WHAT IS PARAGRAPH ???

A collection of related sentences dealing with one topic

A paragraph is a self-contained unit of a discourse in writing dealing with a particular point or idea. A paragraph consists of several sentences that are grouped together.

The kind of paragraph according to the place of mind idea: -Deductive -Inductive -Deductive-Inductive

Introductory BASIC OF PARAGRAPH Body paragraphs Transitional Paragraphs Concluding Paragraphs

I. Paragraph Writing

a. How to write a good paragraph

Each paragraph should contain one main idea and whatever writing supports it; If a paragraph looks like it is getting too long, it may be rephrased or separated into two new ones; Let the interest shines through in the writing; The paragraph should be written in a style that suits initial aim; Simply leave out things that are not related or relevant to the paragraph; Use the formal languange; Format the paragraphs appropriately and consistently;

b. What a good paragraph have

- Unity: The entire paragraph should concern itself with a single focus. If it begins with a one focus or major point of discussion, it should not end with another or wander within different ideas. - Coherence: Coherence is the trait that makes the paragraph easily understandable to a reader. Arrange ideas in a clear, logical order. Provide appropriate transitions to the subsequent paragraph. - Adequate development: Develop your paragraphs with specific details and examples.

UNITY
Unity is a very important characteristic of good paragraph writing. Paragraph unity means that one paragraph is about ONLY ONE main topic. That is, all the sentences -the topic, supporting sentences, the detail sentences, and (sometimes) the concluding sentence- are all telling the reader about ONE main topic. If your paragraph contains a sentence or some sentences that are NOT related to the main topic, then we say that the paragraph "lacks unity," or that the sentence is "off-topic."

Example:
(1)Firstly, the Olympic Games provide an outlet for competition. (2) Friendly competition among many countries occurs around the world. (3) Regardless of each countrys financial situation, the competition is in the field of sports and not in politics. (4)It provides to people who have trained very hard a form or basis of comparison to others around the world, giving these competitors the opportunity to find out if they are the very best. (5)Also, along with providing an outlet for competition the Olympic Games creates a sense of nationalism. (6) Nationalist pride is always a component of the Olympics, each country having its representatives. (7) The Olympics unifies a country, giving its citizens something in common-- a victory-- that brings them together. (8) For example, the acquisition of a gold medal or a number of gold medals can be a source of national pride.

Unity

COHERENCE
Coherence refers to a certain characteristic or aspect of writing. Literally, the word means "to stick together." Coherence in writing means that all the ideas in a paragraph flow smoothly from one sentence to the next sentence. With coherence, the reader has an easy time understanding the ideas that you wish to express.

Example:

Coherence

My hometown is famous for several amazing natural features. First, it is noted for the Wheaton River, which is very wide and beautiful. On either side of this river, which is 175 feet wide, are many willow trees which have long branches that can move gracefully in the wind. In autumn the leaves of these trees fall and cover the riverbanks like golden snow. Second, on the other side of the town is Wheaton Hill, which is unusual because it is very steep. Even though it is steep, climbing this hill is not dangerous, because there are some firm rocks along the sides that can be used as stairs. There are no trees around this hill, so it stands clearly against the sky and can be seen from many miles away. 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.

ADEQUATE DEVELOPMENT
The topic should be discussed fully and adequately. When you are writing a paragraph, you must be sure to trace the full development of your ideas for readers so they will understand the assumptions, evidence and reasoning you used. Some methods to make sure paragraph is well-developed:
Elaborate: Spell out the details by defining, or by clarifying and adding relevant, pertinent information. Illustrate: Paint a verbal picture that helps make or clarify your point(s). Well illustrated pieces are easier to read and follow than those on a high level of abstraction.

Argue: Give the reasons, justifications, and rationales for the position or view you have taken in the topic sentence. Draw inferences for the reader and explain the significance of assertions or claims being made.
Narrate: Relate the historical development of the phenomenon at issue.

Process: Describe how something works.

Describe: Observe without preconceived categories. Classify: Organize phenomena or ideas into larger categories that share common characteristics. Analyze: Divide phenomena or ideas into elements. Compare and Contrast: Show similarities and differences between two or more phenomena or ideas. Relate: Show correlations and causes (beware of logical fallacies, however!)

Example:

Adequate Development

Appeals to pathos, or what modern rhetoreticians call emotional appeals, begin by making an audience more open to the message. Aristotle himself suggested this approach to persuasion in the Rhetoric when he stated that our judgments when we are pleased and friendly are not the same as when we are pained and hostile (as cited in Horner, 1988, p.57). In other words, Aristotle proposed that writers persuade, in part, by affecting the mood of their audience and by making them better disposed towards the message. To maximize this effect, writers need to know and identify with their audience. Are audience members all the same age, or a mixed group? What socioeconomic group are they likely to be part of? What is their level of education? Asking questions like these will help writers to know their audiences hopes and fears, and prepare the audience to be more sympathetic to the message.

II. Type of Paragraph

1. NARRATIVE
Narration paragraphs are most distinctively used in fiction. As such, they will contain all necessary components of action development: protagonist, setting, goal, obstacle, climax and resolution. Writing a narration paragraph requires, consequently, sequential order and chronology. There are many descriptive elements included into the body of a narration paragraph but, if composed correctly, the paragraph will feature much more action than depiction. Narrative paragraph tells a story of one specific event. The topic sentence will identify the event clearly and signal your value judgment, feeling, thoughts, etc.

Generic elements: Orientation : the introduces scene and participants Evaluation : the stepping back to evaluate the plight Complication : the problem Resolution : the problem is solved, be better or worse Re-orientation(optional)

2. ANALYTICAL EXPOSITION

Its created in order to clarify or explain a problem or a phenomenon. Writing exposition paragraphs requires strict focus on evidence and objective language. It can contain elements of comparison and contrast or cause and effect writing - both facilitate accurate exposition of its subject-matter.

3. REPORT
To describe the way things are with reference to a range of natural, man-made and social fenomena in our environment.
Generic Structure: 1.General classification; tells what the fenomena under discussion is. 2.Description tells what the phenomenon under discussion is like in terms of (1) parts, (2) qualities, (3) habits or behavior, if living: uses, if non-natural.

4. DESCRIPTIVE

Can be used to explain an object, event, person, process,position, express and clarify thoughts and emotions, strengthen your conclusions of narrating and other paragraphs. Writers should assume the role of readers whose idea of the described events is, in entirety, constructed by the paragraph content. Description paragraphs should be detailed, clear, and render the represented reality chronologically.

Generic stucture: - Identifies the thing that will be described - Description: parts, qualities, characteristics

5. PROCEDURE
To describe how something is accomplished through a sequence of actions or steps. A process arrangement is usually used to explain a process or how to do something. Using: (1) imperative sentences: cut, dont mix etc. (2) action verb: turn, put, mix etc. (3) connectives: while, then, and then, finally etc.

6. PERSUASIVE
Persuasion paragraphs require exhortatory and dynamic language. They are aimed at persuading others into taking a particular action or adopting certain point of view. They should be devoid of descriptive content and, instead, rely on the imperative mode. The most useful word: lets

7. DEFENITION PARAGRAPH
Definition paragraphs are used in order to explain the meaning, origin and function of things. They are used both in academic writing and in fiction. To write a definition paragraph, writers should concentrate on the role of its subject in the context of the whole essay and list comparisons as well as examples accordingly. Element: -Explanation of meaning -Method -Examples and comparisons

9. REVIEW
This kind of paragraph is used as a component of other types to clarify a problem. The purpose: To analyze and evaluate something, and inform reader about strenghtness and weakness. Structure: 1. Title 2. Identification of work 3. Evaluation of work 4. Conclusion