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Paragraph length and structure
- 1. PARAGRAPH LENGTH AND STRUCTURE
- 2. DEFINITION- A paragraphis a group of sentences that introduces, presents, develops and winds up one main idea on a topic Has one controlling idea Has a group of sentences rather than ideas Understand the essential components of a para.
- 3. VARIETY, THE SPICEOF LIFE The model structure of the paragraph is like the basic design of a cabinet or dress, or like a favourite recipe. Once you have mastered it, you can vary it to suit your purpose and audience.
- 4. STRUCTURE OF APARAGRAPH- Topic Sentence/Introducer Supporting details/Developers The Concluding Sentence/ Terminator
- 5. TOPIC SENTENCE- Thesentence that introduces the main idea in a paragraph. Purpose is To provide and emphasize the core idea that runs throughout the paragraph. To guide the readers what it is all about So it performs two major functions: Structural- describes the shape of the argument INTRODUCER Interpretive- offers a conclusion/reaction/feeling Mostly it appears in the beginning of the paragraph or towards the end. It can also be seen hidden somewhere in the middle of the passage.
- 6. SUPPORTING IDEA Thetopic sentence is then developed by the supporting ideas. ILLUSTRATION The supporting idea is developed with an illustration. THE CONCLUDING STATEMENT A concluding sentence ties up the thoughts and drives home the main idea.
- 7. PARAGRAPH LENGTH Aparagraph rarely has only one sentence. Usually it has three to eight sentences of varying lengths, all focused on one main idea.
- 8. TYPES OF PARAGRAPHS • For our purposes, here are the basic types of paragraphs: •Narrative • Exposition •Descriptive • Persuasive • Analysis • Argument • Comparison- Contrast • Illustration – demonstrates the main idea by providing examples • Problem and Solution
- 9. NARRATIVE • Tellsa story •Uses specific details • Is not a mere listing of events- it has characters, setting, conflict, and resolution • Time and place are usually established •Usually chronologically organized
- 10. Exposition Expository paragraphshave a definite structure that helps to organise complicated thoughts logically. Their structure makes it explain things. The expository paragraph structure encourages • prioritise your ideas • find support for these ideas • order that support so that it makes sense.
- 11. Description Series ofdetailed observations Usually not used by itself, but rather as a part of a whole The challenge is to make it interesting USE • Imagery • Sensory details; five senses • Similes, metaphors
- 12. PERSUASIVE •Uses directapproach • “Believe me and do it!” • Calls reader to action or to take a stand on an important issue •More than just opinion is needed; information, analysis, and context must be given to the reader to let him/her make a decision
- 13. ANALYSIS/ CAUSE &EFFECT Examines a subject by evaluating one of its aspects by weighing evidence and possible casual linkages The object of analysis is to get to the centre of how something works
- 14. COMPARISON & CONTRAST Brings out both the similarities and differences of two subjects together to develop the main idea of the paragraph
- 15. Unity-means each paragraphhas a single focus and details that support only that focus. - In other words it refers to the extent to which all of the sentences and ideas hang together in a way that is easy for the reader to understand. - It should be a unified whole and not disjointed / unrelated sentences
- 16. Cohesion and Coherence- Provide a smooth flow to the text. While cohesion refers to grammatical and lexical links that connect one part of the text to the other (mechanical link at the language level), coherence links the meanings and sequences of ideas to one another (text making sense at the level of ideas). It means the paragraph is easy for the reader to understand.
- 17. Cohesion Cohesion isachieved using four basic mechanical considerations in providing transitions between ideas: Use of pronouns- Repetition of key words or phrases Use of transitional tags- using and, but, nor, for, so, therefore, hence, however, etc. Use of parallel grammatical structure- either/or, not only/ but also, etc. Coherence Coherence can be created through clear organization strategies, such as order of importance, spatial order, chronological order, or logical order. These methods of organization may overlap and be used in combination.
- 18. PARAGRAPH : DEVELOPMENT • Ideas should describe, explain, support the topic sentence • Three to five sentences all clarifying and supporting the main idea of the paragraph • Use examples, statistics, definition, analogy– to develop the main idea • Provide transition from one paragraph to the other
- 19. PARAGRAPH : PATTERNS • Inductive : specific to general • Deductive : general to specific • Spatial : emphasizes visual description • Linear : sequential fashion • Chronological : order of appearance in time
- 20. INDUCTIVE PATTERN •Sentences move from specific to general ideas. • The individual supporting ideas appear one by one and in the end they ultimately lead to the general statement containing the core idea. • The writer induces examples, specific details, etc. that logically lead to a conclusion in the form of the topic sentence. • The topic sentence comes at the end
- 21. DEDUCTIVE PATTERN •Reverse of the inductive method • The core idea is stated in the first sentence, which is the topic sentence of the paragraph • From this sentence, the author deduces or infers its implications and reasons out through specific examples, details, etc.
- 22. COMPARE/CONTRAST PARAGRAPH •Compare/contrast paragraphs discuss specific ways in which items or ideas are similar AND different. • The things being compared must share some common elements. • Each major point made must be discussed for both. Spatial method • Spatial organization explains how things are physically located compared to other things. • Spatial organization transitional words are used to tell the location of one object by referring to another object
- 23. LINEAR A linearparagraph consists of a groups of sentences that work together to get a point across. Linear paragraphs are structured with a topic sentence that focuses the argument, two or three main points and a brief conclusion. Linear logical order refers to a systematic order as a line. One idea logically leads to another idea in a natural way CHRONOLOGICAL Chronological organization refers to the narration of events in the order in which they occur in time.