Unit 5 How to Write a Paragraph

7/30/2019 Unit 5 How to Write a Paragraph

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Introducing the Paragraph

Written by Hai Nguyen


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Introduction

Theme Reasons for writing

Goals

- to write a paragraph

- to understand the parts of a paragraph

- to understand the characteristics of aparagraph

- to understand and do the writing process

- to begin a writing journal


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The parts ofa paragraph

In academic writing

A paragraph is a small unit of writing that focuses on

one idea. This one idea is explained and developedin the paragraph. The first line of each paragraph isindented. The indentation signals the beginning of anew paragraph.

A paragraph generally has three parts:

a topic sentence

support

a conclusion.


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Sample

Parents can help their children be successful in school byencouraging them. Children usually enjoy playing gamesinstead of studying their boring lessons, so parents have to takethe responsibility to monitor their studying and to remind themto do their homework at home after school. Parents should alsoencourage their children to study by buying story books withpictures, or they can buy text books or tapes that help childrenlearn to spell or read. The best way to encourage children to

study efficiently is to reward them when they get an "A." As achild, I experienced this. My parents gave me a gift if I hadstudied well, and then I was very excited. So. if parents reallywant their children to succeed in school. they need to payattention to their children's studies and encourage them. *

-Truong Dinh


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The Topic Sentence

The topic sentence is the main-idea

sentence. It is the most general and mostimportant sentence of the paragraph.

It tells the following:

the topic - what the paragraph is about

the controlling idea- the writer's

attitude or idea about the topic


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The controlling idea

l is a word or phrase that focuses or

controls the information in the rest of the

paragraph. The reader can ask questionsabout the controlling idea and expect to

have them answered in the paragraph


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Analyze

In the paragraph above, the topic sentence is thefollowing:

Parents can help their children be successful in schoolby encouraging them.

The topic of the sentence is how parents can helpchildren succeed in school;the controlling idea is

encouraging. The reader might ask the followingquestions and expect the paragraph to answer them:

How can parents encourage their children?

What specific things should parents do to encouragetheir children?

How will this encouragement lead to success?


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Support

The support in a paragraph explains ordevelops the topic sentence. The supporting

part can be narratives, details, facts,

examples, explanation, or statistics. All of

the support relates to the main idea stated inthe topic sentence and shows why the topicsentence is true.


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Here is a brief list of

the support

Topic Sentence:Parents can help their children be successful inschool by encouraging them.

Support:

1. Parents can encourage children by reminding

them to do their homework.2. Parents can encourage children by buying thembooks and tapes to help them learn.

3. Parents can encourage children by rewardingthem.


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Conclusion

The conclusion of a paragraph summarizes

or comments on the main idea. In a one-paragraph composition, the conclusion is one

or two sentences. Often, the concluding

sentences close the paragraph byreturning tothe main idea of the paragraph. They do this

by repeating a key word or phrase from thetopic sentence


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Conclusion

Topic Sentence:

Parents can help their children be successful inschool by encouraging them.

Concluding Sentence:

So, if parents really want their children to

succeed in school, they need to pay attention to

their children's studies and encourage them.


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Reminder

Sometimes in the concluding sentences, the writerdoes not

use the exact key words from the topic sentence butrephrases them, using other words that mean the samething. This gives some variety to the paragraph. Notice how

the key words in the topic sentence above could be

rephrased: Concluding Sentence:

Parents who want their children to do their best in school must

support and pay attention to them.

In this concluding sentence, do their bestmeans the same as

succeedand supportmeans the same as encourage.


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Unity

One characteristic of a good paragraph is unity.

In a unified paragraph, all the sentences relateto the topic and develop the controlling

idea. If a sentence or idea in a paragraph does

not relate to the main idea, the paragraph lacksunity. The sentences that do not relate to the

main idea should be taken out of the paragraph

and perhaps developed in another paragraph.


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Coherence

Another important characteristic of a good

paragraph is coherence. In a coherentparagraph, the ideas are arranged logically.The ideas and sentences are in an order that

makes sense to the reader. If the ideas are

logically arranged, the reader can easily followthe progression of ideas. He or she can quickly

understand the main idea and follow the writer's

thinking.


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Coherence

Which of the two following paragraphs ispreferable? Why?

A. Pizza, which is made with flour, yeast, saltand water. Pizza can be compared with Greekand Middle Eastern flat breads, but it is most

firmly associated with Naples in ItalyB. Pizza is made with flour, yeast, salt andwater. Pizza can be compared with Greek andMiddle Eastern flat breads. Pizza is most firmly

associated with Naples in Italy.


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Thanks for attention!

Designed by Anh Tuan

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Unit 5 How to Write a Paragraph