Session 6 Paragragh Writting

(1) a-what is meant by a paragraph?

       A paragraph is the basic unit of composition. It consists of a group of related sentences that develop one main idea. These sentences should not be random .In fact; the cardinal rule of paragraph writing is to focus on one idea. A solidly written paragraph takes its readers on a clear path, without detours A good paragraph has three main parts; an introduction, a body of the paragraph and a conclusion. To make it clearer, it has a topic sentence, a few supporting sentences and a concluding sentence. In other words, a paragraph is a collection of sentences which all relate to one main idea or topic. Effective paragraphs have four main characteristics: a topic sentence, unity, coherence, and relevance.

Generally speaking, a paragraph should contain between three and five sentences, all of which help clarify and support the main idea of the paragraph.

(b)-Parts of a Paragraph:

The basic paragraph consists of three parts:

a topic   sentence, supporting  details, and a concluding sentence.

This   basic  paragraph   format will  help you to write and organize one paragraph and transition   to the next. 

(1)-Topic    Sentence:   

The main    idea of each paragraph is stated in a topic    sentence that shows  how the  idea   relates to the thesis or overall     focus of      the paper. In other words, a topic sentence states the main  topic  of the paragraph and     the controlling idea Generally, a topic sentence usually comes at the beginning of a paragraph; that is, it is usually the first sentence in a formal academic paragraph.  All subsequent points made in the  paragraphs should support the topic sentence.

Not only is a topic sentence the first sentence of a paragraph, but, more importantly, it is the most general sentence in a paragraph.  What does "most general" mean?  It means that there are not many details in the sentence, but that the sentence introduces an overall idea that you want to discuss later in the paragraph. 

      Beginning a paragraph with a topic sentence is one of the best ways to achieve clarity and unity in one's writing. The function of a topic sentence is to describe what the paragraph will be about, such that the reader has clear expectations about what will follow. An effective topic sentence typically contains only one main idea. The remainder of the paragraph then develops that idea more fully, offering supporting points and examples. After reading a topic sentence, one should be able to anticipate the type of information contained in the rest of the paragraph. If the remainder of the paragraph does not fulfill the "promise" of the topic sentence, the paragraph will lack unity, coherence and relevance.

Examples of topic sentences:

 (1)-"Many television cartoons contain an unhealthy amount of violence."

Notice that this sentence clearly identifies that the key topic of the paragraph is violence in television cartoons. It also indicates that the remainder of the paragraph will discuss how much violence cartoons typically contain, and how/why this violence is unhealthy for viewers.

(2)-"An increasing number of people in America are enjoying the benefits of organically grown fruits and vegetables."

This topic sentence indicates that the remainder of the paragraph will cover the trend in the United States toward eating organic foods. The reader can also anticipate learning more in this paragraph about the specific benefits of organic foods.

Here are some examples of sentences that cannot be used as topic sentences. There are some reasons that make the following sentences  inappropriate to be topic sentences.

1-     My hometown is famous because it is located by Wheaton River, which is very wide, and because it is built near an unusually steep hill called Wheaton Hill.

The problem with sentence #1 is that it contains too many details. Topic sentences are general, and details should appear later in the paragraph. A better topic sentence would be like the one mentioned above, My hometown is famous for several amazing geographical features.

2- There are two reasons why some people like to buy cars with automatic transmission and two reasons why others like cars with manual transmission.

Sentence #2 is not appropriate as a topic sentence because it mentions two topics, not just one. Paragraphs are usually about one main thing and so their topic sentences should also be about only one main thing.

A better topic sentence can be:

There are two reasons why some people like to buy cars with automatic transmission. 

OR (in a different paragraph):

There are two reasons why some people like cars with manual transmission.

      3- Clouds are white.

The problem with sentence #3 is that it is too general. It is also very boring! Would you like to read a paragraph with this topic sentence? Most people would not.

We can rewrite sentences 3 in the following way to make it better:
"The shapes of clouds are determined by various factors."

 (2)-Supporting   details or sentences:     

Supporting details elaborate upon and prove the topic  sentence. Supporting sentences develop the topic sentence. They are called "supporting" because they "support," or explain, the idea expressed in the topic sentence.  Of course, paragraphs in English often have more than two supporting ideas. Supporting details should  be drawn from a variety of sources including research and experiences, depending on the assignment,  and          include   the writer’s own analysis. The following are common sources of supporting  details:         

Expert Opinion                                      • Facts   and    Statistics    

• Personal Experiences                           • Others’         Experiences         

• Brief Stories                                         • Research Studies   

• Your Own          Analysis                              • Interviews    

 (3)-Concluding   Sentence    

     Each paragraph        should end  with a final statement

That ties together the ideas brought  up in the paragraph and emphasizes the main idea one last time. In other words, this concluding sentence summarizes the information that has  

     been presented earlier in the paragraph.. 

c- What makes a good paragraph?

Every paragraph you write should follow the principles listed below:

1. The paragraph must contain a topic sentence

2.All  remaining sentences should support and develop the topic sentence

3.  Only one main idea should be developed .

4.The sentences should flow smoothly and logically

5.A concluding sentence should  be added  . This  signals the end of         the paragraph and leaves the reader   with important points to remember, but is often unnecessary.

2-(a)-Relevance of Ideas:

      A good paragraph should contain sentences that are relevant to the paragraph’s main subject and point. While the topic sentence sets up the main idea, the rest of the sentences provide details that support or explain this main idea. If you see a sentence that does not seem to relate to the topic sentence, it is probably irrelevant.

      Sometimes, writers include details that only generally relate to a paragraph’s subject. You may have written this way in your own compositions. To avoid this in your test writing, think about your paragraph’s main subject and about the point you wish to make about this subject. Thinking about the point you wish to make will help you cut the sentences that relate generally to your subject, but do not specifically support your point.

     While writing, it is important to eliminate irrelevant sentences from paragraphs. To spot these irrelevant sentences, think about the paragraph’s subject and point. Thinking about the subject will help you cut sentences that do not relate to the paragraph’s subject. Thinking about the main point will help you cut sentences that relate generally to the paragraph’s subject but not necessarily to the point being made about the subject.

b-What is an Irrelevant Sentence?

Take a brief moment to read the following passage.

The farm is filled with chickens. The chickens are fed grain twice a day. The truck is red. The chickens on the farm lay lots of eggs.

Did anything stand out in the passage? Were you distracted or confused by any of the sentences in the passage? The sentence about the red truck didn't seem to fit, did it? The other sentences were about chickens. The last thing most readers would expect to see in a passage about chickens is a sentence telling us the truck is red. Simply stated, it doesn't fit in and it is not related to the topic of the passage.

Irrelevant sentences are those that do not support the main idea of the passage. Again, the red truck sentence did not connect to the main idea of chickens, so it seemed out of place or irrelevant in the example mentioned earlier. Irrelevant sentences distract readers and upset the flow of passages. Therefore, they should be avoided.

Now that we know what irrelevant sentences are, let's take a closer look at ways we can identify them.

   Here is another example to show some irrelevant sentences

Strict Parents

          Fortunately, my parents were very strict with me when I was a child. I think that they were protective because I was an only child. However, at that time, it felt like I was in prison. I had to come straight home after school and immediately do my homework.  1  After I finished my homework, I was allowed to watch only one hour of television. While my friends were playing video games or watching cartoons, I was usually doing chores around the house to help my mother.  2  This included doing some of the laundry and ironing, mowing the lawn, and helping to prepare dinner.  3  My father was an architect, and my mother was a housewife. Looking back, I am not sorry that my parents were strict with me because I think it was the best way to bring up a child.

1-good supporting sentence:

  It is an example of why the writer felt he or she was in   prison.

2-good supporting sentence:  

  It is a list of the chores the writer had to do around the house.

3- unrelated sentence :   

The writer’s parents’ occupations are   not related to how the writer was treated. There is no  relationship between being an architect and being a strict parent.

Here is another example to show some irrelevant sentences:

        The capital city of a country is usually a very important city. The government offices are located in the capital city and political leaders usually live there nearby. There are many different types of governments in the world. The capital may also be the centre of culture. There are often museums, libraries, and universities in the capital. Finally the capital city can serve as a centre of trade, industry and commerce, so it is often the financial centre of the country.

Here is another example to show some irrelevant sentences:

When I was growing up, one of the places I enjoyed most was the cherry tree in our garden. At the back of our garden was an alley and then more houses.  Every summer when the cherries began to ripen, I used to spend hours high in that tree, picking and eating the sweet, sun-warmed cherries.  My mother always worried about my falling out of the tree, but I never did.  But I had some competition from the birds that enjoyed them as much as I did and would perch all over the tree, devouring the fruit whenever I wasn’t there.  I used to wonder why the grown-ups never ate any of the cherries; but actually when the birds and I had finished, there weren’t many left. 

The underlined details are less relevant because:

EXAMPLE 1.

When I was growing up, one of the places I enjoyed most was the cherry tree in our garden. At the back of our garden was an alley and then more houses.  Every summer when the cherries began to ripen, I used to spend hours high in that tree, picking and eating the sweet, sun-warmed cherries.  My mother always worried about my falling out of the tree, but I never did.  But I had some competition from the birds that enjoyed them as much as I did and would perch all over the tree, devouring the fruit whenever I wasn’t there.  I used to wonder why the grown-ups never ate any of the cherries; but actually when the birds and I had finished, there weren’t many left. 

The less relevant details are those highlighted above.

They are less relevant because: 

Although the highlighted sentences relate to the general topic of this paragraph (the cherry tree), the MAIN IDEA/TOPIC of the paragraph is the enjoyment of the cherry 
tree.