Components of Good Writing

A piece of good writing is composed of an

interesting introduction and effective
paragraphs, transitions, conclusions, and
elaborations.
 Introduction
It presents the thesis statement and should capture
the reader’s attention. Some ways of introducing a
piece of writing are as follows:
• Begin with a Thesis Statement
• Use a surprising statement
• Provide a description
• Ask a question
• Relate an anecdote
• Address the reader directly
 Paragraphs
It is made up of sentences that work together to
develop an idea or accomplish a purpose. A good
paragraph should exhibit unity and coherence.
• Unity – A paragraph has unity when all the
sentences support an explicit or implicit main idea.
• Coherence – A paragraph is coherence when all
the sentences are related to one another. Each
sentence follows logically to the next.
 Transitions
Transitions are words, phrases, and sentences that show
connections between details. Transitions can be shown
through the use of the following kinds of words:
• Time or sequence words, e.g., then, next, finally.
• Spatial order words, e.g., in front, behind, in the middle.
• Degree of importance, e.g., mainly, stronger, weakest.
• Comparison-and-contrast, e.g., similarly, unlike, whereas.
• Cause-effect, e.g., therefore, so, for this reason.
 Conclusion
A good conclusion, sums up the ideas presented in
the text. This can be shown through any of the
following forms:
• A restatement of the main idea or thesis in different
words.
• A question
• A recommendation
• An opinion
• The last event
 Elaboration
It is the process of providing specific, relevant,
and an appropriate supporting details to the main
idea or thesis statement through the use of:
• Facts and statistics
• Descriptions
• Anecdote
• Examples
• Quotations
Prepared by Hendrich

Z.
Vergara