Methods of Paragraph Development

This shows different ways of expanding a paragraph. Each paragraph contains a topic sentence and supporting sentences. The topic sentence expresses the theme of the paragraph while supporting sentences expand the sense in the topic sentence. There are, therefore, different ways of expanding the idea in a topic sentence:

• Illustrations and Examples:
  Use notable examples and illustrations to explain a concept in a paragraph. This includes objects, events, personal and collective experiences, and so on.

• Comparison and Contrast:
  This involves showing similarities and differences between or among ideas or objects explained. It is the paragraph that explains shared traits, attributes, or qualities and where the compared objects or events differ.

• Deduction Inference:
  A logical reasoning that starts with general concepts and gradually moves to specific ones.

• Inductive Inference:
  A logical reasoning that moves from specific to general.

• Chronological Order:
  This involves sequential arrangement of events. Discussing events in the order they occurred.

• Problem-Solution:
  The body examines and explains problems associated with the topic and also explains possible ways of solving the problems.

• Description:
  The use of descriptors to explain a phenomenon, event, person, or objects.

• Cause and Effect:
  A paragraph development method that traces causes of an event or existence and the effect on the environment, life, and property of the people around the event.

• Statistical Information:
  The use of research outcomes, experiments, etc., to explain ideas in a paragraph.