Paragraphing and Organisation

What is Paragraphing and Organisation?

Within English, which covers grammar, vocabulary, reading, writing, poetry, drama and the skills for clear communication, this topic explains Paragraphing and Organisation. English topics help you read closely and write with purpose, so each one here explains a skill and shows how it works in a model text.

Check that you can explain Paragraphing and Organisation in your own words and give one example from everyday life. If you can do that, you have understood the core idea.

Understanding Paragraphing and Organisation helps you read texts more closely and write with more control, which earns marks in both reading and writing papers.

Paragraphing and Organisation in detail

A paragraph groups sentences about one main idea, usually starting with a topic sentence that states the point, followed by supporting details, examples or evidence, and a concluding or linking sentence. Start a new paragraph for a new idea, time, place, topic or speaker in dialogue.

The paragraphs in a text should follow a logical order, such as chronological, order of importance or problem-solution, linked by connectives. Varying paragraph length helps pace: short paragraphs for impact. The TEEL or PEE structure (Point, Evidence, Explain) helps in analytical writing. Good organisation makes writing easy to follow.

How the interactive helps you understand Paragraphing and Organisation

Click a step, or use the Previous and Next buttons, to move through the sequence one stage at a time. Auto-play moves on for you.

Before you change anything, predict the result. Then change one value at a time and check whether your prediction was right. This is a quick way to build a correct mental model of Paragraphing and Organisation.

Real-life uses and examples

• Use Paragraphing and Organisation to make your own writing more precise and vivid.
• Support a point about Paragraphing and Organisation with a short, accurate quotation.
• Plan an essay paragraph by linking the technique to the reader’s response.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Quoting a long passage instead of picking a short, precise phrase.
• Naming a technique without explaining its effect on the reader.
• Learning the definition without testing it. Use the quiz and the interactive to check that you can apply the idea.