Sentences and Paragraphs | Science Writing Resources

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Paragraphs

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Topic Sentences

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Some Examples (errors and improvements)

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Transitions

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An Example

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Quick Quiz

Organizing - Paragraph Structure, Topic Sentences and Transitions

Read the 10 sentences that together make up a short piece of science writing below. As you read them, think about where you should split the writing into three separate paragraphs to organize it more effectively.

₁Thoroughbred racehorses have been bred selectively for over 200 years. ₂The breed has become faster with each passing decade. ₃These horses have also become more prone to injury over time. ₄To prove that they have become faster, it is easy to look in the record books and compare race times of winning horses that ran over the same distances. ₅In one-mile races, which are commonly run every day, the best modern-day horses tend to finish almost two seconds faster than those racing 200 years ago. ₆Two seconds might not seem that much, but it is enough to mean the best horses of the early 1800’s would struggle to compete with the slowest horses of the 2000’s. ₇Horse-racing registries show that around 5 out of every 1,000 modern-day horses suffer impact injuries, such as fractures or limb soreness. ₈Going back to the early 1800’s, best estimates place that number at nearer to 1 out of every 1,000. ₉This is despite modern veterinary practices being considerably more advanced. ₁₀Horses with fractured legs are routinely saved – and some even race again –10 whereas the same was not true 200 years ago.
1) The first paragraph should feature __________.
2) The third paragraph should feature____________.
3) Choose the most effective topic sentence to place before the first sentence in the paragraph that you just worked with.
4) Read the following short paragraph and decide where it should be split into two different paragraphs:

₁Scientists replicated the special orientation of shark scales that helps them swim faster through the water to produce the swimming suit that multiple Olympic gold-medal winner Michael Phelps wears. ₂Velcro was created to copy the hooking mechanism of plant burrs that help them attach their seeds to animals, which disperse them in the environment. ₃Marine biologists noted that the shape of whale fins allows them to minimize drag and maximize lift while swimming, which led to the creation of more efficient wind turbines and aeroplane propellers. ₄Paint manufacturers copied the tiny rough patches found on Lotus petals so that dust and dirt would aggregate before being swept away by rainwater to leave a clean house. ₅Construction companies are tapping into the design used by a beetle that helps it gather water from the atmosphere so that buildings are more environmentally friendly.
5) Now choose the most effective topic sentence to place before the first sentence.
6) Add in the most effective transition between your chosen topic sentence, and sentence 1 in the original paragraph.
7) Add in the most effective transition between sentence 1 and sentence 2 in the original paragraph.
8) Add in the most effective transition between sentence 2 and sentence 3 in the original paragraph.
9) Add in the most effective transition between sentence 3 and sentence 4 in the original paragraph.
10) Add in the most effective transition between sentence 4 and sentence 5 in the original paragraph.
Which institution (school/college/university) are you studying at?
Which course(s) are you studying?
What point of study are you at (e.g. second-year undergraduate)?

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Organizing