What is a
paragraph?
A paragraph is much more than a collection of connected sentences.
It is a building block of essay development, and paragraphs provide the
structure needed to develop the thesis of a paper. In fact, a useful way to
think about a paragraph is as a “mini-essay,” or an essay within an essay, with
its own mini-thesis (the topic sentence), middle or body (the supporting
details) and end or conclusion (the concluding sentence).
To understand how paragraphs help to develop a thesis, think of
them as landmarks on a map. With each paragraph, you describe where you are
standing and point the direction for your readers to make sure they complete
the journey to your conclusion. A vague signpost or a detour down a side trail
could well have your readers lost and wondering where you are taking them.
Clear signals, on the other hand, in the form of clearly worded topic
sentences, relevant support, reasonable interpretations of material, and
logical conclusions will help your readers follow the development of your
ideas.
Types of
paragraphs in a basic essay
In an essay, there are four types of paragraphs—introductory, body,
transitional and concluding—and each serves a slightly different function in
the paper. In the simplest terms, introductory paragraphs introduce your thesis,
body paragraphs develop it, transitional paragraphs move your readers from one
aspect of it to another, and concluding paragraphs sum up the development of
the thesis and restate it. Thus, while all four types support the thesis, they
support it in different ways.