Paragraph Flow and Form...

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Hello,I'm wondering about proper paragraph flow and form. It is proper to use a 'leading sentence' in paragraphs when writing an essay. A 'leading sentence', as I understand it, is a sentence at the very end of one pargraph which leds into the next paragraph while also concluding the present one.Is this technique acceptable or is it /more/ proper to conclude a paragraph and begin the next one without 'leading' into it?Thanks a lot.Keith Little &gt; E-mail munged.www.thecorch.com

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Keith Little (Email Removed) wrote on 20 Feb 2004:
[nq:1]Hello, I'm wondering about proper paragraph flow and form. It is proper to use a 'leading sentence' in paragraphs when ... sentence at the very end of one pargraph which leds into the next paragraph while also concluding the present one.[/nq]
I haven't heard this terminology before. But I have heard of sentences called "transitional sentences". They are usually at the beginning of the following paragraph and connect the preceding paragraph to the following paragraph.
Whatever they are called and wherever they are placed(1), you are asking about another rhetorical concept: cohesion. These transitional sentences bind the paragraphs in the essay to each other (hence "cohesion"). They provide a better flow than paragraphs that have no transitions. However, there is no need to strain oneself by creating a transition for every paragraph. Sometimes one wants a jerk and bump in the flow lest the reader be transitioned into somnambulance.
[nq:1]Is this technique acceptable or is it /more/ proper to conclude a paragraph and begin the next one without 'leading' into it?[/nq]
I'd say that you ought to forget the idea of making the paragraph- final sentence a "leading sentence": that is putting the cart before the horse. How can you know that it will be a leading sentence if you haven't yet written the following paragraph? That means you have to go back through the entire essay after you've written it and change all paragraph-final sentences into "leading sentences". Forget it. Better to change all paragraph-initial sentences into "tranisitional sentences": the bridge belongs at the beginning of the following paragraph.
Yes, it is a good idea to have transitions between paragraphs.

NOTE:
(1) This introductory dependent clause is an example of a transition. It connects this paragraph to the previous one and then seamlessly introduces a new term, "cohesion".
[nq:1]Thanks a lot. Keith Little > E-mail munged. www.thecorch.com[/nq]
Franke: EFL teacher & medical editor.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Hello, I'm wondering about proper paragraph flow and form. It is proper to use a 'leading sentence' in paragraphs when ... technique acceptable or is it /more/ proper to conclude a paragraph and begin the next one without 'leading' into it?[/nq]
Whether a technique is acceptable or more or less "proper" depends on the outcome. It's impossible to generalize without seeing what you're asking about.
Certainly, dropping navigational aids to help the reader follow the course of your argument can be a Good Thing. Whether you recap where you've been and where you're headed next at the beginning or at the end of a paragraph doesn't matter much. But anything done too mechanically can become tiresome. Do it where think it's helpful, but don't do it because you think you have to do it: you may lose your readers.

Michael West

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[nq:1]I'd say that you ought to forget the idea of making the paragraph- final sentence a "leading sentence": that is ... it. Better to change all paragraph-initial sentences into "tranisitional sentences": the bridge belongs at the beginning of the following paragraph.[/nq]
Thanks a lot. Despite my clumsiness you seemed to have answered my question(s) dead-on.

Keith Little > E-mail munged.
www.thecorch.com

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]Hello, I'm wondering about proper paragraph flow and form. It is proper to use a 'leading sentence' in paragraphs when ... technique acceptable or is it /more/ proper to conclude a paragraph and begin the next one without 'leading' into it?[/nq]
Are you by any chance thinking of a "lead sentence" (taught in journalism, mostly) or a topic sentence (taught in expository writing, generally)?
Not a transitional segue, as you describe, but simply one sentence per paragraph that states the main idea, what the paragraph is about. The other sentences support it with details and examples, usually.

There is no way on earth that every paragraph would always contain a transitional sentence to the next paragraph. Transitions are often handled in the opening of the paragraph ("However, even though...")

Best - Donna Richoux

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Well put.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]I'd say that you ought to forget the idea of making the paragraph- final sentence a "leading sentence": that is ... bridge belongs at the beginning of the following paragraph. Yes, it is a good idea to have transitions between paragraphs.[/nq]
He'll end up with leading sentences every time by breaking up paragraphs at non-natural points. That seems like it defeats the purpose of a paragraph.

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"Bill Bonde ( Straight invective is not satire; satire must deliberately overshoot its mark. )" (Email Removed) wrote on 28 Feb 2004:
[nq:2]I'd say that you ought to forget the idea of ... it is a good idea to have transitions between paragraphs.[/nq]
[nq:1]He'll end up with leading sentences every time by breaking up paragraphs at non-natural points. That seems like it defeats the purpose of a paragraph.[/nq]
I'm sorry, but I don't understand what you mean here.

Franke: EFL teacher & medical editor.

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