Overview of the structure of a paragraph

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Overview of the structure of a paragraph

• Understanding a paragraph

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• A paragraph is a group of sentences about a
  single topic. Together, the sentences of the
  paragraph explain the writers main idea about
  the topic. In academic writing, a paragraph is
  often between five and ten sentences long. But it
  can be longer or shorter, depending on the topic.
  The first sentence of a paragraph is usually
  indented a few spaces.

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Paragraph Organization

• The topic sentence
• The supporting sentences
• The concluding sentence

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The topic and the main idea

• The topic sentence
• Circle the topic of the sentence and underline
  the main idea about the topic
• Indonesia is a very interesting country to visit.
• Dogs make excellent pets.
• A really good place to study is the library at my
  school.

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• 4. Learning a second language creates job
  opportunities.
• 5. Soccer is my favorite sport because it is
  exciting to watch.
• 6. One of the most valuable tools for students is
  the computer.
• 7. My sister and I have very different
  personalities.
• 8. Summer is the best time to travel in my
  country.
• 9. My hometown is a friendly place to live.

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Number the parts in order

• Topic sentence, 2. supporting sentences, and 3
  concluding sentence
• Topic What should I study at university?

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• a. It wasnt an easy decision, but for the
  reasons listed above, I have decided to study
  journalism.
• b. It can be difficult to choose a subject to
  study in college because there are so many
  choices, but by considering my skills and
  interests, I have decided to study journalism.
• c. I have always enjoyed writing, so it is
  sensible to choose a major that involves writing.
  When I begin working, I would like to have the
  opportunity to travel, and travel is often an
  important part of a journalists job. Finally, I
  am also interested in photography, and pictures
  are very important in journalism.

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• concluding sentence indented
• main idea paragraph topic
• supporting sentences topic sentence
• The ____ is usually the first sentence in a ____.
  It gives the ___ and the ____.
• The first sentence of a paragraph should be
  _______.
• The ____ come after the topic sentence, and they
  explain the topic sentence.
• The _____ comes at the end of a paragraph.

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Comparison and contrast paragraph

• Procedure for developing a comparison and
  contrast paragraph to show similarities and
  differences
• A comparison tells you what features are similar.
• When you contrast two items, you show the
  differences between them.
• Purposes
• 1. to persuade
• 2. to inform
• 3. to show relationships

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• Points to come up with a list of ideas or points
  you could apply
• e.g. family members
• attitude toward family
• position in a community
• judgment in solving family problems
• Social background

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Block Organization Paragraph 1 (College Writing
p.45)

• Topic sentence Reading a story is often very
  different from seeing it as a movie.
• Topic A- reading a book
• Supporting points
• 1.
• 2.
• Topic B- ______
• Supporting points
• 1.
• 2.

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Point-by-point organization

• Topic sentence Marilyn Monroe and Princess Diana
  lived at different times in different countries,
  but their lives had some surprising similarities.
• First point of comparison- difficult childhood
• A1____
• B1 Princess Diana- mother left family.
• Second point of comparison-____
• A2
• B2 Princess Diana-married Prince Charles, later
  separated from him.

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• Patterns
• 1. Block organization (Subject by subject) all
  of one side and then all of the other
• I. Dr. Cliff Huxtable
• a. Family members
• b. His attitude toward family
• c. His judgment in solving family problems
• II. Al Bundy
• a. Family members
• b. His attitude toward family
• c. His judgment in solving family problems

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• 2. Point-by-point to show the points in relation
  to the sides (subjects) one at a time. This is
  the more common pattern.
• Family members
• a. Dr. Cliff Huxtable
• (1) details
• (2) details
• b. Al Bundy
• (1) details
• (2) details
• II. Attitude toward family
• III.

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Exercise

• friends Marla and Justine
• (1) Marla
• a. appearance
• b.
• c.
• (2) Justine

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• 2. Two bosses Mr. Santo and Ms. Eliot
• (1) disposition
• a. Mr. Santo
• b. Ms. Eliot
• (2) Knowledge of ____
• (3) _____

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Contrast Indicators
Sentence connectors Clause connectors others
However although but
nevertheless Even though yet
In contrast while DespiteN
On the other hand whereas In spite ofN
On the contrary
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Comparison Indicators
Sentence connectors Clause connectors others
similarly as (just) like N
likewise just as Similar to N
also and Same as N
Both.and
Not onlybut also
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Possible topics

• Two diets
• Two fast-food places
• Two textbooks
• Two careers
• Two generations
• Two actors, singers, musicians
• Two ways of learning
• Two ways of exercising
• Two mothers housewife career woman

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• Using comparative structures
• A And B The man and the woman are tall. The baby
  crawls and smiles at his mom.
• Both A and B Both my neighbor and I are selling
  our cars.
• Neither nor Neither Joe nor Steve went to the
  meeting last night.
• Eitheror. Either my brother or my sister can
  do it for me.
• Not only .but also

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1. He spends his Saturdays working on his antique
   cars or to go to ball games.
2. That commercial was neither accurate nor was it
   entertaining.
3. Teresa hoped to travel to Alaska and to stay with
   friends.
4. The banquet table in the great dining hall was
   long, narrow, and it was dirty.