Primary and Secondary Development in Expository Paragraphs

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Primary and Secondary Development in Expository
Paragraphs
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Unit Objectives

• In this unit, you will learn
• Key terms for analyzing paragraph development
• How to distinguish between main ideas,
  primary development, and secondary development
  in paragraphs

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Definition of Key Terms
Main Idea Any word or phrase in a topic sentence
(stated or implied) that is the focus of the
discussion of a paragraph
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Definition of Key Terms
Primary Development Any word, phrase, or sentence
that answers one or more of the critical
questions (Who? What? Where? When? Why? or How?)
about the main idea in the topic sentence
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Definition of Key Terms
Secondary Development Any word, phrase, or
sentence that answers one or more of the critical
questions (Who? What? Where? When? Why? or How?)
about some primary development and/or other
secondary development in a paragraph
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The Plan of a Paragraph
The Paragraph
Topic Sentence with Main Idea
Primary Development
Explains the main idea
Secondary Development
Explains primary development
Explains primary/ other secondary development
Secondary Development
Primary Development
Develops the main idea
Secondary Development
Explains primary/ other secondary development
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A Sample Paragraph
The laptop computer sits open on the desk. Its
screen displays the muted graphics of a
PowerPoint presentation. Watercolor trees climb
a grey wall on the left, each pasted over a vague
university logo that stretches across the screen
to the right. Students crane their necks and
squint their eyes sharply to make out the soft
graphic designs. Theyve been trying for two
weeks to decipher the watery features.
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A Sample Paragraph
The laptop computer sits open on the desk. Its
screen displays the muted graphics of a
PowerPoint presentation. Watercolor trees climb
a grey wall on the left, each pasted over a vague
university logo that stretches across the screen
to the right. Students crane their necks and
squint their eyes sharply to make out the soft
graphic designs. Theyve been trying for two
weeks to decipher the watery features.
Topic sentence
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A Sample Paragraph
The laptop computer sits open on the desk. Its
screen displays the muted graphics of a
PowerPoint presentation. Watercolor trees climb
a grey wall on the left, each pasted over a vague
university logo that stretches across the screen
to the right. Students crane their necks and
squint their eyes sharply to make out the soft
graphic designs. Theyve been trying for two
weeks to decipher the watery features.
Primary development
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A Sample Paragraph
The laptop computer sits open on the desk. Its
screen displays the muted graphics of a
PowerPoint presentation. Watercolor trees climb
a grey wall on the left, each pasted over a vague
university logo that stretches across the screen
to the right. Students crane their necks and
squint their eyes sharply to make out the soft
graphic designs. Theyve been trying for two
weeks to decipher the watery features.
Secondary development
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A Sample Paragraph
The laptop computer sits open on the desk. Its
screen displays the muted graphics of a
PowerPoint presentation. Watercolor trees climb
a grey wall on the left, each pasted over a vague
university logo that stretches across the screen
to the right. Students crane their necks and
squint their eyes sharply to make out the soft
graphic designs. Theyve been trying for two
weeks to decipher the watery features.
Secondary development
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A Sample Paragraph
The laptop computer sits open on the desk. Its
screen displays the muted graphics of a
PowerPoint presentation. Watercolor trees climb
a grey wall on the left, each pasted over a vague
university logo that stretches across the screen
to the right. Students crane their necks and
squint their eyes sharply to make out the soft
graphic designs. Theyve been trying for two
weeks to decipher the watery features.
Secondary development
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A Sample Paragraph
The laptop computer sits open on the desk. Its
screen displays the muted graphics of a
PowerPoint presentation. Watercolor trees climb
a grey wall on the left, each pasted over a vague
university logo that stretches across the screen
to the right. Students crane their necks and
squint their eyes sharply to make out the soft
graphic designs. Theyve been trying for two
weeks to decipher the watery features.
Secondary development