Ways to Organize a Paragraph

Remember—always begin with a topic sentence, and try to end with a clincher. In the body of the paragraph, you have several different ways to organize your material.

1.      Chronological Organization

NASA has developed many kinds of technology over the years. In 1968, they developed . . . Three years later, they created the first . . . In the 1980s, they developed a new technology called . . . And just last year, they were able to develop . . . Overall, through the years, NASA's technological breakthroughs have been astounding.

2.      Comparison and/or Contrast

Although the NCAA and the NBA have many similarities, they also have many differences. First, NCAA basketball is much more fast-paced. In the NBA, players stand around, and they don't play much defense. You don't see full court presses or other intense situations much in the NBA like you do in college basketball. But in the NCAA, full-court presses are much more common, and the speed and intensity of the game are much more significant. Second, the NCAA is much more of a team game. Players in the NCAA pass much more often, and the spread of the points is varied more among the teams’ players than among players on NBA teams. Third, NCAA basketball has less continuity among its players, since players can be on the team for a maximum of four seasons. In the NBA, some players play on the same team for many years. Overall, the styles of the two leagues are very different. 

3.      Example

President Jimmy Carter was a weak president in several ways. One example of his weak leadership was his handling of the Iran hostage situation. In 1979, he . . . Another example of his weak leadership was the way he failed to correct the economy when it crashed during his administration. . . . Another example of his weak leadership was the way he dealt with the gas shortage of 1977. . . . Overall, these examples show that he was a weak leader.

4.      Classification / Categories

We can divide Biblical literature into several types. One type of literature in the Bible is poetry. Poetry tends to use metaphor and simile, and it is more emotional. The Psalms, Proverbs, and much of the Old Testament are written in poetry. Another type of literature in the Bible is narrative, or stories.  Stories can be written in prose or poetry, but they always involve recounting a set of significant events for a person or a group of people. Genesis, Judges, and I and 2 Kings are examples of narrative. Finally, a third type of biblical literature is the epistle. Epistles are letters from one person to another person or to a church. The books of Romans, Philippians, and Jude are all epistles. These types of literature are the most popular in the Bible.