A good paragraph must possess coherence and unity. A paragraph with unity builds on a single concept extensively and connects it to the entire essay. On the other hand, coherence is attained by arranging sentences in a consistent, and sensible manner using clear transitions to tie sentences.

Paragraph unity

As stated, unity dictates that you craft a paragraph with a main idea as the principal focus. The main idea is usually the opening sentence and is articulated in the topic sentence. From the onset, try to establish a strong connection between the main idea and the thesis statement. Inexperienced writers tend to fall into this trap by assuming that the audience will see this connection by themselves. However, the blunt reality is that they won’t unless you help them out. The topic sentence (as contained in the opening sentence of the paragraph) should endorse the key point of the paragraph using credible evidence. Ideas that approach the topic from different viewpoints, should be put in different paragraphs. In other words, sentences that support the topic sentence should be in the same paragraph. Sentences that have little or no connection to the core idea should be discarded altogether. If instead, you desire to retain the sentences, then you will have to brush up on the main idea to reflect the change.

Consider the following thesis statement:

“Notwithstanding the volume of financial support extended to Wanda each year, the economic situation remains dire as the money is used to service debt.”

The statement, as may be written by another writer could be expressed:

“The collapse of the Wanda economy proves the necessity for enhanced responsibility and watchfulness.” This statement is somewhat connected to the thesis.

Consider yet another Example:

“Approximately 15,000 individuals vanished from urban areas. Fiscal indiscipline could foment intense calamity. Graft within the government was highlighted time after time with no tangible results. State agencies tasked with protecting citizens turned against law other law-abiding citizens, whose only crime was to protest official government corruption.

Consider one final example:

“The devastation of August 08, 1937, demonstrates how foreign aid support was misappropriated and directed toward exploitive activities instead of economic development programs. On a material day, about 15,000 people were forcibly evacuated from their homes, pronounced guilty of treason, charged, and summarily executed. Incidentally, then President-for-life, Ariat Moshke, spent $1.5 billion, money meant for SMEs to fund a local militia that targeted members of the opposition. Without fiscal controls and strong constitutional bodies, civil society groups, and the citizenry at large, we’re unable to arrest the decay, and ultimately the people endured the horrific events visited upon them. On the flip side, it is envisaged that with greater involvement of the people, the Wanda disaster could have been avoided.

.

Analysis of the thesis statements

 The scrutiny of each of the three sentences yields interesting conclusions. For example, from the first statement, the topic sentence is difficult to see. It is also not possible to see connections between the sentences. It is also clear that the text is encased in quotation marks. Yet, the author is not known.

In the second paragraph, there is a relationship, somewhat. Yet again, it does not provide the audience with even a tinge of what the connection is. It kind of gives a strong topic sentence that reinforces the core argument of the essay.

The third paragraph has a robust topic sentence. It also eliminates inconsequential pieces of information that are outside of the topic but includes pertinent information that gives context to the Wanda economy and with external funding.

Paragraph coherence

A great writer should reflect on how to achieve coherence in a paragraph. From the start, you should reflect on how best to articulate your ideas into sentences cogent enough to support the core idea of the paragraph. Your choice of words should also reinforce this necessity. You could also perceive your sentences as the raw materials for the essay. The things that compromise sentences are the same ones that will affect the paragraph. In other words, sentences must be ordered properly to yield powerful paragraphs.

The key methods of sequencing sentences in a paragraph are briefly outlined:

Chronological Order

This is the most straightforward way of outlining the order of occurrence of activities.

Modified Chronology

It is standard practice to introduce a key idea in the opening sentences. This concept is then developed in the rest of the paragraph using necessary contextual data.

The logical form of the Idea                                                                  

You can innovatively provide sequencing of sentences by providing logical evidence (usually in the form of a syllogism) as the rationale for the organization. Logical arrangement of sentences will be achieved by bringing out the relationships between them through effective use of transition words. Transition words or phrases can best be described as signposts that give a guided tour of the paragraph. They should be written clearly and concisely.

The sequencing techniques are further highlighted in the following paragraphs:

Paragraph 1: An example of a Chronological sequence Topic sentence:

“Our trip was a blend of adversity and good fortune. After we had a mechanical breakdown, we walked the entire evening. Not having had lunch only made things worse as it hampered our quest to proceed further southwards. There couldn’t have been a better time for the lorry to come along!”

Paragraph 2: Expert Conversation Topic sentence:

Karl Marx and Michel Foucault offered thought-provoking insight into the role of power struggle in shaping perception of the truth. Through their analyses may seem similar (to the uncritical reader), critical reading of their works reveals contrasting viewpoints.  For instance, Marx perceived truth as a result of class conflicts among players in different historical economic power configurations. On the other hand, Foucault took a more skeptical route. He stated that the claims regarding sexuality and applicable retribution were an intricate trade-off between various interest groups who aspired to assert control through a definition of truth