ENG 1131 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Revised Version, Sentenced
29 Aug 2016
School
Department
Course
Professor
Writing Effective Paragraphs
January 27, 2015
Writing Effective Paragraphs
• Paragraph unity
• Development of ideas or position
• Paragraph coherence and transitions
• Structure and organization
Paragraphs:
Unity
• Use topic sentences- usually placed at the beginning or paragraphs or less
commonly at the end of the paragraph.
• Topic sentences:
o Sets purpose, focus, and direction of the paragraph
o Helps decide which information to keep and which to move or edit out
o May provide transition from previous paragraph, and/or link to
overall idea.
• Examples don’t focus on the essential idea:
o Dear Mr. Holmes,
▪ My name is Jeanie Warnock and I’m writing to you about my
company Student Painter.
▪ My name is Jeanie Warnock and I’m writing to you to ask you if
you have rental units that need painting
▪ My company Student Painters specializes in painting multi-unit
rental properties and has a number of winter specials that
might be of interest to you management company. We have an
up-coming special for new customers such as yourself. We also
offer a 10% discount for cash payment and for all jobs of more
than 1000 square feet. (See slideshow for revised version)
Development
• Development: how do you ensure you’ve made your point or advanced your
purpose in a concrete, specific way
o R.E.N.N.S.:
▪ Reasons
▪ Examples
▪ Names
▪ Numbers
▪ Senses
• Appeals to reason
o Use information, facts, evidence
• Appeals to emotion
o Use descriptive detail and imagery that appeals to senses, allows
reader to visualize material, and awakens emotions
o Use analogy, concrete examples and anecdotes so that readers can
relate to and readily understand material
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