Imagine a world of beautiful paragraphs. From far, far Australia to Africa, Europe to Asia and the Americas to the Antarctica, it would be a very beautiful phenomenon to behold. It would be even, less chaotic and very pleasant to the eye. Indeed, so smooth would it be that it would take just a little time to navigate its length and breadth.

If that beautiful world remains elusive for now, you can help in achieving a linguistic form of it by cultivating the habit of structuring your prose compositions in good paragraphs.

Unfortunately, many of us take paragraphs for granted because they tend to be simple and natural elements of English. But anyone who wants to do well in whatever form of written communication should realise that a lot depends on the quality of their paragraphs.


 
A single theme

A paragraph is a distinct part of a piece of writing dealing with a single theme. It is a group of sentences relating to a single topic or sub-topic in the whole essay.  Usually indicated by indentation or a new line, it focuses on a central idea that should be established before the writer moves on to another paragraph. Although some experts note that there is no rule regarding the size of a paragraph, the fact that it focuses on a single theme, and that there are other paragraphs doing similar things in the same prose composition or story, means that it should neither be too short nor too long.  Indeed, some have suggested that it should be between three and six sentences.

This makes a lot of sense, especially for students writing essays and other people doing normal reports like newspaper articles, letters and memos. If, for instance, you have the Topic Sentence in a paragraph, you can follow it up with some two explanatory sentences, another one giving examples, and, finally, the one that concludes the paragraph. That is five sentences in all and the paragraph is ready.

Unfortunately, many people are so careless with paragraphs that they leave them untidy, jagged and nauseating. There is this university graduate who was asked to write an essay as part of a job interview. The topic was, ‘Nigeria of my Dream’. Lo and behold, the guy wrote a three-page article but he dumped everything in a single paragraph! Of course, things can be so bad that there are people who, when they write application letters for jobs and other important ventures, they leave everything in one paragraph – from introduction to conclusion.

Components of a paragraph

The most important part of a paragraph is the Topic Sentence. It is the one that carries the main message. It often comes first in the paragraph. But, as a matter of style, it can be located in the middle while some experts may delay it till the end of the paragraph.

My advice, however,  is that you should put yours as early as possible in the paragraph and leave experimentation till when you well advance in the language. After all, to become a Wole Soyinka is not a day’s job. Consider the example below:

Government must quickly find solution to the hunger crisis in the Internally Displaced People camps. The situation is so bad now that many of the victims hardly have even a meal a day. Imagine the agony that children there go through, not having anything to eat throughout the day. A report indicates that a lot of the mothers in the camps can no more breastfeed their infants because they no more have the physical and physiological strength to do so. What kind of government will continue to fold its arms while these are happening?

As you can see, the topic sentence comes first.  But it can be moved, depending on the style adopted by the writer. What is important is that it must be there since every paragraph must have a theme. Indeed, whenever it is not there, the paragraph is as good as empty.

Developing Sentences

These are the sentences that support the Topic Sentence. They explain the point raised, supply facts and give examples where necessary. This means that apart from the underlined ones in the examples above, all others are Developing Sentences. Note that that all the sentences should address the same issue raised in the topic sentence. That is what is called unity of thought.

Things to note

Good paragraphs give a piece of writing visual beauty. They make it tidy and appealing to the reader.
Paragraphs allow the writer himself to gauge the success of their piece even before it gets to any reader. For instance, if you intend to discuss six points in the composition, all you need to do when you finish writing or typing the materal is to count the number of your paragraphs. Do you have up to six paragraphs, probably with the intro and the concluding paragraphs, making it eight? Then, you are on course.
If you measure your writing in good paragraphs, you are likely to commit less grammatical errors. It will be easier for you to watch your construction and make corrections where necessary.
There can be some exceptions that you will encounter in different writings. People advanced in the English Language do not have to always observe the ‘rules’. Yet, they will be correct. They can interject their pieces with very long paragraphs, perhaps with up to 15 sentences. Some of their paragraphs can be as short as a sentence and even a word. Yet, heaven will not fall. Time and space will not permit us to give examples here but you can check this out in some books. But, for now, wrap your ideas in beautiful, concise paragraphs.
Some technical pieces of writing follow peculiar paragraphing styles. For instance, in newspapers, reporters fancy one-sentence paragraphs. The reason is that they want to make the facts clear as much as possible. Read news reports in any newspaper to observe this. Also, in police statements, police authorities want you to put all your narration in one paragraphs, and without any form of indention. A linguist friend of mine had a battle with them not long ago when he was arrested and taken to a police station in Lagos. In his statement, he wanted to obey paragraphing rules but the police warned him that if he left any space even in the form of indention, someone else could manipulate the piece by inserting in the space what the accused did not intend.
Answers to last  week’s assignment

Ade does not like chicken. I don’t like it … (a) either (b) neither (c) nor (d) none.
It is not… (b) unreasonably (b) uncommonly (c) unfairly (d) uncommon … to see policemen bullying citizens.
The man … (a) could (b) should (c) couldn’t (d) can’t … barely spell his name.
I don’t know … (a) zero (b) nothing (c) anything (d) every … about computers.
Those who got all the answers

Babatunde Taiwo, Lagos; Shuaibu Rukayat, Abuja; Julius Omoluwabi, Ibadan; Banjo Ogundeji, Lagos; Opayanju Foluke, Lagos;  Akin Gandonu, Abeokuta; Inyang Udom, Abuja;  Tajudeen Raji, Benin City; Omotoso Oluwafunmi, Lagos; Ayoola Olunike, Lagos; Ogunsiji Mariam, Abuja; W.B. Ganiyu, Jelil Adigun, Ayuba Akinpelu, Gideon Kaduma, Moshood Afolabi, Titus Musa, Kehinde Ayanlola, Abeokuta;  Tolulope Imoru, Lagos; Ihekwoaba Ndidi, Lagos; Tayo Hunpe, Badagry, Lagos; Asaolu Damilola, Ogun State; Suleiman Jubril, Lugbe, Abuja;  Orji Chinomso, Lagos; Ganiyu Taiwo, Lagos; Adebayo Seun, Abuja; Gift Uturu, Ikenne, Ogun State; Taiwo Afolayan, Lagos; Olaoye Ifeoluwa, Lagos; Yinka Adesanya, Ibadan; Adesola Victor, Akure; Ayoola Prosper, Ibadan; A. B. Adejumo, Iseyin, Oyo State; Dada Jaiyeola, Abuja; Mayegun Motunrayo, Abeokuta; Uche Oshile, Delta State; Ademuwagun Oluwaseun, Ibadan; Halimat Olaoye, Lagos; Favour Akinbolade, Akure; Ifam Joseph, Gboko, Benue State; Akegh Joseph, Sapele, Delta State; Femi Soyoye-Olomore, Abeokuta;  Oluwatosin Edafe, Akure; Alara Kabiru, Lagos; Soyomi Olugbenga, Mowe, Ogun State; Egoma Ilokwu, Aba;  Onochie Kanma, Lagos; Ademola Oyekanmi, Ibadan; Adeniyi Dare, Ikorodu, Lagos; Akinyele Precious, Omi Adio, Ibadan; Johson Ojo, Isola, Lagos; Abiwo Japeth, Lagos; Akpabaro Blessing, Ilorin; Chris Thompson, Francis Adeniyi, Ikere-Ekiti; Saturday Odum, Lagos; Odusola Tope, Lagos; Olawunmi Odunayo, Abeokuta; Yemi Ogunjinmi, Lagos;  Opeyemi Ogunsola, Lagos; Ayansola Oluseyi, Ibadan; Abiodun Elesin, Olabisi Olateru, Ikorodu, Lagos; Garnvwa Nath, Abuja;  Aisha Aminu, Mariam Sarah, Sunday Oyesiji, Abudu Zahnab, Ikorodu and SaintPeter Femi.

 Others who did well

Babara Obiora, Nath Ushafa, Johnny Mouka, Adepoju Taofeek, Olaniyan Yewande, Lagos;  Fregene Toyosi, Ilorin, Sangodare Ayinla, Shao, Kwara State; Ademolu Adeniyi, Egbe, Lagos;  Olamide Idris, Mary Nwokorie, Ajayi Samuel, Jimoh Yahaya, George Jimoh, Kazeem Adegbile, Iree, Osun State; Kuponiyi Tosin, Adunjo Samuel, Ipokia, Oyo State; Onyeka Ugwu, Enugu; Adeyemi Balogun, Ogun State; Monsuru Azeez, Ibadan; Bart Jekeli, Lagos; Chris David, Rivers State and Ajayi Oluwaranti, Akure.

Homework

I need a pair of … (a) scissors (b) Sicors (c) cissors (d) sissus … to cut this paper.
Give me … (a) neither (b) any (c) either (d) both … of the three phones.
Dekunle Gold is a good singer. …, (a) Moreover (b) Although (c) In as much (d) However … he is not a fantastic dancer.
This cap belongs to Janet. Where is (a) Mercy’ (b) Mercys’ (c) Mercy’s (d) Mercy’s own…?