Unit 5 How to Write a Paragraph

Introducing the Paragraph

Written by Hai Nguyen

Introduction 

Theme Reasons for writing

Goals - to write a paragraph - to understand the parts of a paragraph - to understand the characteristics of a paragraph - to understand and do the writing process - to begin a writing journal

The parts of

a paragraph 

In academic writing

 A paragraph is a small unit of writing that focuses on one idea. This one idea is explained and developed in the paragraph. The first line of each paragraph is indented. The indentation signals the beginning of a new paragraph. 

 A paragraph generally has three parts : a topic sentence support a conclusion.

Sample

Parents can help their children be successful in school by encouraging them. Children usually enjoy playing games instead of studying their boring lessons, so parents have to take the responsibility to monitor their studying and to remind them to do their homework at home after school. Parents should also encourage their children to study by buying story books with pictures, or they can buy text books or tapes that help children learn to spell or read. The best way to encourage children to study efficiently is to reward them when they get an "A." As a child, I experienced this. My parents gave me a gift if I had studied well, and then I was very excited. So. if parents really want their children to succeed in school. they need to pay attention to their children's studies and encourage them. * -Truong Dinh 

The Topic Sentence

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The topic sentence is the main-idea sentence. It is the most general and most important sentence of the paragraph.

It tells the following: the topic - what the paragraph is about  the controlling idea - the writer's  attitude or idea about the topic 

The controlling idea

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is a word or phrase that focuses or  controls the information in the rest of the paragraph. The reader can ask questions about the controlling idea and expect to

have them answered in the paragraph

Analyze

In the paragraph above, the topic sentence is the following: Parents can help their children be successful in school  by encouraging them. The topic of the sentence is how parents can help  children succeed in school; the controlling idea is encouraging. The reader might ask the following questions and expect the paragraph to answer them: How can parents encourage their children?  What specific things should parents do to encourage  their children? 

Support

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The support in a paragraph explains or  develops the topic sentence. The supporting part can be narratives, details, facts, examples, explanation, or statistics . All of  the support relates to the main idea stated in the topic sentence and shows why the topic  sentence is true .

Here is a brief list of the support Topic Sentence : Parents can help their children be successful in school by encouraging them.

Support:

1. Parents can encourage children by reminding them to do their homework.

2. Parents can encourage children by buying them books and tapes to help them learn.

3. Parents can encourage children by rewarding them.

Conclusion

The conclusion of a paragraph summarizes or comments on the main idea. In a oneparagraph composition, the conclusion is one or two sentences . Often, the concluding sentences close the paragraph by returning to the main idea of the paragraph . They do this by repeating a key word or phrase from the topic sentence

Conclusion

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Topic Sentence: Parents can help their children be successful in school by encouraging them.

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Concluding Sentence: So, if parents really want their children to succeed in school, they need to pay attention to their children's studies and encourage them.

Reminder

Sometimes in the concluding sentences, the writer does not

use the exact key words from the topic sentence but rephrases them, using other words that mean the same thing. This gives some variety to the paragraph. Notice how the key words in the topic sentence above could be rephrased: 

Concluding Sentence: Parents who want their children to do their best in school must support and pay attention to them. In this concluding sentence, do their best means the same as

Unity

One characteristic of a good paragraph is unity. In a unified paragraph, all the sentences relate

to the topic and develop the controlling idea. If a sentence or idea in a paragraph does not relate to the main idea, the paragraph lacks unity. The sentences that do not relate to the main idea should be taken out of the paragraph and perhaps developed in another paragraph.

Coherence

 Another important characteristic of a good paragraph is coherence. In a coherent paragraph, the ideas are arranged logically. The ideas and sentences are in an order that makes sense to the reader. If the ideas are logically arranged, the reader can easily follow the progression of ideas. He or she can quickly understand the main idea and follow the writer's thinking.

Coherence

Which of the two following paragraphs is preferable? Why?

A. Pizza, which is made with flour, yeast, salt  and water. Pizza can be compared with Greek  and Middle Eastern flat breads, but it is most  firmly associated with Naples in Italy 

B. Pizza is made with flour, yeast, salt and  water. Pizza can be compared with Greek and  Middle Eastern flat breads. Pizza is most firmly  associated with Naples in Italy.

Thanks for attention!

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