TEXT

STRUCTURE
Paragraph study – involves
analyzing and categorizing types as
deductive, or inductive in
development, or as being based on
comparison or contrast.
- it includes the study of topic
sentences and the avoidance of
structural monotony by variety in
their position.
Paragraph – is conventionally indicated by
an indention of the first line . Indentions
are valuable signs of the divisions of
thought within the whole composition.
They indicate forward movement from one
of the subject to the next phase.
- may be only a sentence or a
compact unit of related sentences,
developing a single idea or a specific part
of a larger topic. The sentences are closely
related in meaning and are held together
by a topic idea, either expressed in a
topic sentence or implied.
Paragraph - is the structural unit of a
composition. The paragraphs in a good
composition are closely related and
present the successive stages of
thought or feeling that constitute the
organic whole.
USES OF A PARAGRAPH
1. The primary function is to develop an
idea or impression. As a vehicle of ideas, a
paragraph may develop a single idea and is
called an independent paragraph.
Ex: newspaper editorials,columns and
advertisements
2. It assists in the communication of ideas
by setting off a single topic which is
developed or by distinguishing clearly
between the separate parts of a longer
composition. Thus, paragraphs enable
the writer to pursue clearly the
development of his thoughts and see
the progress he is making. They
facilitate the reader’s understanding by
making the structure and development
of the ideas easily evident.
SPECIAL PURPOSES OF
PARAGRAPHS;
1. They may introduce a topic
2. They indicate a transition.
3. to record a dialogue
4. to conclude or summarize a
discussion
I. Introductory Paragraph – introduces a
topic. A good introduction attracts the
reader and makes him read the rest of the
text.
Example:
“ The struggle has been defined variously
as rich v. poor, Southern Hemisphere v.
Northern, developed v. unerdeveloped.
The protagonists are the advanced
industrial nations(Western Europe, North
America, and Japan)v. the nations of the
“Third World”(Latin America, Africa, and
Asia), an extaordinary diverse group that,
for the moment at least, has achieved
solidarity or what it sees as its common
purose. The conflict between the two
groups has taken on the proportions of a
global class war.”
- “The Third World: What Does it Want,”
Time, September 8, 1975
“ A myth is both distortion and aspiration.
It is a dream that is part wakefulness. It is
symbol and allegory invented by men to fill
some particular need. The Filipino woman
is such a myth.”
- Carmen Guerrero Nakpil, “Myth and
Reality.”
2. Transitional Paragraph – indicates a
movement from one phase of a discussio
to the next phase. It may sum up the
previous discussion and prepare the reader
method of explanation which is to be used,
or to do a combination of these things.
Example: “In recent years, widespread
harvest failures, uncontrollable inflation
and runaway oil and wheat prices have hit
rich and poor countries alike with
devastating force.
“At the same time, the Third World
was undergoing a profound hange,
especially with the staggering rises in the
cost of fuel and food. The developing
countries have split into two resources and
those desperately poor countries that still
have to import oil and food grains…
“But then, there were the utterly
impoverished international indigents
whose plight only worsened-countries like
India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Ethioppia,
Haiti, and others. This constitute what now
is being called the “Fourth World”-
countries with burgeonng populations, few
ntural resources and an undeveloped
industrial base. Apocalyptic famine is an
imminent possibility in any of them.”
- “The Third World: What Does It Want,
Time, September 8, 1975
3. Paragraph of Dialogue – another special
purpose of a paragraph is to record a
dialogue. Conventionally, a separate
paragraph is used for each speech or for
the speech and explanatory insertions such
as “he said” or “she replied.” Longer
narration between speeches may be
included with a speech or paragraphed
separately.