Paragraphs

This handout will help you understand how paragraphs are formed, how to develop stronger paragraphs, and how to completely and clearly express your ideas.

Paragraphs are the building blocks of papers. Many students define paragraphs in terms of length: a paragraph is a group of at least five sentences, a paragraph is half a page long, etc. In reality, though, the unity and coherence of ideas among sentences is what constitutes a paragraph. A paragraph is defined as “a group of sentences or a single sentence that forms a unit” (Lunsford and Connors 116). Length and appearance do not determine whether a section in a paper is a paragraph. For instance, in some styles of writing, particularly journalistic styles, a paragraph can be just one sentence long. Ultimately, a paragraph is a sentence or group of sentences that support one main idea. In this handout, we will refer to this as the “controlling idea,” because it controls what happens in the rest of the paragraph.

Before you can begin to determine what the composition of a particular paragraph will be, you must first decide on an argument and a working thesis statement for your paper. What is the most important idea that you are trying to convey to your reader? The information in each paragraph must be related to that idea. In other words, your paragraphs should remind your reader that there is a recurrent relationship between your thesis and the information in each paragraph. A working thesis functions like a seed from which your paper, and your ideas, will grow. The whole process is an organic one—a natural progression from a seed to a full-blown paper where there are direct, familial relationships between all of the ideas in the paper.

I was always there for you 100%, but you’ve changed so much. I feel like this person that you are now is actually the real you. I’m not sure if I really want to be best friends with the real you. Now that you have her I feel like I’ve been brushed aside along with your other close friends. I find it sad that you’ve chosen someone you’ve known for a couple days over people you’ve known for over a year. It hurts me to know that all my caring for you has gone to waste. You think that if she does break you I would come running to your side to fix things like I always did…but now I just don’t know if I could bring myself to do that. I feel used. The ironic part is that we both expressed to each other that we always end up getting used by people. In this case, you ended up using me. You said you wouldn’t know what to do without me. Well, I’m still here. Where are you? “You’re gone, gone, gone away I watched you disappear. All that’s left is the ghost of you. Now we’re torn, torn, torn apart there’s nothing we can do, just let me go we’ll meet again soon. Now wait, wait, wait for me. Please, hang around. I’ll see you when I fall asleep.”

 

 

Sometimes it feels like you’re so popular that you really don’t need me. You have so many people on your side, none the least of which include your boyfriend, cousin, and even Hunter. But please know that I’m still looking forward to the day where we can say that we did it. Against all odds, we remained the best of friends throughout high school, and college, and beyond. 
We’re graduating high school next year. And I want you to know that I wouldn’t be here without you. This torrent of emotions that I’ve basically shoved on you this last week and a half have all been an after effect of how grateful I am to have someone as amazing as you by my side. And even though we have only been friends for about two years, I am so happy I have someone that I can honestly say I trust. 
Thank you for being there for me. Thank you for putting up with me. Thank you for accepting me, and thank you so much for trusting me right back. Happy almost birthday, best friend. I am so glad I made the mistake of talking to you in fifth hour that day. My life hasn’t been the same.

 

 

Dear my best friend in the entire world (the best friend) ;) I just wanted to say that even though I’ve gone you still mean so much to me and I care so much about our friendship because you are the best friend I could ever ask for. I can call you up and tell you anything, you give the best at advice and listening and understanding. I feel like i can tell you anything and it’s like we are family. You have always been there for me and we have the best times.You are literally like my sister who brings the best out in me. I know that we are both busy and struggle to find to talk all the time but I know that you haven’t forgotton me and I want to stay in touch forever because when you find such a special friend you never want to lose them. To the loveliest, funniest, craziest and most beautiful best friend in the world- I love you with all my heart and you mean the world to me, please don’t forget!

I was always there for you 100%, but you’ve changed so much. I feel like this person that you are now is actually the real you. I’m not sure if I really want to be best friends with the real you. Now that you have her I feel like I’ve been brushed aside along with your other close friends. I find it sad that you’ve chosen someone you’ve known for a couple days over people you’ve known for over a year. It hurts me to know that all my caring for you has gone to waste. You think that if she does break you I would come running to your side to fix things like I always did…but now I just don’t know if I could bring myself to do that. I feel used. The ironic part is that we both expressed to each other that we always end up getting used by people. In this case, you ended up using me. You said you wouldn’t know what to do without me. Well, I’m still here. Where are you? “You’re gone, gone, gone away I watched you disappear. All that’s left is the ghost of you. Now we’re torn, torn, torn apart there’s nothing we can do, just let me go we’ll meet again soon. Now wait, wait, wait for me. Please, hang around. I’ll see you when I fall asleep.”

 

 

Sometimes it feels like you’re so popular that you really don’t need me. You have so many people on your side, none the least of which include your boyfriend, cousin, and even Hunter. But please know that I’m still looking forward to the day where we can say that we did it. Against all odds, we remained the best of friends throughout high school, and college, and beyond. 
We’re graduating high school next year. And I want you to know that I wouldn’t be here without you. This torrent of emotions that I’ve basically shoved on you this last week and a half have all been an after effect of how grateful I am to have someone as amazing as you by my side. And even though we have only been friends for about two years, I am so happy I have someone that I can honestly say I trust. 
Thank you for being there for me. Thank you for putting up with me. Thank you for accepting me, and thank you so much for trusting me right back. Happy almost birthday, best friend. I am so glad I made the mistake of talking to you in fifth hour that day. My life hasn’t been the same.

 

 

Dear my best friend in the entire world (the best friend) ;) I just wanted to say that even though I’ve gone you still mean so much to me and I care so much about our friendship because you are the best friend I could ever ask for. I can call you up and tell you anything, you give the best at advice and listening and understanding. I feel like i can tell you anything and it’s like we are family. You have always been there for me and we have the best times.You are literally like my sister who brings the best out in me. I know that we are both busy and struggle to find to talk all the time but I know that you haven’t forgotton me and I want to stay in touch forever because when you find such a special friend you never want to lose them. To the loveliest, funniest, craziest and most beautiful best friend in the world- I love you with all my heart and you mean the world to me, please don’t forget!

I was always there for you 100%, but you’ve changed so much. I feel like this person that you are now is actually the real you. I’m not sure if I really want to be best friends with the real you. Now that you have her I feel like I’ve been brushed aside along with your other close friends. I find it sad that you’ve chosen someone you’ve known for a couple days over people you’ve known for over a year. It hurts me to know that all my caring for you has gone to waste. You think that if she does break you I would come running to your side to fix things like I always did…but now I just don’t know if I could bring myself to do that. I feel used. The ironic part is that we both expressed to each other that we always end up getting used by people. In this case, you ended up using me. You said you wouldn’t know what to do without me. Well, I’m still here. Where are you? “You’re gone, gone, gone away I watched you disappear. All that’s left is the ghost of you. Now we’re torn, torn, torn apart there’s nothing we can do, just let me go we’ll meet again soon. Now wait, wait, wait for me. Please, hang around. I’ll see you when I fall asleep.”

 

 

Sometimes it feels like you’re so popular that you really don’t need me. You have so many people on your side, none the least of which include your boyfriend, cousin, and even Hunter. But please know that I’m still looking forward to the day where we can say that we did it. Against all odds, we remained the best of friends throughout high school, and college, and beyond. 
We’re graduating high school next year. And I want you to know that I wouldn’t be here without you. This torrent of emotions that I’ve basically shoved on you this last week and a half have all been an after effect of how grateful I am to have someone as amazing as you by my side. And even though we have only been friends for about two years, I am so happy I have someone that I can honestly say I trust. 
Thank you for being there for me. Thank you for putting up with me. Thank you for accepting me, and thank you so much for trusting me right back. Happy almost birthday, best friend. I am so glad I made the mistake of talking to you in fifth hour that day. My life hasn’t been the same.

 

 

Dear my best friend in the entire world (the best friend) ;) I just wanted to say that even though I’ve gone you still mean so much to me and I care so much about our friendship because you are the best friend I could ever ask for. I can call you up and tell you anything, you give the best at advice and listening and understanding. I feel like i can tell you anything and it’s like we are family. You have always been there for me and we have the best times.You are literally like my sister who brings the best out in me. I know that we are both busy and struggle to find to talk all the time but I know that you haven’t forgotton me and I want to stay in touch forever because when you find such a special friend you never want to lose them. To the loveliest, funniest, craziest and most beautiful best friend in the world- I love you with all my heart and you mean the world to me, please don’t forget!