Paragraph Structures

Abstract

Bad writers write badly for 2 simple reasons: they choose the wrong words and put them in the wrong order. As a result, they write bad sentences. Then, they usually put those bad sentences in an order that makes no sense. A good writer writes good sentences and puts them in a meaningful order, so that the writer’s ideas flow smoothly from the page into the reader’s mind (see Key Points). Good writers also break up their text into manageable chunks, called paragraphs.

Writing guides often tell you to use the paragraph as the unit of composition. Each paragraph can focus on a particular topic or idea. The break between paragraphs gives readers a chance to rest, to think about what they have just read. The break also alerts the reader that there may be some shift of focus.