How to write a paragraph
Writing a paragraph (this lesson is taken from the internet)
What is a paragraph?
It is a group of sentences that introduces, presents and develops one main idea about the topic. And it can be divided into three major parts.
A. The Topic Sentence
It is normally the first sentence of the paragraph.
It conveys the overall point of the paragraph.
It helps the writer focus on the idea written about.
It helps the reader know about what the paragraph is all about.
B. The Supporting Details
They are sentences used to support the main idea stated in the topic sentence.
They give more information about the main idea through examples.
They say in details what the topic sentence says in general.
They should be clear evidence that what the topic sentence says is trustworthy.
They should be strong convincing points on which the topic sentence can rely upon.
C. The Concluding Sentence
It is a reflection of the main idea pronounced in the topic sentence.
It sums up what the topic sentence and the supporting details talk about.
It is the closing sentence that reminds the readers of what they have to value.
It is compulsory for the completion of the paragraph unity .
It eventually indicates the end of a paragraph.
It prepares the reader for a smooth transition to the next paragraph if there is one.
How to write your paragraph
Paragraph writing consists of many necessary elements to be taken into consideration
before, while and after writing.
I. BEFORE WRITING
:
In this stage it is important to specify the topic you are intending to tackle.
T ake a sh eet of pape r and just st art jott in g down notes that have tight connection with your topic.
In this stage, mistakes and word-order are to be overlooked momentarily.
After you gathered the data necessary for your topic the next step is to be taken.
II. WHILE WRITING :
- Topic Sentence
Choose a topic sentence for your paragraph that states the main idea of your topic.
The topic sentence is a statement that generally introduces the topic and thus it is often referred to as: the opening statement. Keep in mind that the readers will greatly rely on what it says so as they can decide if the paragraph is worth reading or not.
It gives them a broad view of what you are writing about because the topic sentence is meant to state the main idea of the paragraph. It helps readers save time as it tells them what the reset of th e par agraph is all about . If th ey are in terest ed in th e top ic, they wi ll continue reading; if not; the topic sentence has given them guiding clues that help them be selective in their reading. I mean that the topic sentence in each paragraph is the short cut that helps the readers economize the amount of time and effort when they are skimming for gist or scanning for sp eci fic inf ormati on. Th at' s why your top ic se nte nc e sho uld be a sor t of clincher, that is - a tempting statement that catches the readers' attentions and entice them to carry on with the reading of the paragraph. The students are the most meant by this because their corrector should intelligently be dragged into liking and enjoying reading the paragraph because this topic sentence controls the entire paragraph. It helps the student focus on the main idea and not drift away from it. If it is well put, it easily helps the st ude nts nar row th eir sup porti ng detai ls , which will fol low , in to mor e spec ific and subj ect related exam ples because the supp orting details are there to reinforce the topic sentence and to do that effectively they should each include at least one example.
- Supporting Details
T he se ar e senten ces that su ppor t th e to pi c se n te nc e. They give information that reinforces the main idea stated in the topic sentence. So there should at least be three supporting details because one or two make the paragraph less convinc ing and not worth the effort done to build it. Thus the students are strongly advised to provide at least three strong details wh ic h can support the mai n id ea. The stu den ts can use all the wri ting te chniq ues neces sar y to make th e parag raph sus tainab le and el igi ble: descripti ons, definitions, examples, elaboration and exploration. If any of the supporting details doesn't correlate with the main idea or does not support it, it will break the unity of the paragraph.
- Concluding Sentence
This is the last sentence of your paragraph and it should reflect what y ou ha ve ta lked about in your para gr aph and it should echo th e to pic sentence in a way or another.
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III. AFTER WRITING :
Reviewing
This final step can be called the editing step. This is a very crucial stage of your work process as you should review what you have done and make sure the paragraph is eligible, technically speaking. Among the things that this stage is about are:
- Coherence and cohesion of the content
- The stability of the form
- The linking words
- Grammar, spelling and punctuation.
- Clear handwriting. Apart from these essentials, other factors are to be mulled over: 1.Y ou r ma in idea should be expr es se d in the topic se nten ce in a fu ll, clear declarative sentence. 2.Y our to pic sentence should in no way be a purpo se state ment su ch as:
- The purpose of this paragraph is
- I will prove in this paragraph
- In this paragraph, I will tell
- Show but don't tell.
3. Don' t repeat y ourself now then thinking that you are reinforcing y our point. 4.Don' t use com plex or far fetched terms that may pu zzle the co rrector . 5.Don' t us e lon g winding sente nces. Keep simpl e. 6.Instea d of giving definition s, it' s better t o explain and give examples. 7.Y our s upporting d etails shouldn't b e too ex cessive. 8.Try not to be redundant or ou t of po int. Stick to your topic. 9.Nev er in tro duc e or pres ent n ew ideas. 10.Irrelevant supporting d etails should immediately be discarded. Fin ally , you can tran sform yo ur con clu ding sen ten ce into a tho ught pro vok ing statement that the reader may find appealing.
Practice
Imagine you are asked to write a paragraph about ASPIRIN, which of the following topic sentences you would prefer to open your paragraph with:
1. Aspirin is a pain killer drug, but it has side-effects.2. Aspirin can be a fatal poison.3. Aspirin is used to calm down headaches but it attacks the stomach.
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If you take the first one, you are not really successful in your choice because this one is not brainstorming enough for the readers. It doesn't motivate them to continue reading your paragraph for there's nothing inspiring about it.
Now if you choose the second one, to my mind, the reader will want to discover in what way Aspirin is a killing poison. This topic sentence is more powerful, provoking, exciting, inviting and motivating one.
Like the first, the third topic sentence doesn't predict any significant information. Allis said in it. It doesn't trigger the readers' curiosity to know more. The style employ ed in initiating your topic is the most important of all. It bears the most important part of the work. If the topic sentence is a failure, the whole paragraph will collapse no matter what excellent supporting details you provided. As you know there are many ways -or say styles- to say the same thing. However, authors are said to be writers because they can write it the right way. They make use of the most appropriate and the most suitable styles to write something the other people know about but they cannot express it the same way. Their styles make them different. Once the style is eloquent, attractive and full of adequate language tools, the readers look like reading the product with pleasure. The student is not expected to be a writer but should at least follow the same path to make his or her writing worth reading.
SAMPLE P ARAGRAPH :
Now I am inviting you to read what a student has written about ASPIRIN and see if she has respected the layout and the steps and finally if you like her paragraph:
Aspirin can be a fatal poison. People are used to taking aspirin whenever they feel pain. It is true that aspirin is an efficacious pain-killer for example in headache cases. How eve r, asp irin is lik e any oth er medicin e can be dan ger ous ly har mfu l. Any unregulated use of it may result into the damage to the lining of the stomach, prolonged bleeding time, nausea, vomiting, ulcers, liver damage, and hepatitis. It is scientifically proven that excessive use of aspirin turns it into a toxin. Its toxic effects are Kidney Damage, severe metabolic derangements, respiratory and central nervous sys tem eff ects, str oke s, fat al hemorrhages of the brain, intestines & lun gs and eventually death. Thus, the careful and regulated use of aspirin is most advisable so as not to turn into a deadly poison.
Recapitulation
Try , as hard as you can, to make your paragraph unusual, in the positive sense of the word. Never launch your paragraph with an idea people already know. Th ey won't be willing to read along . However, if you throw at them a provo king Topic Sentence, the reader would accept the challenge and gets impatient to know what you want to say. If the reader is faced with a topic sentence such as,
Aspirin is a medicine.
Aspirin has a lot of side effects.
Aspirin can cure headaches. The reader won't be enthusiastic as to go on reading your paragraph. If, on the contrary, your paragraph starts like this for instance,
Aspirin can prevent heart attacks. The reader, I guess, would be fervent to know in what way this is possible. What you have to do , th en, is to pr ove yo ur to pic sent ence valid and scientifi cally pr oven by givi ng sustainable and convincing supporting details. You may prefer to quote a Doctor so as to make your statement reliable and authentic.
Exercise
Read the following paragraph and identify its three main parts as indicated below
There are three reasons why I prefer jogging to other sports. One reason is that Jogging is a cheap sport. I can practise it anywhere at any time with no need for a ball or any other equipment. Another reason why I prefer jogging is that it is friendly to my heart. I don't have to exhaust myself or do excessive efforts while jogging. Finally, I prefer this sport because it is safe. It isn't as risky as other sports like gymnastics, racing or horseback riding. For all these reasons, I consider jogging the best sport of all.
I. TOPIC SENTENCE: ...................... .....................................................................................................
II. SUPPORTING DETAILS
*/ First one:
....................... ...........................................................................................
Example: ...................... .................................................................................................
*/ Second one: ...................... .......................................................................................
Example:...................... ................................................................................................
*/ Third one: ..................... ..........................................................................................
Example:...................... ................................................................................................
III.CONCLUDINGSENTENCE:.................... ......................................................................................
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