EAP

Meeting1
(2)
Introductionto
Paragraph
ignasia_y@ukrida.ac.id

Subtopics
Parts of Paragraph :
Topic Sentence
Supporting Details
Concluding Sentence

Learning Objective

Studentsareabletoexplainparagraph
parts.

What is paragraph?
Aparagraphisabasicunitof
organizationinwritinginwhichagroupof
relatedsentencesdevelopsonemain
idea.(Hogue&Oshima,1999)

The Paragraph Structure

The Paragraph Structure

1.Statementofthemainidea (TopicSentence)
2.Elaborationofthemainideaandsupporting
details.
3.Restatementofthemainideasummaryof
mainideasorconclusions.

TOPIC
SENTENCE

TOPIC

TOPICSENTENCE

CONTROLLING
IDEA(S)

Topic Sentence
Topic sentence is the most general statement in the
paragraph because it gives only the main idea.
A topic sentence should be neither too general nor too
specific.
Too general American food is terrible.

Too specific American food is tasteless and greasy because

Americans used too many caned, frozen, and
prepackaged foods and because everything is
fried in oil or butter.
Good American food is tasteless and greasy.

Topic Sentence
Donotincludetoomanyunrelatedideasinthe
topicsentenceortheparagraphwillnotbe
unified.
Toomanyideas :SanFransisco isfamousfor
itstemperateclimate,itsmanytourist
attractions,anditsinternational
atmosphere.
Good:SanFransisco isfamousforitsmodern
atmosphere.

Jakartaisaverydangerouscity.
Topic

Contr.Idea(s)

ViolenceinIndonesiahasseveralcauses.
Topic

Contr.Idea(s)

Agooddoctorhasfourimportantcharacteristics.
Topic

Contr.Idea(s)

Can you find some supporting details?

Jakarta isaverydangerous city.
TopicContr.Idea(s)
Burglary/
Robbery/Theft/
Pickpocket

Fire

TrafficAccident

DANGEROUS
Students/
Communities
Brawl

Anarchist
Demonstration
Counterfeit
Money

Can you make a good paragraph then?

Jakartaisaverydangerouscity. Everydayyoucanwatchandread
howvarioustypesofcrimeshappeninthecityonTVandinthe
newspapers. Robberiesandtheftshappeneverydayasifthe
evildoersarenotafraidofbeingcaughtbythepolice.Trafficaccidents
alsohappeneverydayduetotheirresponsibleandaggressive
drivingbehaviorofmostofthemotoristsandriders. Inaddition,
Inaddition,onemustalsobewareoframpantbrawlsbetweentwo
groupsofstudentsortwogroupsofmobswhichalsohappen
frequently. IfyouevergotoJakarta,Iamsureyouwillagreethat
itisveryhazardous.

Where is the main idea?

Jakarta is a very dangerous city. Every day you can
watch and read how various types of crimes happen in
the city on TV and in the newspapers. Robberies and
thefts happen every day as if the evildoers are not
afraid of being caught by the police. Traffic accidents
also happen every day due to the irresponsible and
aggressive driving behavior of most of the motorists
and riders. In addition, one must also beware of
rampant brawls between two groups of students or
two groups of mobs which also happen frequently. If
you ever go to Jakarta, I am sure you will agree that it
is very hazardous.

What is the main idea?

There are many reasons why people move.
Some move to find better jobs or to advance their
careers. Others are attracted to places with better
weather. Still others want to move to a place with
less crime. Finally, people often want to move to a
place with a lower cost of living. For these reasons,
every year millions of people pack up and move to
new places.

Lets practice:
Read the paragraph!

There are many reasons why people move.

Some move to find better jobs or to advance their
careers. Others are attracted to places with better
weather. Still others want to move to a place with
less crime. Finally, people often want to move to a
place with a lower cost of living. For these reasons,
every year millions of people pack up and move to
new places.

The Paragraph Structure

Therearemanyreasonswhypeoplemove.

TOPICSENTENCE
(Topic+
ControllingIdeas)

1. Somemovetofindbetterjobsortoadvance
theircareers.
2. Othersareattractedtoplaceswithbetter
weather.
3. Stillotherswanttomovetoaplacewithless
crime.
4. Finally,peopleoftenwanttomovetoaplace
withalowercostofliving.

4SUPPORTING
SENTENCES

Forthesereasons,everyyearmillionsofpeople
packupandmovetonewplaces.

CONCLUDING
SENTENCE

Types of Paragraph based on

Organization of Ideas
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Timeorder/Processparagraph
Spaceorderparagraph
Importanceorderparagraph
CauseEffectParagraph
Comparison(andcontrast)Paragraph
OpinionParagraph

Transition Signals
Timerelationships:first,second,then,next,
before,after,later,finally.
Orderofimportance:first,second,thenext+
noun,also,inaddition,moreover,forexample,
themostimportant,finally.

Transition Signals
Spaceorder:at,in,attheend,behind,nextto,in
thecenter,ontheleft,ontopof,under,over,
between,infrontof.
Comparison&contrast:thesame,similarto,both,
although,however,differentfrom,ontheother
hand,unlike,but.
Cause&effect:because,since,dueto,asaresult,
consequently,thus,therefore,so.

Read the text!

MyDay
I had a terrible day yesterday. Firstly, I woke up an hour
late because my alarm clock didnt go off. Then, I was
in such a hurry that I burned my hand when I was
making breakfast. After breakfast, I got dressed so
quickly that I forgot to wear socks. Next, I ran out of
the house trying to get the 9.30 bus, but of course I
missed it. I wanted to take a taxi, but I didnt have
enough money. Finally, I walked the three miles to my
office only to discover that it was Sunday! I hope I
never have a day as bad as the one I had yesterday.

Answer the following questions!

1. Whatisthetopicsentence?
2. Howarethesupportingsentences
organized?
3. Whatistheconcludingsentence?

Lets discuss!
MyDay
I had a terrible day yesterday. Firstly, I woke up an hour late
because my alarm clock didnt go off. Then, I was in such a
hurry that I burned my hand when I was making breakfast.
After breakfast, I got dressed so quickly that I forgot to wear
socks. Next, I ran out of the house trying to get the 9.30 bus,
but of course I missed it. I wanted to take a taxi, but I didnt
have enough money. Finally, I walked the three miles to my
office only to discover that it was Sunday! I hope I never have
a day as bad as the one I had yesterday.

Now, its your turn!

Groupwork:
1.Readthetextandanalyzeitsparts!
2.Readtheparagraphandanalyzeitsparts!

REFERENCES
Gillett,Andy.(2013).UsingEnglishforAcademicPurpose:A
GuideforStudentsinHigherEducation.[Online].Available
at: http://www.uefap.com/
Langen,JohnandJenkins,Lynn.(2010).TensStepsto
AdvancingCollegeReadingSkills.NewJersey:TownsendPress.
Oshima,A&Hogue,A.(1999).WritingAcademicEnglish(3rd
ed) .NewYork:Longman.
Rumisek,L.A.AndZemach,D.E.(2005).AcademicWriting:
fromParagraphtoEssay.Oxford:MacmillanPublishers
Limited.
Wishon,G.E.&Burks,J.M.(1980).LetsWriteEnglish.New
York:LittonEducationalPublishingInc.
http://www.paragraphorganizer.com/