Academic Paragraph Writing - Kashan University of...

AcademicAcademic Paragraph WritingParagraph Writing

JAFAR ASGARIKashan University of medical S i E li h D t tSciences,English Department

Paragraph Writing Exercises

In this part you will learn how toIn this part you will learn how to compose a paragraph and how to use

k l d f hyour knowledge of paragraph organization.

What is a paragraph?

A good paragraph is a unit of writing and should have a clear and logical structurehave a clear and logical structure.In a paragraph you can describe, classify, explain (e g function sequence) compare andexplain (e.g. function, sequence), compare and constrast things.A paragraph consists of the Topic and MajorA paragraph consists of the Topic and Majorand Minor Supporting Sentences.A paragraph should have: UnityUnity CoherenceA paragraph should have: UnityUnity, Coherence, Completeness, and Emphasis

Topic and supportingA cheeseburger can be considered as a paragraph: the bun contains the main ideaA cheeseburger can be considered as a paragraph: the bun contains the main idea,other ingredients give a unique taste to it. Ingredients like cheese, meetand pickles somehow enrich and support the main element.

Adapted from: http://www.gigglepotz.com/para.htm

Paragraph: an exampleRead this example first:Why I want to Learn English

There are three reasons why I want to learn English. One reason is that English has become an international language. It is now used by most international companies, including the company where I work, for business communication. Another reason why I want to learn yEnglish is so that I can travel to English-speaking countries. The United States, England, Australia and many other countries all use English as their primary language. Finally, I want to learn English because I plan to move to the U.S. in the future. I will become a pmanager for my company soon. For all these reasons, I am very excited about learning English.

(Source: http://www.english-zone.com/writing/strctr-quiz.html)

Q: What is the “bun” in this burger? And what are other ingredients which describe this burger?

Paragraph Structure

Support detail

1. Topic sentenceFi t i i t Support detail2. First main point

3. Second main point Support detailp4. Third main point

C l i

pp

Support detail

5. Conclusion

Topic sentence

There are three reasons why I want to learn English. One reason is that English has become an internationalreason is that English has become an international language. It is now used by most international companies, including the company where I work, for b i i ti A th h I t tbusiness communication. Another reason why I want to learn English is so that I can travel to English-speaking countries. The United States, England, Australia and , g ,many other countries all use English as their primary language. Finally, I want to learn English because I plan to move to the U S in the future I will become ato move to the U.S. in the future. I will become a manager for my company soon. For all these reasons, I am very excited about learning English.

First main point/supporting detail

There are three reasons why I want to learn English. One reason is that English has become an internationalreason is that English has become an international language. It is now used by most international companies, including the company where I work, for b i i ti A th h I tbusiness communication. Another reason why I want to learn English is so that I can travel to English-speaking countries. The United States, England, p g , g ,Australia and many other countries all use English as their primary language. Finally, I want to learn English because I plan to move to the U S in the future I willbecause I plan to move to the U.S. in the future. I will become a manager for my company soon. For all these reasons, I am very excited about learning English.

Second supporting point

There are three reasons why I want to learn English. One reason is that English has become an internationalreason is that English has become an international language. It is now used by most international companies, including the company where I work, for b i i ti A th h I t tbusiness communication. Another reason why I want to learn English is so that I can travel to English-speaking countries. The United States, England, Australia and , g ,many other countries all use English as their primary language. Finally, I want to learn English because I plan to move to the U S in the future I will become ato move to the U.S. in the future. I will become a manager for my company soon. For all these reasons, I am very excited about learning English.

Third supporting point

There are three reasons why I want to learn English. One reason is that English has become an internationalreason is that English has become an international language. It is now used by most international companies, including the company where I work, for b i i ti A th h I t tbusiness communication. Another reason why I want to learn English is so that I can travel to English-speaking countries. The United States, England, Australia and , g ,many other countries all use English as their primary language. Finally, I want to learn English because I plan to move to the U S in the future I will become ato move to the U.S. in the future. I will become a manager for my company soon. For all these reasons, I am very excited about learning English.

Conclusion

There are three reasons why I want to learn English. One reason is that English has become an internationalreason is that English has become an international language. It is now used by most international companies, including the company where I work, for b i i ti A th h I t tbusiness communication. Another reason why I want to learn English is so that I can travel to English-speaking countries. The United States, England, Australia and , g ,many other countries all use English as their primary language. Finally, I want to learn English because I plan to move to the U S in the future I will become ato move to the U.S. in the future. I will become a manager for my company soon. For all these reasons, I am very excited about learning English.

What is a topic sentence?

What is the topic sentence?The topic sentence is the first sentenceThe topic sentence is the first sentence in a paragraph. What does it do?What does it do?It introduces the main idea of the paragraphparagraph. How do I write one?Summarize the main idea of yourSummarize the main idea of your paragraph. Indicate to the reader what your paragraph will be about. y p g p

(Source: http://www2.actden.com/writ_den/tips/paragrap/index.htm)

What are supporting sentences

What are supporting sentences?What are supporting sentences?They come after the topic sentence, making up the body of a paragraph. What do they do?They give details to develop and support the main idea of the paragraphthe main idea of the paragraph. How do I write them?You should give supporting facts, details, and examples.

Supporting sentences (SS): they are sentences thatSupporting sentences (SS): they are sentences that support and describe the topic sentence.

Two types of ss:

1- Major SS: directly support the topic sentence

2- Minor SS: indirectly support the topic sentence

Types of support:How can we develop the paragraph?yp pp

1- Example: a specific instance that explains a more general ideageneral idea

2- Details: particular part of or characteristic of a whole thing or idea

3- Facts: an objectively verifiable idea3 Facts: an objectively verifiable idea

4- Statistics: Numerical fact about a subject

5- Anecdotes: Short entertaining account of some happening (a lengthy example)pp g ( g y p )

Examples: Common Diseases

Allergy to heatSkin problemsRespiratory problemsRespiratory problems…………..

Details: Parts of a car

HoodTrunkWindshieldWindshieldGearsPedals………

Facts: Poverty

Government reportYour observationsSocial organizationsSocial organizations…………….

Statistics: FemaleStatistics: Female Discrimination

92 of my friends20 percent of the population1/3 of the girls1/3 of the girls………………..

Anecdotes: HealthAnecdotes: Health

An apple a dayThe city of no doctorsSth about the value of healthSth about the value of health

Closing sentence

What is the closing sentence?The closing sentence is the lastThe closing sentence is the last sentence in a paragraph. What does it do?What does it do?It restates the main idea of your paragraphparagraph. How do I write one?Restate the main idea of the paragraphRestate the main idea of the paragraph using different words.

Sentence connectors

What are they?

Sentence connectors provide connectionSentence connectors provide connection between sentences. If you use sentence connectors, the ideas in a paragraph willconnectors, the ideas in a paragraph will flow smoothly from one sentence to the nextnext.

Sentence connectors

Look at this text again and see how the sentences t dare connected:

Why I want to Learn EnglishThere are three reasons why I want to learn English. One

reason is that English has become an international language. It is now used by most international companies, including the company where I work, for business communication. Another reason why I

t t l E li h i th t I t l t E li h kiwant to learn English is so that I can travel to English-speaking countries. The United States, England, Australia and many other countries all use English as their primary language. Finally, I want to learn English because I plan to move to the U S in the future Ito learn English because I plan to move to the U.S. in the future. I will become a manager for my company soon. For all thesereasons, I am very excited about learning English.

How to startFollow this procedure:

Think of the topic sentenceWhat are the supporting sentences?What are the supporting sentences? Write them down.Thi k f th l i tThink of the closing sentence.Think of the connecting words which will link sentences into a nice whole.Write the paragraph (50-80 words)g ( )

Types of paragraphs

Classification paragraph (grouping things id )or ideas)

Description paragraph (describing people, p p g p ( g p pplaces, things - what they are like)Explanation/evaluation (how or whyExplanation/evaluation (how or why something happens, making judgements)Compare/contrast (similarities orCompare/contrast (similarities or differences between something)S ( d ibi )Sequence (e.g. describing a proces)

Paragraph Characteristics

Unity: All the sentences should developonly one main idea ;no irrelevantsentence should be includedsentence should be included.

Coherence: All the sentences should be hooked to each other just likerings of chain It is achievedrings of chain .It is achievedby connectors.

Emphasis : The ideas should belogically ordered or arrangedarranged.

Completeness :The ideas should bedeveloped sufficiently

ith t h,neither too much nortoo little.

Final Point

Can we compare a paragraph to a computer?

Paragraph Structural Componentsg p pCharacteristics

Computer HardwareSoftware

THANK YOU

J.ASGARI