20 / Basics of Good Writing
about the water skier in the preceding step are arranged chronologically, the order in
which the skier must react.
Number the items on your list in the order in which you will write about them.
STEP 4: Developing the Notes
Using the organized list of details from Step 3, you should be able to develop the
paragraph quickly. Follow these steps:
• Begin with the topic sentence unless you have a good reason for saving it until
later. Note these possible reasons:- If an introductory statement is necessary, the topic sentence may follow the
brief introduction, which should include an attention-getter. - If you address a highly controversial subject, the topic sentence may work
better as the conclusion, when readers are more likely to accept your idea. - If the paragraph builds to a surprise, the topic sentence may appear at
the end. - The topic sentence may never appear but only be implied. Make certain, if
you use this approach, that the topic sentence is clearly implied; otherwise
the reader may be left wondering.
• Use an effective transition to move from your topic sentence to the first
subtopic or supporting detail. [See transitions in the Glossary.]
• Use specific supporting details. Show, don’t tell, the reader your message.
[See Chapter 10, Description, for a good explanation of specific details. Also see
Sample Revision for Specific Detail in Chapter 3, Revising.]
• Use good sentence structure and work toward sentence variety and emphasis.
Balance long sentences with short, complicated with simple. [See Sample
Revision for Sentence Variety and Sample Revision for Emphasis in Chapter 3,
Revising.]
• Aim for specific word choice appropriate for the audience. [See Sample
Revision for Specific Detail in Chapter 3, Revising.]
• Use effective transitions to move on to additional supporting details. [See
Sample Revision for Transition in Chapter 3, Revising.]
• Maintain consistency, both in verb tense and point of view. [See point of view
and tense in the Glossary. Also see Step 5 in Chapter 3, Revising, for additional
details on checking consistency.]
• Conclude with an effective clincher or ending statement. Some paragraphs
can end with a final statement that merely finishes the final subtopic rather
than with a true clincher sentence. The reader, however, must have a sense of
completion and not be left to feel that the writer simply quit.