Transcript
such as papers, novels articles among others.
from para- + graphein to write.
Narrative
Expository
PersuasiveDescriptive
of any written expression
From Greek paragraphos
to write alongside,
Paragraphs are the building blocks
What is a paragraph?
Paragraphs are the building blocks of papers. Many students define paragraphs in terms of length: a paragraph is a group of at least five sentences, a paragraph is half a page long, etc. A paragraph is defined as “a group of sentences or a single sentence that forms a unit” (Lunsford and Connors 116). Ultimately, a paragraph is a sentence or group of sentences that support one main idea. In this handout, we will refer to this as the “controlling idea,” because it controls what happens in the rest of the paragraph.
Paragraph Structure
COMPONENT FUNCTION
Topic sentence (s)
• To introduce and clearly state the main idea/point that you intend to develop
• To preview for the reader the kinds of information that the rest of the paragraph is likely to contain
• To link back to you thesis or the immediatly preceding argument
Development of ideas
• To elaborate the new idea that you have introduced. Elaboration may include analysis, examples and persuasion, or any combination of these
Concluding sentence
• To round off what you have said so far in your paragraph
• To qualify the views expressed• To link the current paragraph to the next one
Introductory Paragraph
Introduce the topic
Thesis of the essay
Announce your intentions
First impression
A topic sentence is a sentence that captures the
meaning of the entire paragraph
or group of sentences. It tells what the passage is mainly about.
Topic Sentence
1st.Idea
3rd.Idea
2nd.Idea
Development of Ideas
Besides
Furthermore ConsequentlyBesides
CertainlyHence
Meanwhile As a result
In additionStill
Finally
However
There are some adverbs and transition
words or phrases used
to connect one idea to
the next.
Concluding Sentence
Sums up the text, exposes
conclusions and sometimes
persuades the reader to agree to new ideas or different points
of view.
In chronological order or time order, items, events, or even ideas are arranged in the order in which they occur.
Another principle of organization is spatial/location order. In this pattern, items are arranged according to their physical position or relationships.
According to the order of time, events and
location
Argument: presents an idea in order to persuade the reader.
Conceptual: It gives information relevant to understand the text.
Enumeration: presents the order of the text
Descriptive: it includes details and information about a place person, object or a situation.
Explicative: it brings up more information about the main topic.
Expository: the reader finds information in an organized format
Narrative: tells a story usually in a time sequence.
According to the content
According to the logical structure
Comparison: similarities and differences between two or more people, places, things, or ideas.
Cause and Effect: it analyzes the reason of the cause and the reults that it causes.
Problem Solution: an issue that needs to be solved is explained and its possible solutions are suggested.
Sequence: a series of events are described.
Deductive: The main topic is presented and the development and conclusions are final.
Inductive: it presents conclusions and later develope the idea.
Conclusive: last paragraph where the final conclusions are stated.
Repeat key words or phrases. Particularly in paragraphs in which you define or identify an important idea or theory, be consistent in how you refer to it.
Create parallel structures. Parallel structures are created by constructing two or more phrases or sentences that have the same grammatical structure and use the same parts of speech.
Be consistent in point of view, verb tense, and number. Consistency in point of view, verb tense, and number is a subtle but important aspect of coherence.
Sentences and between paragraphs. Transitional expressions emphasize the relationships between ideas, so they help readers follow your train of thought or see connections that they might otherwise miss or misunderstand.
Coherence
To show addition: again, and, also, besides, equally important, first (second, etc.), further, furthermore, in addition, in the first place, moreover, next, too
To give examples: for example, for instance, in fact, specifically, that is, to illustrate
To compare: also, in the same manner, likewise, similarly
To contrast: although, and yet, at the same time, but, despite, even though, however, in contrast, in spite of, nevertheless, on the contrary, on the other hand, still, though, yet
Transitions
Transitions
To summarize or conclude: all in all, in conclusion, in other words, in short, in summary, on the whole, that is, therefore, to sum up
To show time: after, afterward, as, as long as, as soon as, at last, before, during, earlier, finally, formerly, immediately, later, meanwhile, next, since, shortly, subsequently, then, thereafter, until, when, while
To show place or direction: above, below, beyond, close, elsewhere, farther on, here, nearby, opposite, to the left (north, etc.)
To indicate logical relationship: accordingly, as a result, because, consequently, for this reason, hence, if, otherwise, since, so, then, therefore, thus
top related