Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/3-1-2-paragraphs [Revision notes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes.md) › [IGCSE](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse.md) › [English Language](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language.md) › [Edexcel IGCSE](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse.md) › Paragraphs # Paragraphs English Language: Edexcel IGCSE - Specification B, topic 3.1.2 ## Paragraphs You need to be able to comment on how writers structure their paragraphs to shape meaning. ### Structure of paragraphs ![Structure of paragraphs](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/48aebd73-4676-49b6-97f4-595e3345bb94/writing-write-.jpg) - Generally, each paragraph in a piece of writing contains one key point. - Writers often begin paragraphs with a topic sentence, which introduces the key point. They then expand on these sentences with evidence and examples. - Writers often end paragraphs with hooks, which encourage readers to think about the main point of the paragraph. Writers may also end by leading into the following paragraph. ### Things to comment on in your exam ![Things to comment on in your exam](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/3fba2487-0107-4ee7-9e33-50edfe5b6f04/checklist-ticklist-tick-list-.jpg) - The order of the ideas (paragraphs). - The number of paragraphs in a piece. - The length of the paragraphs. - How the paragraphs are structured. ### Paragraph length ![Paragraph length](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2025-09/b9e05e8e-5e12-47bd-8bb8-7490ddae4090/691c7866-094d-4a5b-b857-cc2e01695a45.png) - Paragraphs can be lots of different lengths. - For example: - A writer may use a long paragraph to build up a detailed description of a setting. - A writer may use a one-sentence paragraph to emphasise a rhetorical question or to emphasise a point. ### When to begin a new paragraph ![When to begin a new paragraph](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-09/4f30056e-a649-4336-ab08-8f618b345d9f/writing-.jpg) - You need to start a new paragraph when: - You start writing about a new idea. - You write about a new character. - The location changes. - The time changes. - The action or main theme changes. - Someone starts speaking. When you are using dialogue, you need to start a new paragraph every time you change the speaker. ## Analysis of J.K. Rowling's use of Paragraphs __Harry felt, afterwards, that he should have known it was all too good to last.__ This is a one-sentence paragraph. The author uses a short paragraph to emphasise Harry's realisation and to build suspense for what will happen next. [GIF: ](https://media.giphy.com/media/d6Ni9aqSatPfq/giphy.mp4) ## Test yourself on Paragraphs - Which of these are generally true of how writers use paragraphs? - A writer wants to give a piece of writing a stop-start feel. Which of these are they more likely to use? - Why might a writer use a one-sentence paragraph in a piece of writing? - What do we call this opening sentence of a paragraph?'Harry had the best morning he'd had in a long time.' - Why might J.K. Rowling have used a one-sentence paragraph here?'Harry felt, afterwards, that he should have known it was all too good to last.' [Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/423a79c1-c6f6-452c-a5c3-d30176aa5c13/section/014849a6-7a4e-4487-9463-721a46e199db/session) - Previous topic: [3.1.1 Narrators](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/3-1-1-narrators.md) - Next topic: [3.1.3 Tense](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/3-1-3-tense.md) ## English Language: Edexcel IGCSE - Specification B contents ### 1 Key Terms - 1.1 Key Terms - [1.1.1 Key Terms - Nouns, Verbs & Sentences](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/1-1-1-key-terms-nouns-verbs-and-sentences.md) - [1.1.2 Key Terms - Sentence and Clause Types](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/1-1-2-key-terms-sentence-and-clause-types.md) - [1.1.3 Key Terms - Words, Sounds & Language](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/1-1-3-key-terms-words-sounds-and-language.md) - [1.1.4 Key Terms - Types of Language](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/1-1-4-key-terms-types-of-language.md) - [1.1.5 Key Terms - Images, Symbols & Mood](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/1-1-5-key-terms-images-symbols-and-mood.md) - [1.1.6 Key Terms - Mood & Feelings](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/1-1-6-key-terms-mood-and-feelings.md) - [1.1.7 Key Terms - Other Techniques](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/1-1-7-key-terms-other-techniques.md) - [1.1.8 End of Topic Test - Key Terms](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/1-1-8-end-of-topic-test-key-terms.md) ### 2 Language Devices - 2.1 Language Devices - [2.1.1 Metaphors](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/2-1-1-metaphors.md) - [2.1.2 Similes](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/2-1-2-similes.md) - [2.1.3 Metaphors & Similes HyperLearning](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/2-1-3-metaphors-and-similes-hyperlearning.md) - [2.1.4 Personification](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/2-1-4-personification.md) - [2.1.5 Pathetic Fallacy](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/2-1-5-pathetic-fallacy.md) - [2.1.6 Puns & Oxymorons](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/2-1-6-puns-and-oxymorons.md) - [2.1.7 Hyperbole & Emotive Language](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/2-1-7-hyperbole-and-emotive-language.md) - [2.1.8 Alliteration](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/2-1-8-alliteration.md) - [2.1.9 Sibilance](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/2-1-9-sibilance.md) - [2.1.10 Onomatopoeia](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/2-1-10-onomatopoeia.md) - [2.1.11 Recap: Language Devices](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/2-1-11-recap-language-devices.md) - [2.1.12 End of Topic Test - Language Devices](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/2-1-12-end-of-topic-test-language-devices.md) ### 3 Writing Structure - 3.1 Writing Structure - [3.1.1 Narrators](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/3-1-1-narrators.md) - [3.1.2 Paragraphs](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/3-1-2-paragraphs.md) - [3.1.3 Tense](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/3-1-3-tense.md) - [3.1.4 Present vs Past vs Future Tense](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/3-1-4-present-vs-past-vs-future-tense.md) - [3.1.5 Foreshadowing](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/3-1-5-foreshadowing.md) - [3.1.6 Structure](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/3-1-6-structure.md) - [3.1.7 End of Topic Test - Writing Structure](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/3-1-7-end-of-topic-test-writing-structure.md) ### 4 Section B: Reading & Writing - 4.1 Writing Formats - [4.1.1 Letter](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/4-1-1-letter.md) - [4.1.2 Reports & Essays](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/4-1-2-reports-and-essays.md) - [4.1.3 Journal/Diary Entry](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/4-1-3-journaldiary-entry.md) - [4.1.4 Speech](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/4-1-4-speech.md) - [4.1.5 Newspaper Article](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/4-1-5-newspaper-article.md) - [4.1.6 Leaflet](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/4-1-6-leaflet.md) - [4.1.7 Review](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/4-1-7-review.md) - [4.1.8 Travel Writing](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/4-1-8-travel-writing.md) - [4.1.9 End of Topic Test - Writing Formats](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/4-1-9-end-of-topic-test-writing-formats.md) - 4.2 Writing to... - [4.2.1 Writing to Inform](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/4-2-1-writing-to-inform.md) - [4.2.2 Writing to Inform - Example](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/4-2-2-writing-to-inform-example.md) - [4.2.3 Writing to Explain](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/4-2-3-writing-to-explain.md) - [4.2.4 Writing to Explain - Example](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/4-2-4-writing-to-explain-example.md) - [4.2.5 Writing to Persuade](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/4-2-5-writing-to-persuade.md) - [4.2.6 Writing to Persuade - Example](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/4-2-6-writing-to-persuade-example.md) - [4.2.7 Writing to Argue](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/4-2-7-writing-to-argue.md) - [4.2.8 Writing to Argue - Example](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/4-2-8-writing-to-argue-example.md) - [4.2.9 Writing to Persuade vs Writing to Argue](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/4-2-9-writing-to-persuade-vs-writing-to-argue.md) - [4.2.10 Writing to Advise](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/4-2-10-writing-to-advise.md) - [4.2.11 Writing to Advise - Example](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/4-2-11-writing-to-advise-example.md) - [4.2.12 End of Topic Test - Writing to...](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/4-2-12-end-of-topic-test-writing-to.md) - 4.3 Acronym of Techniques - DAFORESTAR - [4.3.1 Direct Address](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/4-3-1-direct-address.md) - [4.3.2 Alliteration](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/4-3-2-alliteration.md) - [4.3.3 Facts](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/4-3-3-facts.md) - [4.3.4 Opinions](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/4-3-4-opinions.md) - [4.3.5 Repetition](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/4-3-5-repetition.md) - [4.3.6 Exaggeration (Hyperbole)](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/4-3-6-exaggeration-hyperbole.md) - [4.3.7 Statistics](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/4-3-7-statistics.md) - [4.3.8 Triple (Rule of 3)](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/4-3-8-triple-rule-of-3.md) - [4.3.9 Emotive Language](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/4-3-9-emotive-language.md) - [4.3.10 Rhetorical Questions](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/4-3-10-rhetorical-questions.md) - [4.3.11 End of Topic Test - DAFORESTER](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/4-3-11-end-of-topic-test-daforester.md) ### 5 Section C: Writing - 5.1 Writing Task - [5.1.1 Discursive Writing](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/5-1-1-discursive-writing.md) - [5.1.2 Narrative Writing](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/5-1-2-narrative-writing.md) - [5.1.3 Descriptive Writing](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/5-1-3-descriptive-writing.md) - [5.1.4 End of Topic Test - Writing Task](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/igcse/english-language/edexcel-igcse/5-1-4-end-of-topic-test-writing-task.md)