Plan one French argument paragraph: claim, reason, example, limit

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated 15 October 2026 · About the library

Build a B2 paragraph from four short notes. See how a specific claim develops into a reason, a useful example and a practical limit.

In short

Write a claim, explain how it works, add one example and keep a relevant limit. Each note should develop the same point; change the order when your reader needs a different starting place.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

A learner checks a blank laptop before enrolling in a community workshop. — A useful page d’inscription needs clear information and regular updates. Illustration: Atelier

Un paragraphe argumenté · quatre notes

1 · Claim: name the proposed benefit

Give the reader a specific change and its expected effect. The conditional suits this proposal.

Réunir les horaires et les modalités d’inscription sur une même page faciliterait les démarches.Putting schedules and registration details on one page would make the process easier.

2 · Reason: explain the mechanism

Ask how the change would help. Here the reader could find the necessary details together.

Les lecteurs pourraient consulter toutes les informations utiles au même endroit.Readers could consult all the useful information in one place.

3 · Example: make the mechanism visible

Choose one case that shows the benefit. Keep it small enough to fit the paragraph.

Une personne intéressée par un atelier vérifierait ainsi l’horaire avant de s’inscrire.Someone interested in a workshop could then check the time before registering.

4 · Limit: say what success depends on

Attach the condition to the proposal. À condition que takes the subjunctive here.

Cette page serait utile à condition qu’elle soit régulièrement mise à jour.This page would be useful provided it was updated regularly.

Read the notes as a connected paragraph

Réunir les horaires et les modalités d’inscription sur une même page faciliterait les démarches. Les lecteurs pourraient consulter toutes les informations utiles au même endroit. Une personne intéressée par un atelier vérifierait ainsi l’horaire avant de s’inscrire. Cette page serait toutefois utile à condition qu’elle soit régulièrement mise à jour.

Putting schedules and registration details on one page would make the process easier. Readers could consult all the useful information in one place. Someone interested in a workshop could then check the time before registering. This page would, however, be useful provided it was updated regularly.

The example explains the claim at the scale of one reader completing one action. The final condition identifies the maintenance work the proposal needs. The paragraph stays focused because all four notes concern access to information.

Choose the relationship before the connector

Relationship	French tool	Use in this paragraph
Consequence	ainsi	Links the example to easier access.
Qualification	toutefois	Introduces the practical limit.
Condition	à condition que	Names what the benefit depends on.