Paragraphs
Introduction
Now that you have learned some prewriting methods to generate topics and ideas, you will learn how to structure these into paragraphs. Paragraphs are about one central idea and can be just one sentence long, but for the purposes of academic writing, they are usually 8 to 12 sentences in length. Paragraphs can stand alone, but in academic writing, multiple paragraphs are used to write compositions, for example, an essay, research paper, or a review.
In this module you will learn about the typical structure and organization of a paragraph in academic writing. You will practice your skills by completing paragraph outlines, rough drafts, and final drafts of your paragraphs.
Learning Objectives
- Discover the elements and organization of an academic paragraph.
- Identify different types of writing: descriptive, narrative, expository, and persuasive.
- Use outlines and organization tools to create a first draft of a paragraph.
- Write a first draft of a paragraph by following the first three steps of the writing process.
- Use APA 7 (American Psychological Association) to format a paper and create a title/cover page.
- Write a final draft of a paragraph by following all seven steps of the writing process.
To Do List
- Read “Developing Paragraphs” in Communication Essentials for College.
- Explore “Descriptive, Narrative, Expository, Persuasive Paragraphs”.
- Review the sample APA sample cover page and sample paragraph assignment.
- Complete the First Draft Assignment in Blackboard.
- Complete the Final Draft Assignment in Blackboard.
Attribution & References
Except where otherwise noted, “Paragraphs” by Academic and Career Preparation, Georgian College, is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
