Paragraph Structure
A useful way of understanding paragraph structure is to think of it as a block that is divided into three sections: the beginning, the middle, and the end.
A basic paragraph follows this structure:
When to start a new paragraph:
- Start new main points or new ideas in a new paragraph. If you have an extended idea across multiple paragraphs, each new point within that idea should have its own paragraph.
- Use a new paragraph to introduce a contrasting or different position. Use a clear topic sentence to identify the main idea.
- If the paragraph becomes too long or the material is overly complex, you will need to create a break to make your writing more readable. Try splitting long paragraphs into two shorter paragraphs. This means you will need to write a new topic sentence at the start of the new paragraph.
- Introductions and conclusions are usually written as separate paragraphs.
This is a good order to use when you are new to writing academic essays - but as you get more accomplished you can adapt it as necessary. The important thing is to make sure all of these elements are present within the paragraph.
The sections below explain more about each of these elements.
Example of an academic paragraph
Using storytelling in educational settings can enable educators to connect with their students because of inborn tendencies for humans to listen to stories. Written languages have only existed for between 6,000 and 7,000 years (Daniels & Bright, 1995) before then, and continually ever since in many cultures, important lessons for life were passed on using the oral tradition of storytelling. These varied from simple informative tales, to help us learn how to find food or avoid danger, to more magical and miraculous stories designed to help us see how we can resolve conflict and find our place in society (Zipes, 2012). Oral storytelling traditions are still fundamental to native American culture and Rebecca Bishop, a native American public relations officer (quoted in Sorensen, 2012) believes that the physical act of storytelling is a special thing; children will automatically stop what they are doing and listen when a story is told. Professional communicators report that this continues to adulthood (Simmons, 2006; Stevenson, 2008).
Paragraph Writing Topics
A paragraph can be written on various topics. For example, a student of Class 1–3 would write a paragraph on topics like ‘A Cow’, ‘My School’, ‘My Mother’, etc. With classes, the topics may vary, and when writing for yourself, the topics can be anything that comes to your mind. Check the various paragraph writing topics provided below and refer to the paragraph writing samples for a better understanding of the writing style.
- Paragraph On Online Classes
- An Ideal Student Paragraph
- Paragraph On Noise Pollution
- Mother Teresa Paragraph
- Newspaper Paragraph
- A Visit To A Zoo Paragraph
- Paragraph About Doctor
- Paragraph About Technology
- My Best Friend Paragraph
- Paragraph on Diwali
- A Rainy Day Paragraph
- Health is Wealth Paragraph
- Paragraph on Holi
- Paragraph on Trees
- Friendship Paragraph
- Paragraph on Mahatma Gandhi
- Paragraph on Discipline
- Paragraph on Christmas
- Paragraph on Save Water
A paragraph can be written on various topics depending on the type of topic you wish to write on. You can refer to the topics here or write on topics as per your wish.
English Paragraph Writing Format
There is no specific format for writing a paragraph, as it is a narration of your own thoughts, ideas, and vision. Also, there are no restrictions to your writing. But a paragraph is called a well-written paragraph when this sequence is maintained — a topic sentence, then the description, and then the concluding statement.
Following the English paragraph writing format shall be helpful to the readers to understand your point of view.
Frequently Asked Questions on Paragraph Writing
What is meant by paragraph writing?
Paragraph writing is a process of writing a self-contained unit on a particular idea or topic. A paragraph is a group of sentences making absolute sense which has a topic sentence, supporting sentences, and a conclusion statement.
How can I write a good paragraph?
A good paragraph can be written if it is well-researched and has sufficient data related to the topic. The paragraph should have a good introduction sentence and a well-explained description regarding the topic and must end with a good concluding sentence that summarises the whole paragraph.
Is there any word limit for paragraph writing?
At times there can be word limits or word restrictions, especially in schools or assignments. But, there is always the freedom to write as per your skills.