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Five Step Process To Paragraph Development

The document outlines a 5-step process for developing paragraphs: 1) creating a topic sentence, 2) explaining the main point, 3) giving examples, 4) explaining the examples, and 5) completing the paragraph's idea or transitioning to the next paragraph. It provides an example of a paragraph written following these steps. The paragraph is about how slave spirituals often had hidden double meanings, using freedom songs like "Steal Away to Jesus" as an example that could reference plans to escape slavery while appearing religious to observers.

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Darryl Saunders
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37 views2 pages

Five Step Process To Paragraph Development

The document outlines a 5-step process for developing paragraphs: 1) creating a topic sentence, 2) explaining the main point, 3) giving examples, 4) explaining the examples, and 5) completing the paragraph's idea or transitioning to the next paragraph. It provides an example of a paragraph written following these steps. The paragraph is about how slave spirituals often had hidden double meanings, using freedom songs like "Steal Away to Jesus" as an example that could reference plans to escape slavery while appearing religious to observers.

Uploaded by

Darryl Saunders
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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 5-step process to paragraph development

Step 1. Topic sentence creation

The controlling idea of a paragraph will appear in the form of a topic sentence.

The topic sentence should be brief, clear and directly related to the paragraph content.

One main point in a topic sentence— Slave spirituals often had hidden double meanings.

Step 2. Explain the main point that was made into a topic sentence

o The writer explains his/her thinking about the main topic, idea, or focus of the paragraph.

Explanation of the main point—On one level, spirituals referenced heaven, Jesus, and the soul; but
on another level, the songs spoke about slave resistance.

Step 3. Give an example (or multiple examples)

o Paragraph development progresses with the expression of some type of support or evidence for
the idea and the explanation that came before it.

Example of an example— For example, slaves used songs like "Steal Away to Jesus (at
midnight)" to announce to other slaves the time and place of secret, forbidden meetings.

Step 4. Explain the example(s)

The next movement in paragraph development is an explanation of each example and its
relevance to the topic sentence and rationale that were stated at the beginning of the
paragraph.

Continue the pattern of giving examples and explaining them until all points/examples that the
writer deems necessary have been made and explained. NONE of your examples should be left
unexplained.

Explanation for example — When slaves sang this song, they could have been speaking of their
departure from this life and their arrival in heaven; however, they also could have been
describing their plans to leave the South and run, not to Jesus, but to the North.

Step 5. Complete the paragraph's idea or transition into the next paragraph

The final movement in paragraph development involves tying up the loose ends of the
paragraph and reminding the reader of the relevance of the information in this paragraph to the
main or controlling idea of the paper.

Sentence for completing the paragraph— What whites heard as merely spiritual songs, slaves
discerned as detailed messages.
Sentence for transition to next paragraph- However, these slave spirituals did more than allow
slaves to sing what they could not say.

Here is a look at the completed "model" paragraph:

Slave spirituals often had hidden double meanings. On one level, spirituals referenced
heaven, Jesus, and the soul, but on another level, the songs spoke about slave
resistance. Slaves used songs like "Steal Away to Jesus (at midnight)" to announce to
other slaves the time and place of secret, forbidden meetings. When slaves sang this
song, they could have been speaking of their departure from this life and their arrival in
heaven; however, they also could have been describing their plans to leave the South
and run, not to Jesus, but to the North. What whites heard as merely spiritual songs;
slaves discerned as detailed messages. However, these slave spirituals did more than
allow slaves to sing what they could not say.

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