Julie Tagg

January 25, 2024

A paragraph is a group of sentences that focus on one main idea. A paragraph is made of four elements:

• topic sentence
• sentences that support the topic sentence
• explanation of the sentences that support the topic sentences, and
• concluding sentence

Example
Topic sentence/main idea: Saturn is the most beautiful planet.
Supporting sentences: Saturn is the most beautiful planet (a) because of its bright yellow rings (b) that glows as it revolves around the sun.
Concluding sentence: These are just a few of the reasons for Saturn is a beautiful planet.

Elements

Other elements of paragraph writing includes:

• unity – every sentence in the paragraph should relate to the topic sentence, 
• order – the sentences should be arranged in a logical sequence. This means that the most important idea comes first.
• coherence – each sentence should flow smoothly into the next and all the sentences should be connected by the topic sentence.
• completeness – a final sentence that ties the paragraph together, the concluding sentence, is necessary because the paragraph is not left hanging.