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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/q/35629
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

My question is: How much can one deviate from the topic sentence before transitioning to a second paragraph becomes a better idea?

For example, if a topic sentence consists of an assertion, then the reader will assume that the supporting sentences list reasons that would convince them of that assertion. The paragraph will be coherent if I then proceed to list positive reasons for why the assertion is true, but I was wondering if it is possible to insert something like a comment to emphasize the strength of one of the reasons of a supporting sentence, such as "after all, if this were not true it would be...".

Such a comment somewhat deviates from the topic while still ultimately supporting it since it provides a negative reason for the contrary rather than a positive reason for the assertion. In that case, would a negative reason disrupt the flow of the paragraph, and would it be a better idea to transition to a separate paragraph in which the focus is on negative reasons for why the assertion of the previous paragraph should be accepted as true?

Perhaps I'm using a bad example, but this is the best I could come up with.

Original score: 2