Paragraph Development Guide

Every paragraph should focus on a single main idea. This principle of unity means that every sentence in the paragraph relates to and supports the topic sentence. When you find yourself drifting to a new idea, that's usually a signal to start a new paragraph.

Unity doesn't mean monotony. Within your focused topic, you can include various types of support: examples, evidence, analysis, and elaboration. The key is that everything connects to your paragraph's central claim.

A topic sentence states the main idea of your paragraph and typically appears at the beginning. It serves as a mini-thesis for the paragraph, telling readers what to expect and how this paragraph connects to your overall argument.

After stating your topic sentence, you need to support it with evidence. This might include direct quotes, paraphrased information, data, examples, or expert opinions. The key is to integrate evidence smoothly into your own writing rather than dropping quotes without context.

The ICE Method

• Introduce: Set up the quote or evidence with context
• Cite: Include the evidence with proper citation
• Explain: Analyze what the evidence means and how it supports your point

Never let evidence speak for itself. Your analysis is what transforms evidence from mere information into support for your argument.

Analysis is where you demonstrate your critical thinking. After presenting evidence, explain what it means, why it matters, and how it supports your paragraph's main idea. This is often the weakest part of student writing—many present evidence but forget to analyze it.

Ask yourself: "So what?" Why does this evidence matter? What does it prove? How does it connect to my thesis? Your answers to these questions form your analysis.

Transitions connect ideas within paragraphs and between paragraphs. They signal relationships between ideas—whether you're adding information, contrasting, showing cause and effect, or providing examples.

There's no perfect paragraph length, but academic paragraphs typically range from 100-250 words. A paragraph that's too short may lack development; one that's too long may lose focus or overwhelm readers.

Use paragraph breaks strategically. Starting a new paragraph signals to readers that you're shifting to a new aspect of your argument. This visual structure helps readers follow your logic.