PARAGRAPH

PARAGRAPH

A paragraph is defined as a group of sentences that develops one main idea; in other words, a paragraph develops a topic.

A topic is the subject of the paragraph; it is what the paragraph is about.

Topic sentence.

The topic of a paragraph is usually introduced in a sentence; this sentence is called the topic sentence. However, the topic sentence can do more than introduce the subject of the sentence. A good topic sentence also serves to state an idea or an attitude about the topic. This idea or attitude about the topic is called the controlling idea; it controls what the sentences in the paragraph will discuss.

All sentences in the paragraph should relate to and develop the controlling idea.

Example:

Another way to reduce the rate of inflation is to balance the national budget. (topic sentence)

way to reduce the rate of inflation (the topic in the sentence)

balance the national budget (controlling idea)

The controlling idea should be clear and focused on a particular aspect.

Drinking coffee is bad. (topic sentence)

drinking coffee (the topic in a sentence)

bad (controlling idea)

This sentence has a topic (drinking coffee) and a controlling idea (bad) but they are vague.

In what way is coffee bad? For whom or hat is it bad? Is drinking a little coffee bad, or is drinking a lot of coffee bad?

As you see the, this topic sentence leaves a lot of questions that probably cannot be answered effectively in one paragraph.

The sentence needs more focus and that focus can come from the controlling idea:

Drinking over four cups of coffee a day can be harmful to pregnant women. Topic sentence)

drinking over four cups of coffee a day (the topic in a sentence)

harmful to pregnant women (controlling idea)

A topic sentence serves to introduce the topic and the controlling idea.

Generally because the topic sentence does introduce, it is a good idea to place it at or near the beginning of the paragraph.

1. Prewriting: Planning

To generate more notes at this stage, you may find it useful to ask WH- questions.

The answers to these questions will serve as a foundation for the support of your paragraph.

This material is used to support the opinion or attitude expressed in your topic sentence. It serves to back up, clarify, illustrate, explain or prove the point you make in your topic sentence. Most often we use factual detail to support a point. Such detail may include facts from resource material such as magazines, journals and books or details about things you or others have observed. Basically, support comes from the information you used to arrive at the view you have expressed in your topic sentence.

The type of sentence which summarizes the main idea in a paragraph is called the concluding sentence. Not all paragraphs need concluding sentences but they are useful for ending the development of the support smoothly.

1. Generating Ideas

i. Brainstorming

A brainstorm is a sudden insight or connection. Brainstorming is a way to associate ideas and stimulate thinking. To brainstorm, start with a word or phrase and let your thoughts go in whatever direction they will. Write a list of ideas as quickly as possible, putting down whatever comes to mind without looking back or organizing. After that see if any of the ideas are related and can be grouped. If so, the groupings suggest a topic of support. You can adopt this strategy for your essay.

ii. Free writing

Free writing is writing without stopping. It means writing whatever comes to your mind without worrying about whether the ideas are good or the grammar is correct. Its purpose is to free up your mind to let it make associations and connections. Write them as they come to you. After you have finished, reread what you have written and look for interesting ideas or insights that might be useful to you in your writing.

iii. WH Questions

When newspaper reporters write articles, they try to answer the following questions in the first sentence of their report: who, what, when, where, why and sometimes how. You can use this same questions to generate material for your writing. Asking these questions allow you to see your topic from different points of view AND MAY HELP TO CLARIFY YOUR POSITION ON THE TOPIC. To use this technique, write out as many WH-questions as you can. Then answer them as fully as you can.

iv. Clustering

Clustering is making a visual map of your ideas. It frees you from following a strictly linear sequence; thus it may allow you to think more creatively and make new associations. Begin this technique by circling your topic and then draw a line out from this circle and write an idea associated with it. Circle this idea and from it draw lines and write ideas associated with it. Continue to map or cluster until you cannot think of any more ideas. When you have finished, study your map to find new associations about your topic and see the relationship of ideas.

2. Unity

Each sentence within a paragraph should relate to the topic and develop the controlling idea. If any sentence does not relate to or develop the area, it is irrelevant and should be omitted from the paragraph- it lacks unity.

Example of a paragraph that lacks unity:

Another problem facing a number of elderly people is living on a reduced income. Upon retiring, old people may receive a pension from their company or Social Security from the government. The amount of their monthly cheques is often half the amount of the cheques the received when they were employed. Suddenly, retirees find that they can no longer continue the lifestyle that they had become accustomed to, even if that lifestyle was a modest one. Many find, after paying their monthly bills, that there is no money left or a movie or a dinner out. Of course, sometimes they cant go out because of their health. Maybe they have arthritis or rheumatism, and it is painful for them to move around. This can also change their lifestyle. Some older people, however, discover that the amount of money they receive will not even cover their monthly bills. They realize with horror that electricity, a telephone and nourishing food are luxuries they can no longer afford. They resort to shivering in the dark , eating little food to make ends meet.

Another problem facing a number of elderly people (topic of this paragraph)

Living on a reduced income ( controlling idea)

All of the sentences should deal with the idea of the problem of living on a reduced income.

Three sentences that do not discuss this topic:

1. Of course , sometimes they cant go out because of their health.

2. Maybe they have arthritis or rheumatism and it is painful for them to move around.

3. This can also change their lifestyle.

3. Coherence

A coherence paragraph contains sentences that are logically arranged and that flow smoothly.

Logical arrangement refers to the order of your sentences which vary depending on your purpose. Sometimes you remember something that you wanted to say earlier and include it as you write. Unfortunately this sentence ends up out of place.

Smooth flow refers to how well one idea or sentence leads to another. Smooth flow can be achieved through sentence combining and through the use of certain expressions, called transitions, which provide the links between the ideas. Some transitional expressions include for example, to begin with, in contrast, however, also.

The expressions another, also, in addition and finally bridge the gaps in ideas. Combining sentences and adding transitions make the ideas and sentences easier to follow. Coherence is an important quality of writing.

ESSAY

Unlike the paragraph, the essay is a more formal composition. Each paragraph in an essay has a designated function:

1. Introduction

The introduction is usually one paragraph that introduces the topic to be discussed

and the central idea (thesis statement ) of the essay.

2.Developmental paragraphs

These paragraphs develop various aspects of the topic and the central idea.

They may discuss causes, effects, reasons, examples, processes, clarifications or points of comparison and contrast. They may also describe or narrate.

3.Conclusion

This paragraph concludes the thought developed in the essay. It is the closing

sentence.

EDITING

Once you are satisfied with the content, you will want to turn your attention to the form, with how you expressed your ideas. At this point, you may need to rephrase or edit some of your sentences. Rephrase sentences that are not clear or nor precise. Then you check your sentences to make sure they are grammatically and mechanically correct.

As a last step, proofread your paper. Read the paper to find any errors in grammar, spelling, mechanics or punctuations.

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