Topics & Questions

To begin with, listing paragraphs are among the simplest and most straightforward types of paragraphs. As the verb suggests you have to list at least three points about the topic, each point in a separate paragraph.

Let’s move on to descriptive paragraphs.  Here, you are asked to give a detailed description of something, usually a place, person, event or emotion. Although it is easy to generate ideas for a descriptive paragraph, the challenge lies in the fact that the language needs to be both creative and memorable, in order to leave a lasting impression on the reader, and help them visualize what the writer describes. In this sense, good command of the language is a must for this type of paragraph.

Comparison and contrast is another common type of paragraph. Such paragraphs may ask you to either compare, contrast or both. Remember that when you compare you focus on the similarities between two things whereas when you contrast you focus on the differences. The title may also ask you to present both similarities and differences in a balanced way, which means that both comparisons and contrasts have to be of equal length and gravity in your text.

Discussion paragraphs are also common in the context of academic writing and they ask you to present two sides of an argument. They are usually part of a for and against or pros and cons essay and the standard structure of such texts requires you to first present your for and against or pros and cons arguments and conclude by stating your personal opinion.

Moving on, in agree and disagree paragraphs you have to present your personal opinion about an issue based on well supported logical arguments. When working with this type of paragraph, you need to start by clearly stating whether you agree or disagree with the issue and proceed to listing reasons that support your view. This is usually one of the more challenging essays for students as it requires good knowledge of the topic and strong, well supported arguments.

In definition paragraphs, the writer is asked to provide information about a term. This is one of the most challenging types of academic paragraphs as it requires familiarity with the term but also the ability to “personalize” the term, in other words to be able to connect the term to your personal experience so that it doesn’t simply look like a long and boring dictionary entry.