Paragraphing

Because a paragraph is a series of sentences used to develop or express one topic or main idea, there are many different reasons for starting a new paragraph.

 I. Structural reasons:

A. Introduction

1. The introduction to a paper should be a separate paragraph from the rest of the paper.
2. However, the introduction may be more than one paragraph long.
3. See Introductions and Conclusions.

B.  Introducing a new idea or change in topic

1. A new paragraph should start whenever you introduce a new idea into the paper or whenever the topic of the paper changes.
2. If the paragraph develops a new reason or point about the paper’s thesis, change paragraphs.

C. Change paragraphs whenever you change speakers in dialogue.

1. However, don’t change paragraphs for narrative that describes the location or time or point that the dialogue is developing.
2. Don’t change paragraphs if the dialogue is from the speaker—unless that speaker changes topic or location or space within the dialogue.
3. Example:

      Fran tried to convince David that he was ill enough to go to the hospital. “You need a transfusion today,” she said. “You’re getting white and shaky. Your T-cell count must be terribly low.”
      “I’m fine; just leave me alone.”
      “David, you’re not fine. I can practically see your veins through your skin. You just fell getting out of the chair.
      “Do you remember John Taylor? I used to date him before I met Craig. He was a good man. I even thought that I loved him for awhile. He’s dead now, you know.”
      “What are you getting at? What does John Taylor have to do with my going to the hospital?”
      “He died of AIDS.”

D. Paragraph when you change time or place in a narration.

E. Transition

1. In some papers, you may want a short paragraph as a transition between two specific sections of a paper.
2. Such paragraphs usually occur in longer papers, but they may also prove helpful in short papers.

a. These paragraphs will often make a brief summary of the first section and explain briefly the relationship between that section and the section to come.
b. The paragraphs are short and are not intended to develop a new point.

F. Conclusion

1. The conclusion belongs in a separate paragraph.
2. Unless the paper is very long, keep conclusions to one paragraph.
3. See Introductions and Conclusions.

A. Begin a new paragraph in order to emphasize an important idea or statement.

1. A new paragraph automatically draws attention to itself by being indented.
2. Therefore, to draw attention to an idea or example, separate that idea or example into a new paragraph.

a. However, be careful that you don’t overuse this reason for paragraphing.
b. Any time a device is overused, it loses its effectiveness to draw attention.

B. Start a new paragraph to emphasize a long example or set of facts.

1. If an example is detailed and becomes lengthy, set it apart in a paragraph by itself so that its details don’t run together with other details.
2. Sometimes you may want to paragraph the analysis away from the example, if the analysis itself is lengthy and keeping it in the same paragraph with the example will weaken the example or the analysis.

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