Paragraph writing

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What is a paragraph?

A paragraph is a group of sentences that develop one central idea. An effective

paragraph must be unified, coherent, specific, and adequately developed.

Types of Paragraph

Objectives: To learn different types of paragraphs and their features.

Definition paragraph: When you are writing a definition paragraph, you take a term or

an idea and write about what it is. Often, definitions are combined with classification

or other forms of organization. You need to give a careful definition of the key term

before going on to discuss different types or examples.

Example question: Write a paragraph defining energy resources and discuss the

different types.

Sequence paragraph: In a sequence paragraph, you are writing to describe a series of

events or a process in some sort of order. Usually, this order is based on time. You

organize the paragraph by writing about each step of the process in the order it

occurred.

Example question: Write a paragraph outlining the stages of the salmon life cycle.

Classification paragraph: In a classification paragraph, you separate things or ideas

into specific categories and discuss each of them. You organize the paragraph by

defining each classification and by giving examples of each type.

Example question: Write a paragraph discussing the three types of government in

Canada.

Choice paragraph: In a choice paragraph, you need to choose which object, idea, or

action that you prefer. You organize the paragraph by describing each option and then

giving your opinion.

Example question: Write a paragraph choosing between A and B.

Description paragraph: In a description paragraph, you write about what a person,

place, or thing is like. You organize the paragraph by describing different parts or

aspects of the main subject.

Example question: Write a paragraph describing the polar bear.

Explanation paragraph: In an explanation paragraph, you explain how or why

something happens or has happened. You need to explain different causes and effects.

You should organize the paragraph by explaining each individual cause or effect.

Example question: Write a paragraph explaining why so many Europeans moved to

Canada during the early nineteenth century.

Compare and Contrast paragraph: In a compare and contrast paragraph, you write

about the similarities and differences between two or more people, places, or things.

You can organize the paragraph by writing about one subject first and then comparing

it with the second subject. A more effective way is to organize the paragraph by

comparing each subject by category.

Example: Write a paragraph comparing the weather in City A and City B.

Evaluation paragraph: In an evaluation paragraph, you make judgments about people,

ideas, and possible actions. You make your evaluation based on certain criteria that

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Generated by Foxit PDF Creator © Foxit Software For evaluation develop. Organize the paragraph by discussing the criteria you used to make your

judgment.

Example question: Write a paragraph evaluating the importance of ….

Now you are going to write a paragraph on a topic chosen from below within 30

minutes.

Topic Suggestions

1. Arranged marriages.

2. Uncontrolled population growth.

3. Computers, calculators, or machines in general.

4. Left-handed people.

5. The advantages of having a college education.

6. Owning a car.

Unity

Examine the following two paragraphs which discuss the same topic. One is

unified; the other isn’t.

1. Surviving Cancer

Progress is gradually being made in the fight against caner.

In the early 1900s, few cancer patients had any hope of

long-term survival. In the 1930s, less than one in five cancer

victims lived more than five years. In the 1950s, the ratio

was on in four, and in the 1960s, it was one in three.

Currently, four of ten patients who get cancer this year will

be alive five years from now. The gain from one in four to

four in ten represents about 69, 000 lives saved each year.

2. Surviving Cancer

Progress is gradually being made in the fight against cancer.

In the early 1900s, few cancer patients had any hope of

long-term survival. But because of advances in medical

technology, progress has been made so that currently four in

ten cancer patients survive. It has been proven that smoking

is a direct cause of lung cancer. However, the battle has not

yet been won. Although cures for some forms of cancer have

been discovered, other forms of cancer are still increasing.

Heart disease is also increasing.

Coherence

It refers to the smooth moving from one sentence to the next. Careless jumping can only create

gaps, leaving the reader confused. If the sentences are well connected, the paragraph is coherent.

There are several ways to help achieve coherence:

a. the use of pronoun

b. the repetition of key nouns and key word groups

c. avoiding pronoun shifts

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Generated by Foxit PDF Creator © Foxit Software For evaluation only.d. using transitional signals

Identify the use of pronouns and the repetitions:

Good writers want to be correct. They know that if they use incorrect spelling, sloppy punctuation,

erratic grammar and rough syntax they will destroy the effect of their writing…But professional

writers never assume that correctness is enough itself. They want to engage readers and keep them

engaged.

Improve the following passage:

You can make a lot of money selling door-to-door if you have the right personality. A person cant

get easily discouraged or he she will have little success. If one is determined and willing to be

rejected, you can do quite well. People who make money selling door-to-door realize that rejection

is a big part of one’s life as a salesperson.

Select or fill in proper transitions: (for example, therefore, however, in addition, also)

1. Shopping at Monroe’s Clothing Mart can be rewarding;_____, you have to know what you are

doing or you’ll miss the bargains. Take some time to study their sales in the newspaper each

week. They always have certain brands on sale; ______, many items have been marked down

up o 75 percent, so you can get bargains._____, so you can get bargains._____I bough a

blouse one day for $7.95 that retailed for $50. ______, I bought a pair of designer jeans for

$10 that retailed for $65._______, I’d suggest you give it a try.

2. Powerful computers capable of translating documents from one language into another have

been recently developed in Japan. The process of machine translation is complex. To translate

a document from English to Japanese, _______, the computer first analyzes an English

sentence, determining its grammatical structure and identifying the subject, verb, objects, and

modifiers._________, the words are translated by an English-Japanese dictionary. _______,

another part of the computer program analyzes the resulting awkward jumble of words and

meanings and produces an intelligible sentence based on the rules of Japanese syntax and the

machine understanding of what the original English sentence meant. ________, the computer

produced translation is polished by a human bilingual editor.

Signals:

To add ideas together: and, also, besides, furthermore, in addition, moreover, too, first, second,

finally

To show emphasis: above all, after all, in fact, particularly, that is.

To show similarity: like, likewise, in the same manner, in the same way, similarly.

To show contrast: although, but, however, in comparison, in contrast, in spite of, on the contrary,

on the other hand, unlike, whereas, while, yet…

To show cause and effect relationship: as, because, due to, for , for this reason, now that, since,

owing to, as a result, accordingly, consequently, therefore, thus…

To point out examples: for example, for instance, to illustrate…

To draw a conclusion, an inference, or a summary: in a word, in conclusion, in brief, in short, in

summary, to conclude, to summarize, to sum up, therefore…

To indicate time: at times, after, afterward, from then on, immediately, later, meanwhile, next,

now,

then, until, while…

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Generated by Foxit PDF Creator © Foxit Software For evaluation aph structure:

Topic sentence

Supporting sentences

Concluding sentence

Prewriting:

A. Free-writing practice: the harm of TV

B. Questioning

C. Listing and Grouping

Example: The pleasure of Having a Bicycle

1. not very costly

2. easy maintenance

3. one will never forget the skill

4. exercise the whole body

5. freedom to move around

6. easy to learn

7. no need for a big shelter

8. see the beauty of nature better

9. stop at any place

10. no pollution

11. in close contact with nature

12. reduces stress

13. saves time of commuting

14. no need to worry about being late

15. can be lent to others

16. may be stolen easily

17. can do the repairing job oneself

18. anyone can afford it

1. Relatively inexpensive

2. Healthy

3. Flexible

4. Personally satisfying

II. Simple Outlining

Topic:

A: first main point

1. sub-point

2. sub-point

B: second main point

C: third main point

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Generated by Foxit PDF Creator © Foxit Software For evaluation . The Topic Sentence

The topic sentence is a general statement about the main idea of the paragraph. It

should have no facts or details. It is usually introduced in one sentence which

expresses the main idea and determines the content of the paragraph. The topic

sentence does the following tasks:

1. It names the topic in the paragraph, telling the reader what the paragraph is about.

2. It contains a controlling idea that commits the paragraph to a specific aspect of the

topic.

3. It tells the reader what to expect in the paragraph.

4. It usually is the most general and most important statement in the paragraph.

Examples for analysis:

Getting the right job can lead to rewarding experiences.

Getting the right job can lead to an improved sense of self-esteem.

Pollution is a terrible problem.

Both machines and human beings share the guilt of polluting our air and water.

Practice:

Write a focused topic sentence for the following subjects:

1. job interviews

2. dreams

3. selecting major

4. my hobby

Choose the best topic sentence from the group below:

1. Who says smoking isn’t dangerous?

2. How cigarette smoking increases one’s chances of developing lung cancer.

3. Most medical doctors advise their patients not to smoke.

4. Cigarette smoking can lead to a number of serious health problems.

IV. Supporting sentences:

Supporting sentences back up and explain the main idea—providing the reader

with specific evidence and reasons. They present facts, figures, thoughts,

observations, examples and personal experiences. The supporting sentences help

to illustrate your point and help the reader understand what you mean. When

you provide specific and adequate information, the central idea of your

paragraph becomes clear and meaningful. Compare the following two passages:

Sample one

The cafeteria at City College is one of the most overworked places on the campus.

The lack of space is apparent. It does not have enough room for the students. The

building is ugly and dirty and makes the students lose appetite. It fails to create a

friendly atmosphere and does not meet the basic requirements of a proper eating

place.

Sample two

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Generated by Foxit PDF Creator © Foxit Software For evaluation cafeteria at crowded City College is one of the most overworked places on

campus. The service line is frequently so long that a student gives up the idea of

eating altogether. If she is patient enough to wait for food, she is lucky if she can find

a place to eat. If she is particularly agile, she may work her way through the masses to

a spot where she can eat it before it is cold. Once seated, however, she is likely to find

the atmosphere so choked with other bodies, noise, and dead air, that she loses her

appetite. She can not easily slip away at that point, either. Wedging her out of the

cafeteria, she discovers, is as miserable a matter as working her way in.

Ways of developing a paragraph:

1. time and process

2. space

3. exemplification

…

Practice: reorder the following list:

Sun peeking through clouds

Lush green grass

Large, sunken lake in middle

White, puffy clouds

Ducks on the lake

Tall elm trees everywhere

Birds flying above the trees

V. Concluding sentence:

Ending a paragraph:

a. restating the main idea

b. summarizing the main points

c. showing a result

d. putting the most important point last

e. drawing an inference

Restate:

This group of students wants beauty from sports. Boys want to become strong; girls want to be

slim and graceful. Those who consider sports the only way of reducing weight also belong to this

group. They are very careful in choosing the kind of exercise they do, and are afraid that certain

sports may ruin their figures. Horizontal bars and parallel bars are the boys’ choice, and the hula

hoop is now the girl’s favorite. __________________________________________________.

Summarize:

My application was designed to draw the employer’s attention to my practical abilities.

Specifically, I noted that I type ninety words per minute and take dictation at one hundred and

thirty words per minute. Next, I indicated my past work experience on three similar jobs. Finally, I

give a summary of the evaluations of my immediate superiors on the three previous jobs.

_____________________________________________________________.

Practice: write a paragraph based on the following topic: Global Citizenship

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