Writing Topic: Rules for Writers chapter 4

Building Effective Paragraphs

     In the fourth chapter of "Rules for Writers" by Diana Hacker we receive coaching on how to fill our paragraphs with more powerful matter.

     Diana describes how we should keep our focus on the point of each paragraph, which can be hard sometimes if we have a lot of information we are trying to impart on our audience. She then moves on to our topic sentence. Topic sentences can be placed anywhere in the paragraph, and are sometimes hard to spot. It is a good practice to underline the topic sentences when you spot them. This certainly helps when writing summaries.
     The next section describes the different methods of developement which include: Example and illustration, narration, description, process, comparison and contrast, analogy, cause and effect, classification and division, and definition. These patterns of developement can be mixed and matched throughout an essay to give it flavor and effectiveness.
     Repeating key words to keep focus of the main idea, using parallel structures in sentences to underscore themes, and maintaining consistency of the opinion or subject of the paragraph helps the audience better chew the incoming information.
     Next is providing transitions. I have to say that when I've got all the nuts and bolts of a first draft completed and I'm tuning up the final draft I love to find the perfect segways to connect all the pieces together so it becomes smooth to read (If that is my intent). When you find that right chain of words to lay into your paper you know when it feels right. Its is a really important effect to have seams or remain seamless within your writing.
     Lastly Diana describes when to cut off your paragraph and start a new one. When I'm writing my first draft I run into ths a lot, where I'm trying to pour out information for three paragraphs into one long untidy half page.
     Knowing these different descriptions of paragraphs and learning how to come up with some smooth or comical transitions is critical on our adventure to pick up all the tools we need to complete our essays.