Business Communication for

Career Readiness
High Impact Business Writing
Module 2

with Sue Robins, M.S.

 Lesson 4: Paragraphs
Learning Objectives

• Review the parts of a paragraph

• Study an approach to organizing a
paragraph
• Learn the appropriate use of
transitional phrases
• Discuss paragraph outlining
 Parts of a Paragraph

• Topic Sentence
• Supporting Sentences
• Closing sentence
Organizing Paragraphs
1. Keep your main idea
central
2. Explain the main idea
3. Use transitional phrases
 Transitional Phrases
Establish a time sequence
Establish place
Add a point
Underscore a point

Return to a point Concede a point

Give an example

Set up a contrast
Provide a reason
Set up a conclusion
 Main Idea:
» A. Supporting Idea 1.
• 1. Supporting detail for Idea 1
• 2. Supporting detail for Idea 1

Outlining • 3. Supporting detail for Idea 1

» B. Supporting Idea 2.
Paragraphs • 1. Supporting detail for Idea 2
• 2. Supporting detail for Idea 2
• 3. Supporting detail for Idea 2
» C. Supporting Idea 3.
• 1. Supporting detail for Idea 3
• 2. Supporting detail for Idea 3
• 3. Supporting detail for Idea 3