Terms to Remember - Parts of a Paragraph

PARAGRAPH – a group of related sentences developing a single idea.

TOPIC SENTENCE – It is the sentence or sentences that contain the main idea of the paragraph. It shows the writer’s attitude or feeling toward the subject. It is usually placed at the beginning of a paragraph.

A topic sentence without enough details is a claim which remains unproved.

A topic sentence = a limited topic + a specific feeling or thought or assertion about that topic

Example – Writing a paragraph can be made easier in three simple steps.

SUPPORTING DETAILS – specific pieces of information or evidences used to explain and support the idea expressed in the topic sentence. These details are used to make the general ideas clearer and more understandable to the reader.

Without the topic sentence, the paragraph is merely a collection of facts; without the supporting details; on the other hand, we have merely an unproved sentence.

CLINCHER SENTENCE (CONCLUSION) – the sentence that wraps up the composition. It can be done in two ways: 1. restate the topic sentence; 2. sum up the main points made in the paragraph.