t be narrative or descriptive, there is
no definition or proof; but the development by details will
predominate. In an argument, definition and proof will form the large
part of the paragraphs. Again, the position in the theme determines
what kind of a paragraph should be used. In exposition the first
paragraphs would be devoted to stating the proposition, and would
therefore be largely given up to definition and repetition; the body
would be especially paragraphs of detail and illustration; while the
closing paragraph would be taken up with results and a summary. As one
of the elements of a paragraph has been especially developed,
paragraphs have been named paragraphs of repetition,[31] of the
obverse, of details, of instances or examples, and of comparisons.
Such a division is somewhat mechanical; but for purposes of study and
for conscious practice in construction it has value.

Details.

The paragraph of details is by far the most common. It is found in all
kinds of discourse. It originates from the fact that persons generally
give the general truth first and follow this statement with the
details or particulars. Whether the storyteller begins by saying, "Now
I'll tell you just how they happened to be there;" or the traveler
writes, "From the Place de la Concorde one has about him magnificent
views," or "There were many unfortunate circumstances about the
Dreyfus affair;" in each case he will follow the general statement of
the opening sentence with sentences going into particulars or details.

_"All was now bustle and hubbub in the late quiet
schoolroom._ The scholars were hurried through their lessons
without stopping at trifles; those who were nimble skipped
over half with impunity, and those who were tardy had a
smart application now and then in the rear, to quicken their
speed or help them over a tall word. Books were flung aside
without being put away on the shelves, inkstands were
overturned, benches thrown down, and the whole school was
turned loose an hour before the usual time, bursting forth
like a legion of young imps, yelping and racketing about the
green in joy at their early emancipation."[32]

"It was toward evening that Ichabod arrived at the castle of
the Heer Van Tassel, _which he found thronged with the pride
and flower of the adjacent country._ Old farmers, a spare
leathern-faced race, in homespun coats and breec