What Is A Paragraph?
A paragraph is a piece of writing that consists of several sentences. A paragraph should always have complete, correct, and concise sentences. As well it should be easy to read and well organized. The paragraph itself should focus on one subject, theme, or central idea.
In other words, a paragraph could be about an object such as a young boy. If the paragraph starts out talking about the boy, it must stay the same throughout.
Elements Of A Paragraph
1. The Topic Sentence:
·This could be your topic sentence. It tells the reader that poodles are in fact perfect pets. This may or may not be true and so you would need to provide proofs as to why this could be true. However, it is an interesting statement and catchy because the reader wants to hear why the author thinks so, or what justifies this statement.
motivates the reader to want to read more.
A paragraph is a piece of writing that consists of several sentences. A paragraph should always have complete, correct, and concise sentences. As well it should be easy to read and well organized. The paragraph itself should focus on one subject, theme, or central idea.
In other words, a paragraph could be about an object such as a young boy. If the paragraph starts out talking about the boy, it must stay the same throughout.
Elements Of A Paragraph
1. The Topic Sentence:
·This could be your topic sentence. It tells the reader that poodles are in fact perfect pets. This may or may not be true and so you would need to provide proofs as to why this could be true. However, it is an interesting statement and catchy because the reader wants to hear why the author thinks so, or what justifies this statement.
motivates the reader to want to read more.
2. The First Main Point:
· This main point talks about the dogs’ personality and their companionship relating to the topic sentence, helping prove that poodles are ideal pets. Although, most likely a reader would need more convincing.
proves, backs up, or explains the topic sentence.
3. The Second Main Point:
· This is more convincing now. Most of the people that live in cities or small apartments are looking for a small dog that is suited to their city lifestyle and this sentence proves that these dogs are ideal as pets. However, you still need more proof of this fact because not all of us live in the city.
usually provides a reason for the first point made.
4. The Third Main Point:
· This point backs up the topic sentence that the poodle is the perfect pet because it mentions that this dog will fit into any type of family. This third point helps prove that this breed of dog is suited for most lifestyles and settings.
can help prove the topic sentence or back up the first or second main point of the paragraph.
5. Conclusion:
· The conclusion sums up all the other points made and ties all the points nicely together. After reading the paragraph and all its elements as a unit the reader should feel a sense of unity. Often a well written paragraph will feel complete and it will seem natural to stop reading when the paragraph closes. So keep in mind for every great piece of writing there are great paragraphs put together.
sums up the main points or ideas and it usually completes the topic.
Introduction: the first section of a paragraph; should include the topic sentence and any other sentences at the beginning of the paragraph that give background information or provide a transition.
Body: follows the introduction; discusses the controlling idea, using facts, arguments, analysis, examples, and other information.
Conclusion: the final section; summarizes the connections between the information discussed in the body of the paragraph and the paragraph’s controlling idea.
Topic sentences are the “thesis statements” of paragraphs; therefore, they are both a part of keeping the promise made by the thesis, as well as a sub-promise that should be kept by the paragraphs. They are usually the first sentence in the paragraph. The reader expects topic sentences to provide proof of one aspect of the thesis sentence as well as to provide an indication of what will follow in the paragraph.
A topic sentence is NOT simply a statement of fact. A fact does not contain any controlling ideas that can be easily explained, described, illustrated or analyzed.
There are two kinds of topic sentences:
A statement of opinion
A statement of opinion contains some form of judgment and the paragraph will support the opinion in the topic sentence.
A statement of intent
A statement of intent contains no opinion; instead, it informs the reader of what will be objectively explained in the paragraph.
Main Idea
The main idea is the most important thing the paragraph says about the topic. The topic is what a paragraph is all about
A main idea is important information that tells more about the overall idea of a paragraph or section of a text.
Skimming refers to the process of reading only main ideas within a passage to get an overall impression of the content of a reading
selection.
selection.
How to Skim:
* Read the title.
* Read the introduction or the first paragraph.
* Read the first sentence of every other paragraph.
* Read any headings and sub-headings.
* Notice any pictures, charts, or graphs.
* Notice any italicized or boldface words or phrases.
* Read the summary or last paragraph.
Scanning is a reading technique to be used when you want to find specific information quickly. In scanning you have a question in your mind and you read a passage only to find the answer, ignoring unrelated information.
How to Scan:
* State the specific information you are looking for.
* Try to anticipate how the answer will appear and what clues you might use to help you locate the answer. For example, if you were looking for a certain date, you would quickly read the paragraph looking only for numbers.
* Use headings and any other aids that will help you identify which sections might contain the information you are looking for.
* Selectively read and skip through sections of the passage.
Theme
A subject or topic on which a person writes or speaks; a proposition for discussion or argument; a text.
Supporting Points
Definition:
A supporting point is a writer uses to establish the claims made in the thesis of an essay. They are the details, examples, facts, data, and information that support what the writer is trying to prove in the thesis. Supporting points should focus on a main idea and have a mini thesis statement that relates all other sentences in that paragraph to that idea. A supporting point should refer to the main
thesis of the essay and introduce information that backs that idea.
thesis of the essay and introduce information that backs that idea.
Principles
A good paragraph should contain at least the following four elements: (T)ransition, (T)opic sentence, specific (E)vidence and analysis, and a (B)rief wrap-up sentence– TTEB!
A Transition sentence leads in from a previous paragraph and assure smooth reading. This acts as a hand off from one idea to the next.
A Topic sentence tells the reader what you will be discussing in the paragraph.
Specific Evidence and analysis support one of your claims and provide a deeper level of detail than your topic sentence.
A Brief wrap-up sentence tells the reader how and why this information supports the paper’s thesis. The brief wrap-up is also known as the warrant. The warrant is important to your argument because it connects your reasoning and support to your thesis, and it shows that the information in the paragraph is related to your thesis and helps defend it.
A Transition sentence leads in from a previous paragraph and assure smooth reading. This acts as a hand off from one idea to the next.
A Topic sentence tells the reader what you will be discussing in the paragraph.
Specific Evidence and analysis support one of your claims and provide a deeper level of detail than your topic sentence.
A Brief wrap-up sentence tells the reader how and why this information supports the paper’s thesis. The brief wrap-up is also known as the warrant. The warrant is important to your argument because it connects your reasoning and support to your thesis, and it shows that the information in the paragraph is related to your thesis and helps defend it.
Prediction
A prediction or forecast is a statement about the way things will happen in the future, often but not always based on experience or knowledge. While there is much overlap between prediction and forecast, a prediction may be a statement that some outcome is expected, while a forecast may cover a range of possible outcomes.
Although guaranteed information about the information is in many cases impossible, prediction is necessary to allow plans to be made about possible developments; Howard H. Stevenson writes that prediction in business "... is at least two things: Important and hard."[1]
A theme is the main idea, or message, of an essay, paragraph, or a book. The message may be about life, society, or human nature. Themes often explore timeless and universal ideas and may be implied rather than stated explicitly. Along with plot, character, setting, and style, theme is considered one of the fundamental components of fiction.[1] It is the universal statement or feel when you read a piece of writing
Paragraph Function
Paragraphs are used to help your reader follow the logic of your argument. They should not be too long (generally speaking, paragraphs that are longer than 3/4 of a page are probably too long) or too short (one or two sentence paragraphs probably haven't given your reader enough information). When you begin a new idea, a point that contrasts one you were just discussing, or when you are raising a related but separate point, it's probably time to start a new paragraph.
In addition to containing clear, discreet thoughts, a paragraph should serve a specific purpose. Ask yourself the following questions: What am I trying to say in this paragraph? How am I trying to say it? Am I expanding on a previous point? am I qualifying a statement? am I restating something? supporting it? concurring? describing? comparing? contrasting?
Here are some suggestions for how to think about what your paragraph is doing (this list is not exhaustive!):
Stating: Making an assertion.
Restating: Putting into different words an assertion already made for purposes of clarification and/or adjustment or emphasis.
Supporting: Providing evidence for an assertion.
Concurring: Agreeing with another author's assertion.
Qualifying: Restricting the meaning of an assertion already made.
Conceding: Acknowledging the presence of a fact or perspective that calls into question that author's own assertions.
Negating: Offering reasoning or evidence to demonstrate the falsehoold of an assertion.
Expanding: Stating at great length or more comprehensively an idea or assertion already expressed.
Analyzing: Breaking an assertion down into its constituent parts in order to clarify or evaluate it.
Defining: Stating the meaning of a word or words previously or subsequently used.
Describing: Naming one or more features of an object or concept, to help the reader imagine it precisely or understand it fully.
Exemplifying: Giving an illustration of what is meant by a previous statement or giving a concrete instance that will help make the point credible.
Comparing and constrasting: Examining objects alongside each other for the purpose of clarifying their features, evaluating them or noting differences and similarities.
Narrating: Telling a story describing an event or series of events
Evaluating: Making judgement about something discussed previously
Synthesizing: Combining elements of previous paragraphs into a coherent whole; often this includes presenting a new perspective on the subject.
Summarizing: Restating the principal idea or the outline of an argument or point already introduced.
Transitioning: Moving from one aspect of the argument to another by connecting the points for the reader.
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