Paragraph Development

Paragraph Development

Compare the following paragraphs:

One reason for poor academic performance is procrastination. Students think that they will not procrastinate, but they end up doing so. Procrastination accounts for many bad grades. In fact, it maybe the number one reason for poor academic performance. Students must learn that they cannot put off studying. For example, Maureen has a test on Friday, but she does not start studying for it until Thursday night.

One reason for poor academic performance is procrastination. Maureen, like most college students, intends to begin studying for a test as soon as the professor announces the date, but on Monday a friend asks Maureen to drive her to the mall. On Tuesday, she decides that a little nap would refresh her mind and help her study, but by the time she wakes up, it’s bedtime. Every college student knows that Wednesday is hump day, the day to celebrate getting halfway through the week. Studying is certainly no way to celebrate that important event. By Thursday, Maureen knows that she is going to have to cram for the test, so she stays awake most of the night. On Friday, when she is ready to take her test, her mind is a tangle of unrelated information, none of which the professor asks for on the test. It is hardly surprising that the Maureens on a college campus are barely getting by where grades are concerned.

1) Which paragraph is more convincing? Why?

2) What purpose does an example serve?

3) Where in a paragraph should examples be located?

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This page last updated on 2/06/03.