Powerful Paragraphs

by Bruce Ross-Larson

Whether you are composing a Web page on the Internet or agonizing over an annual budget report, these books are the key to clarity, accuracy, and economy in any writing task. Explores the essentials of solid, point-based paragraphs, with chapters on unifying each paragraph around one point, developing paragraphs in a variety of interesting ways, binding sentences within the paragraph, and creating smooth transitions. A catalog of exemplary paragraph patterns, supported with clear diagrams, gives readers models to follow and options to consider.

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction

108 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1999

Reviews

[Brandi D'Angelo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A succinct and useful little book to help you write better paragraphs. Who knew that there were so many ways to structure a paragraph, aside from the classic 'main point followed by 3 or 4 supporting points?'

[Ahmawan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This books is my favorite in the effective writing series. After reading it, I have a new appreciation on how to make prose have rhythm and flow. I also enjoy a new understanding in what makes certain publications more enjoyable to read than others.

[Austin Neaves · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book because I really enjoyed the first book in the series, Stunning Sentences, by the same author. This book wasn't as good. I'm not sure it's the authors fault... Paragraphs are harder to write about than sentences in my opinion. And I suspect they may be harder to learn about. That's just my opinion though.

So to sum up my opinion, I didn't feel like I learned a lot from reading it. It wasn't bad... but it wasn't good either. The first book in the series really is worth reading.

[Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fabulous little book. It's like the writer's equivalent of design patterns in software. It documents many various techniques writers use to write coherent, well-connected paragraphs. It's the most no-nonsense book I've ever read. It's also the best demonstrated book I've read. It's mostly just examples to demonstrate the points it makes, and the examples it provides are all fabulous examples of strong paragraphs and good writing. The only downside is that the examples are so engaging that I kept getting distracted from the point of the book, to learn about paragraphs!