideas?
  • How to write the introduction, the body and the conclusion?
  • Write all the ideas. Example:
  • India: The World‟s Biggest Democracy‟
  • In this case, a descriptive paragraph would be appropriate.
  • Main ideas would include
    1. Why India is the biggest democracy?
    2. What are the hallmarks of Indian democracy?
    3. India‟s diversity
    4. Instances when democracy in India played a definite role

• Step 2: Structure your paragraph.
  • Do not use more than two sentences for the introduction and conclusion.
  • Plan your paragraph before instead of writing spontaneously.
  • Arrange the ideas in a chronological order in a narrative paragraph.
  • Arrange them in the increasing order of importance in a descriptive or expository paragraph.
  • Remember to conclude the paragraph.
• Step 3: Use a consistent tense form while writing the paragraph.

• Step 4: Keep in mind the „Characteristics of a Well-written Paragraph‟ that we discussed at the beginning of the lesson.

• Step 5: Recheck for any grammatical errors after writing a paragraph.

A Checklist:

  Samples

Descriptive Paragraphs

Sample 4

A Snowy Night

A bird perched on the branch of a hickory tree observed the village on a cold, snowy night. The wind blew gently caressing the tree tops and the window panes. It caused the children out for a nightly stroll to pull their caps over their ears and their shawls to their faces. Worried people closed the pen windows to not let the cool breeze snuff out the fireplace. A small brook that usually flowed to meet the river in the east had now frozen completely. Little children at had painstakingly built a snowman. Young Susie had procured a big, fat carrot for the snowman‟s nose.  Her brother Philip was making angels in the snow. Their mother was beckoning them inside for supper.

Sample 5

The Mustang

The mustang is an American horse that is feral by nature. Categorised as a wild horse, the mustang represents the freedom of the Wild West. As a mark of their kind, the mustang possesses 17 ribs and 5 lumbar vertebrae. The body of the animal is smooth, sinewy and well-proportioned. Its head is held high and is characterised by a tapering muzzle. The shoulder of the animal is sloping and its neck is crested. The legs are sturdy and strong; its hindquarters are muscular. Its tail is lush and low set. The hooves of the mustang are wide to balance its body weight. Each of its physical traits reflects its royal Spanish ancestry.

Narrative Paragraphs

Sample 6

Sample 7

The First Time I Baked a Cake

I was always intrigued by my mother‟s electric oven and wanted to try my hand at baking something. But given my clumsy nature, my mother always forbade me from using it. “Learn to tie your shoelaces first!” she would say. One day after a lot of convincing, my mother decided to let me try the oven once. If I did well, I could use it whenever I pleased. I brought out my recipe book that I had been saving all these days for such a moment. I turned the pages to the „Mincemeat Pie‟ recipe. Step-by-step, I followed the instructions. Without missing a single ingredient, I crafted the pie, put it in the oven and baked for a full 45 minutes. A strange smell wafted through the house and I was worried. It cannot be; I had followed the recipe to the t. My sister gave me an incredulous look and already started making excuses to skip supper. My mother and father were left with no choice but to taste what I had made. They both took small spoonfuls of the pie and tasted cautiously. My mother winced and made a strange face, while my father dashed to the sink to spit the morsel out. My mother asked me, “Sweetheart, what recipe was it?” I said, “Mincemeat Pie!” with an indignant tone. “Did you put minced meat into this?” she asked me. “Of course! That‟s what the recipe read!” I   bellowed. My mother calmly explained, “Sweetheart, mincemeat is a term for nuts and fruits, not actual meat. You have added sugar and meat in the same recipe.” I was dumbfounded. Rest assured I never got to use the oven or the recipe book again.

Expository Paragraphs

Sample 8

Sample 9

Why Is Sugar Bad?

Sugar is something everyone loves. Without which, cakes, chocolates, pastries and fizzy drinks would not be the same. It delights us by lifting our mood. People young and old are often addicted to its taste and those who are diabetic have a hard time resisting anything sugar laden. However, experts will warn you about the deleterious effect it will have on your health. Sugar has always had a bad reputation when it came to dental health. Dentists have always encouraged children and adults to brush thoroughly after enjoying a sugary treat. This is because sugar is erodes the tough enamel of the teeth and cause cavities. They contain no nutritional value and can only supply the body with energy. If the sugar is not converted to energy immediately, the body converts it into fat and stores it in the body for future use. This contributes towards obesity. Excessive sugar like fructose tires the liver affecting its smooth functioning. In conclusion, apart from pampering the taste buds, sugar has nothing much to offer health wise.