| A successful paragraph is engineered with three | | | | 2. supporting detail #2 |
| aspects in mind: Content, Organization and Language. | | | | B - main support |
| Despite its small proportion, a paragraph contributes a | | | | 1. supporting detail #1 |
| great deal to the effectiveness of your essay. Hence, | | | | 2. supporting detail #2 |
| it is wise to scrutinize the quality of your paragraph | | | | Conclusion |
| before you proceed with the ultimate product of your | | | | By producing the brief outline, you actually kill two birds |
| writing initiative - the academic essay! | | | | with one stone, that is you can ensure better grasp of |
| Firstly, you may have a lot of great ideas in your head | | | | content as well as structure or organization. To |
| - but remember that one paragraph consists of only | | | | enhance the effectiveness of the paragraph flow, you |
| one controlling idea. Learn to prioritize and choose only | | | | can use transition markers to show how the chunks of |
| the best or the most important idea. This controlling | | | | ideas are connected and interrelated. Imagine driving on |
| idea will determine the boundaries for discussion within | | | | a new highway without the help of a road map or |
| the paragraph. It reminds you to strike any irrelevant | | | | signposts. In contrast, picture yourself being guided by |
| point or explanation that makes your paragraph less | | | | signboards and signposts at every important junction. |
| coherent, bearing evidence of lack of unity and | | | | Reading your paragraph will be an easy and |
| scrutiny. | | | | smooth-sailing experience when you include transition |
| Also, check that you have enough main supporting | | | | signals. |
| points, and supporting details to elaborate on the | | | | In a nutshell, as much as you are only writing one |
| chosen idea. Sometimes, beginning writers may get | | | | paragraph, it requires much preparation and evaluation. |
| engrossed with the popularity of an idea at the | | | | Mastery of this skill will be a launching pad to a |
| expense of providing adequate examples, evidence, | | | | successful academic essay, particularly in developing |
| quotations, and even further explanation. It is a good | | | | the body paragraphs. Remember - writing starts with |
| habit to draft a brief outline as illustrated below to | | | | thinking. Outlining is evidence of the thinking process. To |
| check if you have enough content to write: | | | | complete your writing masterpiece, embellish it with |
| Controlling idea | | | | precision in word choice, style, and language flair. Now, |
| A - main support | | | | paragraph writing experience will never feel the same, |
| 1. supporting detail #1 | | | | anymore. |