How to write structured paragraphs: the secret to TXXXC paragraph structure.
Structured paragraphs are crucial to getting your message across as clearly as possible. They make your message clearer, and they help your reader follow your argumentation and strain of thought in your work.
But writing good paragraphs can be a bit challenging, especially when you’re writing essays, reviews, or research papers.
Teachers love structured paragraphs, and as a teacher myself, I always look at the structure of paragraphs when I’m correcting essays and papers. I do this because I believe that a good writer should be able to write a structured paragraph following the TXXXC structure. Better writers can have a more subtle paragraph structure by playing around with the different levels, adding more levels if necessary, and adding a concluding level 5 sentence.
The same, but different, but still the same.
We can describe the structure of paragraphs in several ways. I’m discussing two ways I teach my students: TXXXC and using so-called Levels. You’ll probably find out that they’re mostly the same and only use a different name.
Whatever naming you choose, use the structure as early as the planning stage of your writing process (so when you’re creating your outline). Doing this will help you when you’re ready to write because you don’t have to think about structure while writing; you can simply copy what you’ve done in your outline.
TXXXC paragraph structure
The TXXXC structure is as follows (I’ve added the levels between brackets)
T = Topic sentence (level 1)
X = eXplain (level 2)
X = eXample (level 3)
X = eXpand (level 4)
C = conclusion (level 5)
So, the topic sentence is the same as a level 1 sentence, the eXplain sentence would be a level 2, eXample would be level 3, eXpand would be level 4, and the conclusion would be level 5.
The topic sentence (T)
The most important part of your paragraph is the topic sentence. The topic sentence is the main argument or central point of the paragraph. A reader should be able to understand the paragraph by merely reading the topic sentence. This means that the writer needs to make sure that the topic sentence covers the paragraph’s message.
In an advanced essay, you can add linking words or linking phrases to link your topic sentence to your previous paragraph. These add flow to your work and make it more interesting to read. As a result, the first sentence of a paragraph doesn’t have to be the topic sentence, as the first sentence can also be a linking phrase.
Level 2: eXplain
After your topic sentence, you want to explain what your topic sentence means. You expand on your argument and add some depth to your argument. Sometimes this can be done in one sentence, and sometimes you need more than one sentence to do this. This level is where you want to add everything that wouldn’t fit in your topic sentence.
Level 3: eXample
When you have arguments in your essay or give your opinion about something, you need to have evidence or examples that support your opinion and/or arguments. For example, if your topic sentence is that something is good, your level 3 sentence(s) is (/are) the place where you want to have the examples that support this.
When you’re writing an argumentative essay or paper, the level 3 sentences are where you want to add information from secondary sources.
Level 4: eXpand
Sometimes your examples are difficult, or you need to say something about your example, so the reader understands why that example is relevant for your argument in that paragraph. You do this in your level 4 sentence: it elucidates why your example (level 3) fits your argument (topic sentence). You don’t always need this level; some of your examples are very obvious and don’t need elucidation.
Level 5: Conclusion
After you’ve written an elaborate paragraph, you want to add an extra concluding sentence to round off your paragraph. You don’t want to add new things in this level because you want to use it to make sure everything comes together and links back to your topic sentence. You can refer to this level in your topic sentence of the successive paragraph.
TXXXC paragraph example
Here’s an example of a paragraph with this structure. The topic sentence is in yellow, the level 2 (or eXplain) is in green, the level 3 (eXample) in blue, level 4 (eXpand) in red and level 5 (conclusion) in pink.
Here’s another example of a structured paragraph, but this example does not have level 4 and 5 sentences; only level 1 up to and including 3.
Writing longer paragraphs
You can write longer paragraphs with this structure too. To do this, you add extra “sets” of level 2, 3 and 4 sentences. You need to have a clear topic sentence that covers all points you make in your paragraph, and you need to make sure that your level 2, 3 and 4 sentences belong together. After writing a longer paragraph, you need to check whether everything in your paragraph is discussed in your topic sentence. Otherwise, you can get something like loose ideas: ideas that don’t fit the topic sentence of your paragraph.
And now: write!
A very good way to practice your writing is to actually write! Structure your writing using an outline, and think about your paragraph structure when you’re creating your outline.
