Week 8: Paragraphs
A paragraph is a collection of sentences related to a single idea, statement or topic. A paragraph explains a chapter’s sub-heading, just like a sub-heading explains a book’s chapter. Everything you’ve learned about using chapters and sub-headings to sequentially explain teaching concepts or events in an autobiography also applies to paragraphs.
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Every sub-heading you’ve written in your outline will need to be expanded into further sub-points. These sub-points are the paragraphs you’ll use to move the reader from the current sub-point to the next one. Make sure that by the time the reader gets to the last paragraph of a sub-heading, they are ready to make the short step to the next sub-heading.
Creating good paragraphs makes your writing more readable and understandable. Nobody wants to read a paragraph that is three pages long. Regular paragraph breaks keep the reader from getting tired, just like chapters give the reader a break and allow them to momentarily process what they just read before moving on to the next one.
Writing Paragraphs
Keep these important things in mind when writing your paragraphs:
- Write about and explain only one thought or idea in each paragraph.
- If you notice that you’re talking about more than one idea, break it up into different paragraphs.
- Each paragraph can contain multiple sentences that support, illustrate, or further explains your paragraph’s main idea.
- A paragraph signals the reader that you’re transitioning to a new idea. Each paragraph (idea) should logically flow in a certain order and should prove the larger idea in that section of your book.
Remember to start a new paragraph:
- When you begin talking about a new idea.
- When you want to make a new point.
- To provide contrast to the previous idea or argument (a counter-example or counter-argument).
- To give the reader a break from a long paragraph. This makes your writing more readable. But don’t break up a paragraph if there isn’t a logical place to do so!
You can help the reader transition to the next paragraph (idea) by including a transitional sentence at the end of paragraphs. The transitional sentence might summarize the paragraph’s idea while transitioning to the next idea.
The Four Basic Guidelines for Paragraphs
Every paragraph should be:
- Focused and Unified
All parts of the paragraph must be related to each other and to the Paragraph Statement (the theme or idea of the paragraph). The sentences in the paragraph shouldn’t wander into new ideas. The focus should be on a single theme or idea. - Coherent
The sentences should be arranged in a logical manner and should follow a definite plan of development. - About One Idea
Every paragraph should have one defining statement (the Paragraph Statement) which the paragraph explains. The paragraph statement can be anywhere in the paragraph: beginning, middle, end, or even the beginning and end. A paragraph’s defining statement may be at the end if the paragraph starts off with a story or anecdote which is summarized by the defining statement at the end. - Adequately Developed
Every idea discussed in the paragraph should be adequately explained and supported through evidence and details that work together to explain the paragraph’s controlling idea
Breaking Down a Paragraph
A well-constructed and well thought out paragraph should be concise and make its point quickly. Although your paragraphs will be different, here is the construction of a paragraph that has been well-planned.
- A statement
- Explanation of the statement
- Example
- Explanation of the example
- Completion of the paragraph statement and transition into the next paragraph
Using these five basic elements, I’ve constructed the following paragraph by writing one sentence for each part of the paragraph.
God is always good. He doesn’t have good days and bad days. For example, He doesn’t wake up one day and decide to send someone into poverty. This would imply that He isn’t always good. God can’t be anything but good because there is no evil in Him.
The paragraph following this one might talk about how Satan is always evil. He doesn’t wake up one day and decide to do good things like restore someone’s marriage. Christians don’t believe that happens, but some do believe that God is sometimes evil by blaming bad things on Him.
Obviously, not every paragraph will follow this model. In fact, a book containing paragraphs using only this model would be very hard to read.
Rather than show you a model for a perfect paragraph (there is no such thing), I’m just showing you how a good paragraph can be constructed. It should be concise, the sentences should be well thought out, and you should know what point you’re making so you don’t get off on a rabbit trail and lose the reader.
NOTE: Next week’s class on March 3rd will be an in-class writing day. The following week, on March 10th, I’ll be teaching about Publishing.
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Aaron McMahon is the author of These Signs Shall Follow and How to Write & Publish Your Book. He is a graduate of all three years of Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry where he interned for associate pastor Kevin Dedmon. Now, Aaron continues to work with Kevin Dedmon, Chris Overstreet and others at Bethel Church in Redding, California to support our mission: worldwide and personal revival. 
