Paragraph Structure: Making the Most of Your Ideas

 

1: Topic sentence
The topic sentence is typically the first sentence of a paragraph, and it should clearly state the main idea that you will develop throughout the paragraph. If a topic sentence is too general, the paragraph will often be lengthy and unfocused. In this situation, the paragraph can be organized into two (or sometimes more) paragraphs, each with a topic sentence that has a more reasonable scope based on the available supporting evidence. Ideally, your readers should be able to quickly identify the main ideas and scope of your paper simply by reading every topic sentence.

The example topic sentence (sentence 1, underlined) tells the reader that the paragraph is going to discuss why the mouse has become such an important model organism for biomedical research and how researchers can manipulate environmental and genetic factors in mice to answer important biomedical questions.

2: Supporting evidence
The supporting evidence composes the body of the paragraph. This element should consist of detailed information that is directly relevant to and further develops the main point presented in the topic sentence. It is standard to have anywhere from two to five concise supporting sentences, which is generally sufficient to develop the main point and keep the paragraph focused.

It is also important to keep in mind that a paragraph may come across as being disjointed (with no clear or logical progression of thought) when the conceptual connections within the paragraph are missing or poorly developed. This issue can be resolved by adding a sentence to lead into the following statement or by revising the existing sentences so that they lead from one into the next. The appropriate use of introductory words and phrases can also help to clarify conceptual connections within a paragraph. Readers appreciate when the authors make these conceptual connections clear rather than relying on the reader to make these connections on their own.
In our example, the information provided in the supporting sentences (sentences 2-6) explains to the reader why mice are good model organisms for studying biological processes and medical conditions. The supporting evidence includes information about why mice are easy to raise, how easy it is to control their living environments, and the genetic advantages to using mice as model organisms for translational studies of human disease processes. The use of introductory words and phrases (bolded text) helps the reader follow the author’s argument from one sentence to the next.

3: Concluding statement
The concluding, or closing, sentence essentially restates the main idea of the paragraph in the context of the supporting evidence. However, it is important to note that the concluding statement should not simply repeat the topic sentence; care should be taken to minimize redundancy between the two. The concluding statement can also be used to transition into the main idea of the next paragraph, which improves the overall flow of the paper.

The concluding statement in our example paragraph (sentence 7, in italics) clearly summarizes the conclusion that the author would like you to draw from the supporting evidence presented in the body of the paragraph. Here, the author wants to convey that mice are invaluable in vivo models for human disease research because both environmental and genetic factors are relatively easy to manipulate. Restating the main point of the paragraph in the last sentence ensures that the reader has a clear understanding of the author’s interpretation of the supporting evidence presented in the body of the paragraph.
Final thoughts
Constructing effective paragraphs can be challenging due to the effort involved in planning the overall structure of each unit. However, the results of these efforts can greatly improve your chances for publication and allow you to reach your target audience.

source:http://expertedge.aje.com