Paragraphs

Paragraphs are always a problem early in the semester. I usually say a paragraph is a unit of thought. But that seems ambiguous--units of thought might be small or large, short or long! An idea that might be a single sentence in one essay, might be explored for two or three paragraphs in another. How does one develop rules and strategies? Like everything with writing, the sense of what a paragraph is, that is, where your ideas end and begin, is one that simply strengthens with practice.

In the meantime, Parfitt offers a few good reminders. Have a clear sense of your paragraph's topic. Make that clear to the reader by stating it in a topic sentence (you'll want to make a claim as well and someetimes the topic setnence and the claim are the same). Keep linking each sentence back to the topic. But, as he notes, "repeating the exact same word frequently will create a sense of  tedium." He goes on to explain that "words and phrases that are related but not identical, that work as variations on a theme, can forge connection and develop your point at the same time."*

Developing a strong constellation of key terms is, therefore, important in showing the links between your ideas and writing unified paragraphs. A constellation is a group of words or phrases that help you express similar ideas. It requires some work, and maybe a thesaurus, but if you take five minutes and brainstorm a variety of ways to express your central ideas, you'll have them ready as you revise your paragraphs.

I also like Parfitt's explanation of the "map view" and the "globe-trotter's view"* of a paragraph. Seeing the whole paragraph at a glance, the map view, is probably what we do when we are drafting. We say, Ok, this paragraph is about X, the next one about Y. But the reader experiences the paragraph one sentence at a time and must "work to make sense of each one in relation to the previous sentences and paragraphs." It is important, then, to think about each paragraph as a trail that moves forward, or a mini narrative. What does the reader need to know first? Is this a conclusion or is this helping to set up my claim? The more you ask those questions and revise to create a logical order, the easier a time the reader will have.

And, the more you ask those questions, the more you can revise to give your reader signposts. The small words seem to the words that beginning writers often avoid and yet they are the most helpful--when used correctly--in guiding the reader. First. Then. However. And. But. Therefore. One the other hand. Yet.

* From Matthew Parfitt, Writing in Response (Boston, Bedford/St. Martin's, 2012), 131-132; 139