In your writing, you need to develop coherent paragraphs or points so that each is internally unified and so that each functions as part of the whole document or presentation. Strong topic sentences can direct the reader to the points within the paragraphs, and an outline can help develop the depth of the paragraphs.
Create a Meaningful Topic Sentence for Each Paragraph or Point
Usually, the first sentence of the paragraph is the topic sentence, although there may be a transitional word or phrase to smooth the way to the topic sentence. Topic sentences hold the main point of each paragraph. They usually link back to the thesis in some way, either by directly referencing something in the thesis or by developing a subpoint. Topic sentences help organize the essay, and they bring forward the next idea the essay will cover.
Topic sentences should hold an idea or a point—not just a fact that would be used as support in the body paragraph. Topic sentences should clearly state the paragraph's main idea. Readers who are skimming will focus their attention on the topic sentences, and your ideas need to leap off the page.
Avoid starting a paragraph with a quote—even if it's a perfect fit for your ideas, a quote is someone else's words. Let your topic sentence reflect your ideas and use that perfect quote in the body paragraph in support of, not in place of, your ideas.
Develop Each Paragraph's Single Topic to the Appropriate Depth
This can be a tricky concept, because the "appropriate" depth is dependent on what kind of work you are putting together. Briefer works have shallower paragraph development; in-depth pieces have longer paragraphs. If the assignment is 500 words, the paragraphs will probably be shorter than if the assignment is 5,000 words.
As you think about paragraph depth, consider the concepts of unity and coherence.
Unity means that all the sentences in the paragraph are clearly related to each other and to one idea. The paragraph works as one unit, one thought.
Coherence refers to how a paragraph is glued together. The sentences in a paragraph need to be arranged logically. There should be a topic sentence (to introduce the paragraph's main idea), supporting/developing sentences (to develop and support the idea), and a concluding sentence (to wrap up the idea and possibly begin the transition to the next paragraph). A paragraph may be fleshed out with one large example or with many smaller examples.
As outlined in the examples in this link from the university's Effective Writing Center (EWC), there are many ways to present your information within a paragraph: general to specific, specific to general, and others.
Check Your Knowledge
Part 1: Subject Verb Agreement
Select the word that correctly completes the following sentences.
Part 2: Subject vs Object Pronouns
Choose the best answer to each question:
Part 3: Dangling Modifier
Choose the best answer to each question.
Does the sentence contain a dangling modifier and, if so, which is the phrase that dangles?