Introduction to the Paragraph

Introductionto the

Paragraph

Introduction to the Paragraph Ms. Cindy E. Amarillo

What is a

PARAGRAPHIntroduction to the Paragraph

Ms. Cindy E. Amarillo

Composed of group of sentences

expressing one central idea.

Paragraph


What does a paragraph

look like on the page?


_________________________________________________________________________________________.

___________________________________________________.

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1 paragraph, 1 indention!

Indicates where the paragraph

begins.


What is the difference between a

paragraph and a composition?


• part of a composition.• group of

related sentences.• Shorter, and

less complex

• group of related paragraphs.• broader, and

more complex

Paragraph vs. Composition


Word

Sentence

Paragraph

Composition/ ChapterBook


How long is a

paragraph?


“The paragraph should be neither so short that the subject of the paragraph is underdeveloped and insufficiently explained, nor so long that it tends to break down into too many subtopics that would be better organized into separate paragraphs.”


Paragraph length varies according to place and purpose as well as idea.

NewspapersNovels

TextbooksCollege compositions


How is a paragraph

Organized or Developed?


The paragraph should…

1. contain only ONE CENTRAL IDEA2. have UNITY3. have COHERENCE and CONTINUITY

4. be ADEQUATELY DEVELOPED


1. THE PARAPGRAPH SHOULD CONTAIN ONLY ONE CENTRAL IDEA

Limiting a paragraph is like taking a snapshot with a small camera.

a. LIMIT the Paragraph!



Groupie SelfieIntroduction to the Paragraph Ms. Cindy E. Amarillo

Make your picture a small portrait (selfie)!

Like a small portrait, the paragraph should be limited to one part of a subject. Selfie


Suppose you are asked to write something about your house in a paragraph. You cannot tell all about your house. The subject is too big!

You only have to select a part of the house (or a room) to discuss in a paragraph.



Example My favorite chair is ugly, but I

love it. It is a recliner. Because it is shapeless, heavy, and covered with horrible material, it is an eyesore in my living room. However, it is so comfortable that I would not trade it for the finest piece of furniture I might ever hope to own. There


is nothing quite so delightful after a hard day at work as sinking my weary body into that chair. With my back eased into it and my feet eased up from it, I am in heaven. I notice other people like that chair, too. Whenever I have company, the first chair everybody heads for is my ugly, lovely recliner.


The more deeply you gointo a subject, the morethe paragraph must be

narrowed down orlimited.



Focusing the paragraph is also like taking a good picture. Like the

picture, the paragraph must have a center of interest that is obvious

and unmistakable.

b. FOCUS the Paragraph!


The closer you get to the subject, the more you see in it.

The closer you get to the subject in the paragraph, the more you see to discuss, and consequently the more the subject must be narrowed if you want to discuss in one paragraph all that you see.


My father’s face is rough. His complexion is leathery and wrinkled. There are large pores in the skin that covers his nose and cheeks. His nose, broken twice in his life, makes him look like a boxer who has too many fights. His mouth, unless he smiles, looks hard and threatening. His chin is massive and angular. Shaved or not, my father’s face is rugged.

Example


I want to talk about my father. He is strict with his children, especially me. he won’t let me out of the house unless I’ve done all my homework. He is tall and rather skinny man. Some people say he is good-looking. He has a nice streak of gray in his hair. He laughs a lot and enjoys life. My father is interesting.

Example


2. THE PARAPGRAPH SHOULD HAVE UNITY

UNITY means the paragraph should be of one piece, a distinct unit that

has one fundamental purpose. Remember that even though the paragraph is a subdivision or part

of a larger unit, it should be complete in itself.


2. THE PARAPGRAPH SHOULD HAVE UNITY

should not be a fragmentIt should be a whole, complete

unit, understandable whether it stands alone or is combined with other parts to form a larger whole.

Stick to the subject!Introduction to the Paragraph


My father is strict with his children, especially me. He won’t let me out of the house unless I’ve done all my homework. Frankly, I don’t care whether I go to school or not. School is such a waste of time. There aren’t any good jobs, anyway. My mother doesn’t agree with my father. They quarrel a lot. Sometimes I wish they would get a divorce, but then who would I live in?

Example

Stick to the subject!


3. THE PARAPGRAPH SHOULD HAVE COHERENCE AND CONTINUITY

COHERENCE means that the parts of

the paragraph should be logically

arranged and connected.

A coherent paragraph is like

a properly assembled

motor; with all the parts in the right places, the motor can run. Introduction to the Paragraph



CONTINUITY means that

the connection of the parts should be smooth.

Continuity is like an oil that lubricates

the operation, making it smooth

and preventing the motor from burning out.


To be coherent, one must have order and

sequence. The order or sequence that is logical depends on the nature of the

subject to be discussed.


To get out of their textbooks, students should follow several steps carefully. They should make a survey of each book to get a general idea of what the book contains. They should read for understanding and formulate questions. They should make notes of the major points of each chapter. They should test themselves to be sure they can answer questions likely to be raised in class and in examinations. They should review their notes and reread any parts of the book that are unclear to them.

Example



The previous example is coherent, but is not as smooth as it might be.

Let’s look at the paragraph again, with

added continuity. Introduction to the Paragraph


To get out of their textbooks, students should follow several steps carefully. First, they should make a preliminary survey of each book to get a general idea of what the book contains. Second, they should read for deeper understanding and formulate questions as they read. Next, they should make notes of the major points of each chapter. After that, they should test themselves to be sure they can answer questions likely to be raised in class and in examinations. Finally, they should review their notes and reread any parts of the book that are unclear to them.

Example



Continuity is added by the underlined words, which

provide TRANSITION.

TRANSITIONAL WORDS/PHRASESPermit easy passage throughout the paragraph by showing the relationship

between one sentence/thought and another.

Make the sequence of ideas within the paragraph clearer, and they make the

paragraph clear and easy to read.

4. THE PARAPGRAPH SHOULD BE ADEQUATELY DEVELOPED

The paragraph should do fully what it sets out to do. It should

not leave the job half-done.

The degree of development depends on the aim or purpose of

the paragraph.


INTRODUCTION

DISCUSSION

CONCLUSION

3 basicparts



INTRODUCTION - the topic sentence (indicate what you will talk about the paragraph)

DISCUSSION- you have to talk about the topic

CONCLUSION- complete your discussion, often referring to your main point stated in the

introduction. Introduction to the Paragraph


or

The paragraph MUST have PROPER PROPORTION in its three main parts.


INTRODUCTION

DISCUSSION

CONCLUSION

INTRODUCTION

DISCUSSION

CONCLUSION


INTRODUCTION

DISCUSSION

CONCLUSIONIntroduction to the Paragraph


The best way to develop a paragraph is to be specific rather than general.


GENERALIZATION

MORE SPECIFIC

MORE SPECIFIC (S)

MORE SPECIFIC (S)

The best way to develop a paragraph is to be specific rather than general.


discuss one thing in definite, exact, precise detail

do not discuss many things vaguely (you should develop it by becoming more by becoming more and more

specific, narrowing down your subject, and saying exactly what you mean)

GENERALIZATION

MORE SPECIFIC

MORE SPECIFIC (S)

MORE SPECIFIC (S)

Example…(1)City College should have a new campus for

three major reasons. First, the present campus is absolutely no space left for additional expansion. Second, the campus is an ugly improvisation of old high school buildings and flimsy, boxlike portables that fail to create a collegiate atmosphere. Third, the equipment in such department as science, art, and physical education is completely inadequate for the needs of college students. There are other strong arguments for a new campus, but these are three of the most outstanding

Example…(1)

The previews paragraph stands back somewhat from its subject, giving an overall view of it. Although it gives some specifics, it does not go into great or fine detail.


Example…(2)City College is completely overcrowded. The

lack of space is apparent in all parts of the campus. The classrooms are so jammed that students feel like sardines, and some of them have to sit in the floor. The library and study rooms are so packed that many students must study in the halls and stairways. The cafeteria so bulges with bodies that students go hungry or lose their appetites. Every inch of the campus is so overcrowded that it looks more like a bargain basement than a place for higher learning.

Example…(2)

The paragraph moves in a little closer to its subject, making more detail possible and necessary.

GENERALIZATION

MORE SPECIFIC

MORE SPECIFIC (S)

MORE SPECIFIC (S)


Example…(3)The cafeteria at crowded City College is one of the most overworked places on the campus. The service line is frequently so long that a student gives up the idea of eating altogether. If she is patient enough to wait for food, she is lucky if she can find a place to eat it before she wears it. If she is particularly agile, she may work her way through the masses to a spot where she eat it before it’s cold. Once seated, however, she is likely to find the atmosphere so choked with other bodies, noise, and dead air, that she loses her appetite. She cannot easy easily sip away at that point, either. Wedging her way out of the cafeteria, she discovers, she discovers, is a miserable a matter as working her way in.

You should keep in mind that the closer you move into or go into a subject, the more the paragraph should be narrowed down or limited and that, likewise, the more the paragraph is narrowed down, or limited, the more it must go into detail.


Your paragraph will be clear and enjoyable to read if you follow the ff:

1. Indent the paragraph – once only!2. The paragraph should be neither too short

nor too long; make it approximately 8-12 sentences I length.

3. Organize and develop your paragraph carefully.

REMEMBER that the paragraph should:• contain one central idea only• have unity, coherence, continuity, and

adequate development.

SUMMARY


Introduction to the Paragraph

Education

Transcript of Introduction to the Paragraph