Module 1 — Effective
writing: Strategies
and principles
| Course Guide | Module 1 | Module 2a | Module 2b |
Headings versus topic sentences
In many documents, it is often clearer to state the main purpose of your paragraph in a heading rather than in a topic sentence. The same rule applies: all sentences in the paragraph should contribute to the main idea. You still need some kind of controlling idea in the text to help the reader understand how the sentences or points relate to each other.
Neither do headings eliminate the need for a pattern of organization in the paragraph. Layout and use of devices such as bullet points, however, can be used to reveal the pattern.
| TOPIC SENTENCES |
HEADINGS |
|---|---|
The new guidelines have many shortcomings and are poorly presented. |
Problems in New Guidelines |
|
Delegate Selection |
Headings and subheadings should have high skim value for your readers. They should make sense on their own and be informative.