Faculty of Science of Nature and Life Academic Year: 2023/2024

Departments of Biology & Agronomy English for Specific Purpose

What is a paragraph?
Introduction
A paragraph is a series of sentences that are organized and coherent, and are all related to a single
topic. Almost every piece of writing you do that is longer than a few sentences should be organized
into paragraphs. This is because paragraphs show a reader where the subdivisions of an essay begin
and end, and thus help the reader see the organization of the essay and grasp its main points.

Organizing a paragraph

1. A paragraph is a series of sentences.

2. A paragraph follows regular sentence punctuation.
3. A paragraph expresses a single unit of thought (one idea, one topic, or one aspect of a topic or
an idea).
4. A paragraph is part of a whole written work and it is complete in itself.
5. The first line of each paragraph must be indented (What does it mean?).

6. Paragraphs can contain many different kinds of information.

7. The language used should be consistent, clear, and concise.
8. A paragraph can be the subdivisions of an essay.
9. A space must be left between each paragraph.

1
 N.B.
Sometimes, two or three paragraphs (or even more) deal with one idea, in this case:
1. We indent once (only the first line of the first paragraph).
2. No space is left between the paragraphs.

7. Most of the time paragraphs start with a topic sentence.

What is a topic sentence?

A topic sentence is the first sentence of the body paragraph. Simply put, the topic sentence introduces
the topic of the paragraph. A good topic sentence will be broad enough to allow for explication but
narrow enough that it does not require a paragraph that is too long. A paragraph usually begins with
the statement of a fact or problem.

8. A paragraph contains supporting sentences.

What is a supporting sentence?

The supporting sentences of a paragraph are the sentences between the topic sentence and the
concluding sentence. The supporting sentences “support” the topic sentence, that is, they explain and
elaborate the point of the paragraph.

9. A paragraph contains a concluding sentence.

What is a concluding sentence?

The concluding sentence is the last sentence in the paragraph. It should succinctly end the paragraph
and transition to the next paragraph, if appropriate.

Remember!
1.  Make sure that your sentences are well punctuated.
2.  Indent the first line of each paragraph.
3.  Leave a space between each paragraph.
4.  Make sure that your paragraph deals with one idea, one topic.
5.  Paragraphs dealing with the same idea are indented once only.
6.  Try to write topic sentences in expository paragraphs.