文章的正文是由若干段落組成的，段落通常由幾個或者更多的句子組成，有時候一個句子也能成段。
文章的正文應以文章的開頭爲線索，具體地敘述、說明或論證文章的主題。文章不論長短，每個段落都必須爲主題服務。像說明文和議論文這一類的文章，一個主題還常分成幾個小主題，每個小主題要用一個段落處理，另起一段時，應是一層新的意思。每一段的.開頭，要放一個表示段落小主題的主題句，這樣可使文章條理化，易於閱讀，便於讀者抓住主題。段內的所有句子應圍繞主題句的意義加以闡述或論證，爲中心思想服務。句子之間應銜結自然，有條不紊，而且還要合乎邏輯，段落中不能出現任何與主題無關的句子;英語寫作比較重視主題句的作用，缺少它段落意義就會含糊不清。主題句也可放在段落的中間和末尾等部位，但對初學者來說，以放在段首爲好。見下列這篇題爲How to Be a Good Student (怎樣做個好學生)的文章：
We students are the builders and masters of the country. It is important for us to know how to be a good student.
A good student， I think， should be diligent in his studies. The more he studies， the more he will increase his knowledge. Without enough knowledge， we cannot make great contributions to the modernization of our country.
Last Sunday we went to the countryside. There was golden wheat all over the fields/The fields were covered with golden wheat. Large and colourful apples and pears were hanging on the trees. We could see some peasants were busy getting in the crops in the fields， and others were picking fruits under the trees. All the baskets were full of lovely fruits. It was also the fruit of the peasants labour. No pains， no gains. What a magnificent/beautiful picture(it was)! It seemed as if we were wandering in a splendid/wonderful world.
over eleven years of extensive computer/electronics experience. Versed in both digital and analog electronics with specific emphasis on computer hardware/software. Special expertise in system and component evaluation. Network supervisor responsible for installing/maintaining Arc net LAN system. Proficient in assembly and C programming language.。 Excellent communication skills including written， verbal and interpersonal.
