CHAPTER 2

Paragraph Writing Skills

INTRODUCTION

Effective writers employ a variety of techniques in their writing to make it

readable and effective for readers. However, the kind of writing dictates the
techniques to be employed by the writer. Good paragraphs should have a definite
structure with an opening, development, and ending. Each paragraph should have
a purpose and it should be clear to the reader what the main idea is in each
paragraph.
So in this lesson, you are expected to do the following task:
1. determine the main and controlling ideas in sentences; and 2.
develop a well-written paragraph.

LESSON PROPER

ELEMENTS OF A
GOOD
PARAGRAPH
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 [ paragraph ]
Paragraphs are comprised of sentences, but not random
sentences. A paragraph is a group of sentences organized around a
central topic. 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. Master the paragraph, and you’ll be on your
way to writing “gold-star” essays, term papers, and stories.

A basic paragraph structure usually

How toconsists
Write aof five
sentences: the topic sentence, three supporting sentences,
Paragraph Using the
and a concluding sentence. But, the secrets to paragraph
Four Essential
writing lay in four essential elements, which when used
correctly, can make an ‘okay’ paragraph into a great
paragraph. Elements?

ELEMENT NO. 2

ELEMENT NO. 1 Order. Order refers to the way you

Unity. Unity in a paragraph begins with the
topic sentence. Every paragraph has one
single, controlling idea that is expressed in
its topic sentence, which is typically the first
sentence of the paragraph. A paragraph is
unified around this main idea, with the
supporting sentences providing detail and
discussion. In order to write a good topic
sentence, think about your theme and all the
points you want to make. Decide which point
drives the rest, and then write it as your topic
sentence.
organize your supporting sentences.
Whether you choose chronological order,
order of importance, or another logical
presentation of detail, a solid paragraph
always has a definite organization. In a well-
ordered paragraph, the reader follows along
easily, aided by the pattern you’ve
established. Order helps the reader grasp
your meaning and avoid confusion.

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 ELEMENT NO. 3

Coherence. Coherence is the

quality that makes your writing
understandable. Sentences within a
paragraph need to connect to each other
and work together as a whole. One of the
best ways to achieve coherency is to use
transition words. These words create
bridges from one sentence to the next.
You can use transition words that show
order (first, second, third); spatial
relationships (above, below) or logic
(furthermore, in addition, in fact). Also,
in writing a paragraph, using a consistent
verb tense and point of view are
important ingredients for coherency.

ELEMENT NO. 4
Completeness. Completeness means
-developed. If all
a paragraph is well
sentences clearly and sufficiently
then support
your paragraph is
the main idea, complete.
If there are not enough sentences or
enough information to prove your thesis,
then the paragraph is incomplete. Usually
three supporting sentences, in addition to a
topic sentence and concluding sentence,
are aragraph to be complete. The
needed for a p
concluding sentence or last sentence of the
paragraph should summarize your main
idea by reinforcing your topic sentence.

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Paragraph Development
Basic paragraph structure

In many languages, the fundamental unit of composition is the

paragraph. A paragraph consists of several sentences that are grouped
together. This group of sentences together discusses one main subject.
In U.S. formal academic English, paragraphs have three principal parts.
These three parts are the topic sentence , body sentences, and the
concluding sentence. We will also talk briefly about details in
paragraphs.

A strong paragraph contains three distinct (Notice how the first sentence begins
components: with "My hometown..." a few spaces to
1. Topic sentence. The topic sentence is the right of the paragraph edge. This
the main idea of the paragraph. is an indentation. All paragraphs in
2. Body. The body is composed of the English MUST begin with an
supporting sentences that develop the main indentation.)
point.
Note how the first sentence, my
3. Conclusion. The conclusion is the final
hometown, Wheaton, is famous for
sentence that summarizes the main point.
several amazing geographical features,
is the most general statement. This
- The Topic Sentence -
sentence is different from the two
A topic sentence usually comes at the
sentences that follow it, since the
beginning of a paragraph; that is, it is usually
second and third sentences mention
the first sentence in a formal academic
specific details about the town's
paragraph. (Sometimes this is not true, but as
geography, and are not general
you practice writing with this online lesson site,
statements.
please keep to this rule unless you are
instructed otherwise.) Not Here are some examples of sentences
only is a topic sentence the first sentence of that cannot be used as topic
a paragraph, but, more importantly, it is the sentences. Can you figure out why
most general sentence in a paragraph. What they are inappropriate?
does "most general" mean? It means that
My hometown is famous because it is
there are not many details in the sentence,
but that the sentence introduces an overall located by Wheaton River, which is
idea that you want to discuss later in the very wide, and because it is built near
paragraph. an unusually steep hill called Wheaton
Hill.
For example, suppose that you want to
write a paragraph about the natural
landmarks of your hometown. The first part There are two reasons why some
of your paragraph might look like this: people like to buy cars with automatic
transmission and two reasons why
others like cars with manual
transmission.
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Clouds are white.

 My hometown is famous for several amazing natural features. First, it is
noted for the Wheaton River, which is
very wide and beautiful. Also, on the other side of the town is Wheaton Hill, which is
unusual because it is very steep.

The problem with sentence(Again,

#1 note how this paragraph is
contains too many details.
indented on the first line, about five or
sentences are general seven spaces in from the left-hand edge
should appear later in the ofparagraph.
the paragraph.A Always remember to
better topic sentence would be like your
indent the oneparagraphs!)
mentioned above, my hometown is famous
for several amazing geographical
When features.
a reader reads a topic sentence,
such as My hometown, Wheaton, is
Sentence #2 is not appropriate
famousas a fortopicseveral amazing natural
sentence because it mentions features, a question should usually
not just one. Paragraphs appearare usually
in the reader's mind. In this
about one main thing andcase, so their topic
the question should be like, "What
sentences should also be about only one
are the natural features that make
main thing. Wheaton famous?" The reader should
then expect that the rest of the
The problem with sentence #3 paragraph will give an answer to this
too general. It is also very question.
boring! Would
you like to read a paragraph with this topic
sentence? Most people would Now
not. look at the sentences after the
topic sentence. We can see that the
We can rewrite sentences #2second
and #3 in the in the paragraph, First,
sentence
following ways to make it better:
it is noted for the Wheaton River, which
is very wide and beautiful, indeed gives
There are two reasons why some people to
an answer likethis question. That is, the
to buy cars with automatic transmission.
second sentence gives some explanation
OR (in a different paragraph):
for the fact that Wheaton is a famous
town. Similarly, we can see that the
There are two reasons why some
thirdpeople like
sentence also gives some
cars with manual transmission.
explanation for the fact that Wheaton is
famous by giving another example of an
The shapes of clouds are "amazing
determined natural
by feature," in this case,
various factors. Wheaton Hill.

- Supporting Sentences - The second and third sentences are

called supporting
Consider again the above-mentioned, short sentences. They are
paragraph: called "supporting" because they
"support," or explain, the idea
My hometown, Wheaton, is expressed
famous infor the topic sentence. Of
course,First,
several amazing natural features. paragraphs
it in English often
have more
is noted for the Wheaton River, which than
is two supporting ideas.
The
very wide and beautiful. Also, on paragraph
the other above is actually a very
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 side of the town is Wheatonshort
Hill, which is
paragraph. At minimum, you
unusual because it is very steep.
should have at least five to seven
sentences in your paragraph. Here we
can see our paragraph about Wheaton
with a few more supporting sentences in
bold font:

My hometown is famous for several and the bottom bun is like the
amazing natural features. First, it is concluding
noted for the Wheaton River, which
is very wide and beautiful. Also, on sentence. Both buns "hold" the meat,
the other side of the town is Wheaton onions, and so on. Similarly, the topic
sentence and concluding sentence "hold"
Hill, which is unusual because it is
the supporting sentences in the
very steep. The third amazing feature is
paragraph.
the Big Old Tree. This tree stands

Let's see how a concluding sentence (in

two hundred feet tall and is
bold font) might look in our sample
probably
paragraph about Wheaton:
about six hundred years old.

In this lesson, we will talk about

supporting sentences again in the
section, “Details in Paragraphs," below.
- The Concluding Sentence -
In formal paragraphs you will
sometimes see a sentence at the end of
the paragraph which summarizes the
information that has been presented.
This is the concluding sentence. You
can think of a concluding sentence
as a sort of topic sentence in
reverse.
You can understand concluding
sentences with this example. Consider a
hamburger that you can buy at a fast-
food restaurant. * A hamburger has a
top bun (a kind of bread), meat, cheese,
lettuce, and other elements in the
middle of the hamburger, and a bottom
bun. Note how the top bun and the
bottom bun are very similar. The top
bun, in a way, is like a topic sentence,
My hometown is famous for several
amazing natural features. First, it is
noted for the Wheaton River, which is
very wide and beautiful. Also, on the
other side of the town is Wheaton Hill,
which is unusual because it is very
steep. The third amazing feature is the
Big Old Tree. This tree stands two
hundred feet tall and is probably about
six hundred years old. These three
landmarks are truly amazing and
make my hometown a famous place.
Notice how the concluding sentence,
these three landmarks are truly amazing
and make my hometown a famous
place, summarizes the information in the
paragraph.
Notice also how the concluding sentence
is similar to, but not exactly the same
as, the topic sentence. Not all academic
paragraphs contain concluding
sentences, especially if the paragraph is
very short.

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 understand exactly what you are writing
However, if your paragraph is very long, about. In the paragraph about
it is a good idea to use a concluding Wheaton, three natural landmarks are
sentence. mentioned, but we do not know very
much about them. For example, we
- Details in Paragraphs - could add a sentence or two about
The short paragraph in th is lesson Wheaton river concerning HOW wide it is
is a fairly complete paragraph, but it or WHY it is beautiful. Consider this
lacks details. Whenever possible, you revision (and note the additional details
should include enough details in your in bold):
paragraphs to help your reader

My hometown is famous for several A Note on Formality. In addition to amazing

natural features. First, it is having a particular kind of structure, noted for the Wheaton
River, which is academic paragraphs (and multivery wide and beautiful. On either side of
paragraph essays, which will be topic of this river, which is 175 feet wide, are another
lesson) are different from many willow trees which have long "ordinary writing" (such as
letter writing) branches that can move gracefully in the in that certain kinds of expressions
are

wind. In autumn the leaves of these not allowed. For example, in formal trees fall and
cover the riverbanks like essays, you should not use golden snow. Also, on the other
side of contractions such as don't or aren't. the town is Wheaton Hill, which is Instead,
you should write out the words unusual because it is very steep. Even in full, for example,
do not and are not. though it is steep, climbing this hill is not

dangerous, because there are some firm Also, in formal essays you should rocks along
the sides that can be used as avoid the first and second person. That stairs. There are no
trees around this is, do not use the pronouns I or you. The hill, so it stands clearly against
the sky pronouns we and us are sometimes used and can be seen from many miles away.
in formal essays in some major fields, The third amazing feature is the Big Old but in
general you should not use these Tree. This tree stands two hundred feet unless you are
certain that they are tall and is probably about six hundred customary in your field and/or
your years old. These three landmarks are professor allows them. It is safer simply truly
amazing and make my hometown a to use the third person.
famous place.

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If we wished, we could also add more
details to the paragraph to describe the
third natural feature of the area, the Big
Old Tree.

Why are details important? Consider the

example of the hamburger, mentioned
above.* If the hamburger buns are the
topic and concluding sentences, then the
meat, the cheese, the lettuce, and so on are
the supporting details. Without the food
between the hamburger buns, your
hamburger would not be very delicious!
Similarly, without supporting details, your
paragraph would n ot be very interesting.

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