Words, sentences and paragraphs are the three basic building blocks for a writer. And all the mighty writing edifices in the world are built on those three lonely blocks. A writer's skill is measured by how well he or she can manipulate those blocks into a flowing narrative. And by how well they meet the needs of their reader.
Here are three tips for writing better paragraphs that meet the needs of the reader.
1. Always limit your paragraph to a single idea or point. Think of a paragraph as a mini-argument. Yes, the argument you call a book is made up of a great many paragraphs. But the paragraph itself is a mini-argument. Don't confuse your poor reader by trying to carry out two arguments at the same time. Make a single point and explain it in a single paragraph. Then go on. If you try to make more than one point in a paragraph you'll simply confuse your reader.
2. All paragraphs have the same basic structure as a good argument. They begin with an introductory sentence. They end with a concluding sentence. In between are one or more body or development sentences. The introduction should be strong. After all, its purpose is not only to introduce the paragraph but to cause the reader to be interested in reading the paragraph. Similarly the conclusion should be strong. Make it easy for your reader to follow your thoughts... let your conclusion be your final thought on the subject!
3. Now that we are no longer in school, it is better to have short paragraphs, than perfect paragraphs. Don't underestimate your reader. Although I stated above that you need to be clear in your introduction and conclusion, your reader is capable of carrying your idea over multiple paragraphs. What they frequently aren't capable of is concentrated long term thought. So make it easy on the poor reader. Keep your paragraphs short. Break them up and spread them over multiple paragraphs if necessary.
No comments:
Post a Comment