Paragraph Structure Basics

Paragraph Structure Basics

Four types of sentences make up a paragraph:

1. Topic Sentence: the topic sentence states one main idea. Everything in your paragraph must be subordinate to the topic sentence .
2. Supporting Sentence: a supporting sentence supports the assertion made in the topic sentence. Supporting sentences include concrete details, commentaries, facts, examples, opinions, interpretations, and analyses. Include as many supporting sentences as necessary, but not more than you need.
3. Limiting Sentence: a limiting sentence limits the scope of the topic sentence. you can only have one per paragraph.
4. Transitional Sentence: the transitional sentence provides a link to the next paragraph.

Types of Paragraphs

Three main categories of paragraphs exist:

1. Direct Paragraph: a topic sentence followed by a limiting sentence (optional), supporting sentences, and a transitional sentence is the most common type of paragraph in an essay, article, or research paper.
2. Pivotal Paragraph: the first sentence of a pivotal paragraph is a limiting sentence, followed by a supporting sentence and a pivotal sentence--one which turns the paragraph in a new direction. Although, but, yet, however, nevertheless, etc. are found in pivotal sentences. The pivotal sentence is followed by supporting sentences and a transisitional sentence.
3. Suspended Paragraph: in a suspended sentence, the topic sentence goes last. limiting and/or supporting sentences lead up to the topic sentence. Introductions/thesis paragraphs and conclusions are usually suspended paragraphs.

Note: a special thanks to Schaum's Guide to Writing Essays for helping me learn academic writing.

Paragraph Structure Lesson Plan

Read any piece of non-fiction. For each paragraph, do the following (I've used the second paragraph from the article below as a guide. You may use it too):

1) identify the topic sentence (After moving from Fort Wayne to Detroit in 1957, the Pistons struggled for over two decades.).

2) identify the limiting sentence, if it exists (It wasn't until the mid 1980s when Detroit head coach Chuck Daly instituted a more "aggressive" style of play that Detroit became a premier NBA team.) .

3) identify all supporting sentences and categorize them as a facts, examples, statistics, opinions, analyses, interpretations, etc. (Their fans affectionately called them "The Bad Boys." (fact)).

4) identify the transitional sentence (In this case the pivotal sentence and transitional sentence are the same.).

5) identify the pivotal sentence, if it exists (Basketball aficionados, however, called them bullies and blamed "The Bad Boys" for the league's downward spiral, a spiral thath saw the league fall from its pinnacle of excitement in the 1980s to its nadir of unwatchability in following years.).

In 1950, the Fort Wayne Pistons won the lowest scoring game in NBA history, 19-18, over the Minneapolis Lakers. As boring as that 19-18 snooze-fest must have been, it just may have set a template for the methodical thuggery that has become a trademark of one of the NBA's most successful franchises.
After moving from Fort Wayne to Detroit in 1957, the Pistons struggled for over two decades. It wasn't until the mid 1980s when Detroit head coach Chuck Daly instituted a more "aggressive" style of play that Detroit became a premier NBA team. Their fans affectionately called them "The Bad Boys." Basketball aficionados, however, called them bullies and blamed "The Bad Boys" for the league's downward spiral, a spiral thath saw the league fall from its pinnacle of excitement in the 1980s to its nadir of unwatchability in following years.
 The Bad Boy era peaked with back-to-back titles in 1989 and 1990. Led by king of the sissy-slap, Isaiah Thomas, and a supporting cast of the much hated Bill Laimbeer, the hard-fouling Rick Mahorn, and NBA nutcase Dennis Rodman, the Bad Boy Pistons toppled the Lakers and Celtics to become the NBA's top team.
In addition to its collection of professional wrestler types, the Bad Boy Pistons also included some Good Boys as well, the most notable being guard Joe Dumars, whose defensive prowess frustrated opponents and whose offensive smarts perfectly complemented the skills of his all-star backcourt mate Thomas. The Pistons also relied heavily on backup guard Vinnie "Microwave" Johnson, whose sharp shooting off the bench often ignited Piston rallies.
The Bad Boy Era in Detroit came to an end with its loss to Michael Jordan's Bulls in the 1991 Eastern Conference Finals; however, the team's legacy still lives on in cheap fouls, 24 second shot clock violations, and non-stop hand-checking. In addition, John Salley, a key sub on the two title teams, became the worst TV studio analyst in the history of the sport with inane post game analysis, contrived discussion, and stale humor.
The Pistons struggled in the 1990s, but a new century brought back memories of the Bad Boys' success. Under the tutelage of Larry Brown, the team returned to the NBA finals in 2004 where it dominated a heavily favored L.A. Lakers in 5 games. Much like the Bad Boys, the 2004 version of the Pistons, led by the out-of-control king of technical fouls Rasheed Wallace, and perhaps the ugliest assemblage of basketball players in the history of mankind, the Detroit Pistons ruled the NBA.
Unlike the Bad Boys, this Pistons team did not repeat as champs. In fact, this collection of troglodytes will be remembered more for its participation in the greatest fight in the history of team sports: towards the end of an early season contest against the Indiana Pacers, a brawl broke out between players on both teams that spilled into the stands, causing a near riot. Suspensions soon followed, completely crippling the Pacer franchise. Detroit managed, however, to ride out the controversy and remain a strong contender for the title.
The 2007/2008 rendition of the Detroit Pistons is similar to the 2004 team that won it all, and with its deliberate pace, unwatchable offensive sets, and chippy defense, they just might win it all again.