Primary and Secondary Development in Paragraphs
By definition, a paragraph is the “development of a single idea.” Topic sentences in
paragraphs announce the main idea that will be developed in the body of the paragraph.
Writers use various patterns in their responses to main ideas—argument, classification,
comparison/contrast, cause/effect explanation, process explanation, description,
interpretation, etc. The development of the body can also be characterized as a combination of
“primary” and “secondary” development.
“Primary” development is any word, phrase, or sentence that responds to or comments
about the main idea in the topic sentence. In other words, it is the “explanation of the main
idea.”
“Secondary” development is any word, phrase, or sentence that responds to or
comments about some idea in primary development. In other words, secondary development
is the “explanation of the explanation of the main idea.”
An Example of an Expository Paragraph
The following paragraph is an example of a combination of both primary and secondary
development.
Marketing exhibitions to shopping centers is becoming difficult.
Marketing directors are shifting their emphasis from "dog and pony
shows" to strictly high-profile advertising. This shift is due, in
great part, to merchants who find it difficult to relate displays to
merchandizing. Recent research suggests also that shoppers don't come
to the mall primarily to see the “soap” stars or ceramics displays by
local artists. In addition to shifts in marketing strategies, the
recession has had its impact on the “salability” of exhibitions. The
budgets of many merchants associations have collapsed, sometimes
almost overnight. Budgets for promotions are dependent upon merchant
contributions each month. When sales are down, merchants can't keep
their commitments to the marketing budgets. If it comes to a choice
between a contract for an exhibit and the salary of the marketing
director, the exhibition will be cancelled, contract or no contract.
Exhibitors dependent primarily on shopping centers are facing some
hard times.
By definition, a paragraph is the “development of a single idea.” Topic sentences in
paragraphs announce the main idea that will be developed in the body of the paragraph.
Writers use various patterns in their responses to main ideas—argument, classification,
comparison/contrast, cause/effect explanation, process explanation, description,
interpretation, etc. The development of the body can also be characterized as a combination of
“primary” and “secondary” development.
“Primary” development is any word, phrase, or sentence that responds to or comments
about the main idea in the topic sentence. In other words, it is the “explanation of the main
idea.”
“Secondary” development is any word, phrase, or sentence that responds to or
comments about some idea in primary development. In other words, secondary development
is the “explanation of the explanation of the main idea.”
An Example of an Expository Paragraph
The following paragraph is an example of a combination of both primary and secondary
development.
Marketing exhibitions to shopping centers is becoming difficult.
Marketing directors are shifting their emphasis from "dog and pony
shows" to strictly high-profile advertising. This shift is due, in
great part, to merchants who find it difficult to relate displays to
merchandizing. Recent research suggests also that shoppers don't come
to the mall primarily to see the “soap” stars or ceramics displays by
local artists. In addition to shifts in marketing strategies, the
recession has had its impact on the “salability” of exhibitions. The
budgets of many merchants associations have collapsed, sometimes
almost overnight. Budgets for promotions are dependent upon merchant
contributions each month. When sales are down, merchants can't keep
their commitments to the marketing budgets. If it comes to a choice
between a contract for an exhibit and the salary of the marketing
director, the exhibition will be cancelled, contract or no contract.
Exhibitors dependent primarily on shopping centers are facing some
hard times.
