Paragraph Structure – The Art of Writing a Paragraph

A paragraph in academic writing has the following definition: it is a self-sufficient unit, that is characterized by a separate idea or topic.

Just as we learn to write essays and other academic papers, it makes sense to learn how to write an academic paragraph, paying particular attention to its structure. Because, in simple terms, a paragraph is as good as the sentences that make up its structure. Understanding the types of sentences in a paragraph, their composition, and functions – this is what we’ll talk about today.

Understanding how to structure an academic paragraph is essential for effective academic writing. Each paragraph in an academic paper should be self-contained and focused on a single idea or topic. The structure of an academic paragraph typically includes a topic sentence that introduces the main idea, supporting sentences that provide arguments and evidence, and optionally, analysis and discussion. Transition words and phrases should be used to make the paragraph smooth and easy to read. In addition to understanding paragraph structure, it’s important to recognize the significance of introduction and conclusion paragraphs in setting the tone and summarizing key points in an academic paper. Professional paper writers can provide valuable assistance in ensuring that paragraphs are well-structured, coherent, and meet the requirements of academic writing. They can help students organize their ideas effectively and maintain the integrity of their scholarly work through proper paragraph structure.

Paragraph requirements

When you know how to write a paragraph, you can write virtually anything, as a paragraph is a structural block of any serious piece of writing. A good paragraph has to satisfy several requirements:

• Be self-contained. By that we mean unity and the ability of a paragraph to explain at least a single point (idea, thought, argument, and the like). It should present, develop, and round up that point.
• Be structurally self-sufficient. That is, it should contain a topic sentence, a supporting sentence(s), and a concluding sentence(s).
• Be coherent. It means that all the sentences should be logically connected. The information they convey should not look out of place or detached from any part of the paragraph. If needed, introduce footnotes or endnotes in MLA or APA styles.
• Be at least 3–5 sentences long. The three-sentence length is the minimum requirement. Ideally, each paragraph should not be too short or too long, but just right to serve the purpose of explaining a point without damaging the readability.
• Be smooth and easy to read. It is important to include into a paragraph transition words and phrases, for example, at the very beginning, and the very end. Avoid making your paragraphs overly long, as that would hamper the reading process.

Introduction paragraph structure

In any paper, an introduction is the king. It is the main part with respect to setting goals, driving readers’ interest, and motivating them to read the whole piece. That’s why the intro paragraph structure is so important.

One can outline the following structural elements in an introductory paragraph:

• The hook. The hook is a cumulative term representing any artistic, semantic, or linguistic means to capture the reader’s attention. It can be an interesting fact, a provoking claim, a tough-to-answer question, or even a joke – anything that can activate an interest button inside the reader’s head.
• Thesis statement. An academic paragraph structure, just as any other paragraph structure, always stipulates the presence of a thesis statement. This is the central point, the focus of one’s paper, the guiding beacon of the entire writing piece. A thesis statement must be clear and concise.
• Background information. Background information is not a must, instead, it is an optional element to consider when writing paragraph structure. With the help of this information, the writer can create additional context, something interesting for the reader to know and to be aware of.

Body paragraph structure

A body paragraph supports the author’s point(s) with arguments, facts, and logical reasoning. There can be several body paragraphs in an academic text. The correct structure of a body paragraph is as follows:

• The topic sentence. This is typically the first sentence in a body paragraph, which introduces the topic or the contents of the given paragraph.
• Supporting arguments and evidence. The topic sentence is usually followed by one or several supporting sentences, which contain arguments and evidence to open up or explain the topic of the paragraph.
• Analysis and discussion. Just as with the background information in an introduction paragraph, the analysis and discussion part in a body paragraph is optional. It is nice to have a sort of discussion about the presented arguments and evidence.
• In the English language, we commonly use transition words and phrases to conclude a paragraph. The same is true for a body paragraph. However, avoid repetition with the supporting arguments or analysis part – the transition should be unique and brief.

For example, “Now let’s move on to the conclusion paragraph and what it’s made of.”

Conclusion paragraph structure

Depending on the paper type, the format and structure of the conclusion paragraph may vary. It may range from a very basic and short one to a rather long one, consisting of several paragraphs, with examples of the main points used throughout the text. Nevertheless, a default template addressing the main question of this article, “What is the structure of a paragraph” (in this case, a conclusion paragraph), should be as follows:

• Restatement of the main point, or thesis statement. It doesn’t have to be repeated in full length, but suffice it to just reiterate the keywords.
• For example, if your thesis statement is this one: “The epidemic of obesity in our society is detrimental to public health, and it demands a more active response from the government as well as more responsibility from each citizen”. In the conclusion paragraph, you can just say: “Concerning the obesity issue discussed at large in the paper, we’ve suggested a range of measures…”
• Summary of the key ideas. Here, you can mention only the main ideas and points you suggest in your paper. For example, the main benefits, the key implications of the suggested measures, etc.
• A closing statement. This one will require time and creativity to work out. Concerning the above obesity problem, it can be something you suggest doing in the future (beyond your recommended measures), or morale that you think may be useful for your readers.

Steps to writing a paragraph

To summarize, let’s formulate the key steps you should take in writing a paragraph:

1. Come up with an idea, a thought, or a concept you’d like to discuss in the paragraph – what is it going to be about?
2. Make an outline or a brief sketch, either on paper or in your mind. The outline should include the topic sentence (the hook in case of the introductory paragraph), the supporting arguments, and analysis & discussion (a closing statement in case of a concluding section).
3. Write your paragraph down in a rough draft. Add transition words and phrases if needed.
4. Proofread and revise. Read your draft several times to make sure it meets all the requirements for a good paragraph mentioned earlier in our article. Edit if necessary.

Final Thoughts

Any paper is as good as the paragraphs that it’s made of. They are the building blocks and the main composition elements that allow us to organize our story. When starting to write any paragraph, the writer has to have a clear plan ahead: an understanding of what will be the topic sentence, what kind of supporting sentences will follow, how many of them, their tone of voice, specific terms to be used, language, and so on. The conclusion of a paragraph is also very important, as knowing when and how to end a particular paragraph defines the final impression it makes on the reader – what the reader will remember the most, and will judge the entire work based on this impression.