COMMON PARAGRAPH FEATURES

and
WRITING TOPIC SENTENCES

wayan_sukarini@unud.ac.id
THE PARAGRAPH
In written form, any languages (English) is divided into paragraphs to distinguish
one main idea from other main idea. The paragraph is the basic unit of
composition. A paragraph consists of a series of sentences grouped together and
having a single purpose. It describes or explains one idea. The length of a given
paragraph depends on the purpose, the material, and the function of the
paragraph. Some paragraphs are quite short; others are extremely long (may
vary in length).
The following information also supports what is meant by a paragraph.
1. a paragraph is a group of sentences which develop one central idea
2. the central idea is usually stated in a topic sentence
3. every sentence in the paragraph must help the development of the topic
sentence
FEATURES IN PARAGRAPH
There are some essential elements/characteristics that an effective paragraph
should consistently contain:
1. unity,
2. coherence,
3. a topic sentence that states the main idea ,
4. sufficient/ adequate development (all of the sentences are about one
topic),
5. the first sentence of the paragraph is indented (short distance from the
margin), and

6. the last sentence, or concluding sentence, brings the paragraph to a logical

conclusion.
UNITY
To maintain a sense of unity, a paragraph must only focus on a single either idea,
or point, or argument being discussed. Therefore, a paragraph should not begin
to stray and develop new ideas.
COHERENCE
Coherence is more commonly referred to as the flow of a writing. When a
paragraph flows, the reader will be able to understand the main idea presented.
How to ensure that a paragraph maintains a flow? After presenting the main
idea in a topic sentence, each sentence following must build upon each other in
an organized manner. After writing a paragraph, go back and read what have
been written to make sure the ideas are clearly presented. If they are, a
coherent paragraph has been developed!
TOPIC SENTENCE
The topic sentence is the most important part of a paragraph; it tells the reader
the general idea of paragraphs and should essentially “hook” them into wanting
to read more! The topic sentence helps to provide a “general summary” for a
paragraph. Readers should encounter the topic sentence and have a general
idea of what the paragraph will continue to discuss.
Topic sentence - tells what the paragraph is about. It doesn’t necessarily summarize the
information given in the paragraph, but it gives the reading a sense of direction. A topic
sentence usually comes at the beginning of a paragraph. It is also the most general sentence
in the paragraph because there are not many details in the sentence. It introduces a
panoramic idea that will be discussed.

The topic sentence is divided into two parts: the topic which is the word or phrase talking
about and the controlling idea that limits or controls the topic to just one aspect. A topic can
have more than one controlling idea. Each controlling idea would be a different paragraph.
SUFFICIENT/ ADEQUATE DEVELOPMENT
All sentences or supporting details are about one single topic. This is called unity or the
logical consistency of all the details in the paragraph. In other words, all the sentences
must refer to the main idea or the topic of the paragraph. Sentences that do not adhere
to the rest of the sentences or do not belong in the paragraph are said to be irrelevant.

Paragraphs should also be coherent. Coherence means that the sentences should be
organized in a logical manner and should follow a definite plan of development.
CONCLUDING SENTENCE
Concluding sentence – summarizes, restates, or evaluates the most significant
ideas of the paragraph. It could also predict the condition of a topic in the near
future. Phrases such as: In conclusion, In summary, Concluding, Summarizing are
used.
Now that a paragraph has a topic. It is essential that this topic be sufficiently
developed. There is no need to limit a set number of sentences. A paragraph
should not be too short or too long, but it should be an appropriate length to
flesh out the entirety a paragraph’s idea. A reader should not be left with
questions after a sufficiently development paragraph. In order to achieve this, it
can be provided with examples, cite work, necessary definitions, description,
analysis, and the organization of ideas.
Cleaning
(1) Cleaning a room is not difficult if we follow some simple guidelines.
(2) First, we must pick up all of our clothes off the floor.
(3) Then we need to decide which clothes are dirty and which clothes are clean and put them in
their appropriate places.
(4) It is important to wash our clothes with good-quality laundry detergent to keep them
looking neat and clean.
(5) After that, we should put away any items that are out of place.
(6) The next step is to dust all of our furniture, such as our nightstand or dresser.
(7) The final step is to mop or vacuum the floor, depending on its surface.
(8) Once we have finished these steps, we can relax as we think about our good work.
Cleaning
Cleaning a room is not difficult if we follow some simple guidelines. First, we must pick up all of
our clothes off the floor. Then we need to decide which clothes are dirty and which clothes are
clean and put them in their appropriate places. It is important to wash our clothes with good-
quality laundry detergent to keep them looking neat and clean. After that, we should put away
any items that are out of place. The next step is to dust all of our furniture, such as our
nightstand or dresser. The final step is to mop or vacuum the floor, depending on its surface.
Once we have finished these steps, we can relax as we think about our good work.
THANK YOU