Introduction to the Basic Paragraph

Single Controlling Idea

The controlling idea of a paragraph is the main idea or point the writer is trying to make.

There are many types of paragraphs. When different types of paragraphs are combined in the right way, they form an essay. To start though, let’s take a look at the basic paragraph.

In general, the basic, well-constructed paragraph should contain at least the following:

Single controlling idea
Topic sentence
1. State the controlling idea of the paragraph
Supporting details
1. Facts
2. Expert Testimony
3. Statistics
4. Personal Experiences
Concluding sentence
1. State how the supporting details all support the controlling idea

The paragraph should also be indented. This means that there are several spaces before the first sentence. You can achieve this by pressing the space bar several times, or by pressing the Tab key on a computer keyboard. All writing assignment paragraphs must be indented in this course.

This is an image of an outline of a paragraph. A number one indicates that the paragraph is governed by a single controlling idea. A number two indicates that the paragraph begins with a topic sentence. A number three indicates that the paragraph contains supporting details. A number four indicates that the paragraph ends with a concluding sentence.