Paragraphs, like a scene in a movie or a lyric in a song, are the foundation of every good piece of writing. Paragraphs provide your work a natural rhythm that makes it enjoyable to read. The difficulty is, how do you deal with them effectively?
We’ll look at what makes a successful paragraph and how to compose one that’s right for you down below. We also go through some advanced techniques. But first, let’s cover the foundations.
What is a paragraph?
A paragraph is simply a collection of sentences that are all tied to a common topic, idea, or theme. Paragraphs serve as structural tools for writers to organize their thoughts into an ideal progression, as well as for readers to easily comprehend those concepts. Consider how much more difficult reading and writing would be if everything was one huge block of text.
When it comes to creating paragraphs, there is a lot of leeway. However, there is one unbreakable rule: paragraphs should all connect to one core theme or argument. The paragraph itself frequently comprises various points spread across several phrases, but they should all revolve around one central theme. Just as sentences build upon each other to communicate the paragraph’s core theme, paragraphs work together to communicate the core theme of the writing as a whole.
Types of Paragraphs
Narrative Paragraph
If you’re narrating a story, whether fiction or nonfiction, you should divide the action into manageable chunks so your reader doesn’t get confused. That is why narrative paragraphs exist. It breaks up sequential actions into linked pieces, with one leading into the next. It does this so that the reader can stay focused on the tale. They do not employ evidence or supporting arguments like the other sorts of paragraphs, but they nonetheless follow the main guideline of paragraphs concerning unity.
Expository paragraphs
Expository paragraphs are commonly used in essays, academic papers, and journalistic pieces to comprehensively clarify a single issue. These paragraphs convey facts and build up to an incontrovertible conclusion using data, statistics, or citations from other sources.
Persuasive paragraphs
Persuasive paragraphs in editorials and opinion pieces are intended to persuade the reader of a specific perspective, with each sentence giving facts or logic to support that view. The key to writing convincing paragraphs is knowing how to express your point of view without seeming sanctimonious.
Descriptive paragraphs
A descriptive paragraph, which is common in fiction and some forms of journalistic or other factual writing, offers multiple aspects of the same thing, with each phrase bringing additional information. A paragraph in a horror story would explain how it feels to go around the woods alone; a paragraph in a love letter might dwell on the nuances of your significant other’s eyes. Descriptive paragraphs, regardless of context, are intended to present the most accurate picture of your subject.
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