PARAGRAPH

DEVELOPMENT
BBI2412 WRITING FOR ACADEMIC PURPOSES

Three parts of
paragraph:

Topic sentence (it has a controlling idea)

Supporting sentences
Concluding sentence

Topic Sentence
The most important sentence in the paragraph.
It states the topic and the controlling idea of the
paragraph.
Three important points to be remember about a topic
sentence:
1.A topic sentence is a complete sentence
2.It controls or guides the whole paragraph. When you
read the topic sentence, you know what to expect in a
paragraph.
3.Topic sentence contains topic and controlling idea.
4.The most general statement in the paragraph because
it gives only the main idea.
5.A good topic sentence is not too general nor too
specific.

Topic Sentence
A good topic sentence is not too general nor
too specific.
E.g.
Tea is delicious = TOO GENERAL
Green tea has many health benefits = GOOD
topic sentence.
By the third century AD many stories were
being told and some written about tea and the
benefits of tea drinking, but it was not until
the Tang Dynasty (618 AD - 906 AD) that tea
became China's national drink and the word
ch'a was used to describe tea. = TOO SPECIFIC

Controlling idea
A good topic sentence has controlling ideas=
words or phrases that help guide the flow of ideas
in the paragraph.
Controlling idea limits the topic to a specific area
to be discussed in the space of a single paragraph
Example:
Deceptive advertising can cost consumers both
their money and their time.

Controlling idea
Convenience foods are easy to prepare.
Malik is popular due to several reasons.
A university education helps in career
advancement.

Controlling idea
The best season for kids is winter,
- the reader expects the paragraph to give
reasons and examples why winter is the best
season for children.
Football is popular for many reasons.
-the readers expects the paragraph to give a
variety of information about football and why it is
popular around the world.

Supporting
Sentence/Point

Supporting sentences are the facts and ideas that

explain or prove the topic sentence or the main
idea.
It presents details, facts, examples, quotes, and
arguments that support the main idea.
In each supporting sentence/point, there are
details that support the sentence.

Topic Sentence: Animals living in modern zoos enjoyed

several advantages.
S.S. 1 : The first advantage is that zoo animals are separated from
their
predators.
Detail= They are protected, so they live without risk of being
attacked.
S.S. 2: Another advantage is that someone feeds them regularly,
so they
do not have to hunt for food.
Detail= Also, they do not suffer times when food is hard to find.
S.S. 3: A third advantage is that veterinarians give animals regular
checkups.
Detail= Sick animals get prompt medical attention.
Concluding Sentence:
In conclusion, because all their needs are taken care of, most zoo
animals are healthy and contented.

Supporting
Sentence/Point
Write 3 supporting sentences for each of the topic
sentences below:
1.Owning a small car has several advantages.
2.A good friend has three important qualities.
3.A college education is important for some reasons.

Concluding Sentence
It signals the end of paragraph
It is the last sentence of the paragraph.
It should summarize what has already been said
and leaves the reader with the most important
ideas to remember.
Conclude the paragraph by summarizing the main
points of the paragraph or repeating/paraphrase
the topic sentence in different words.

Conclusion signals

In conclusion, ___________________
In short, ____________________
To summarize, _______________
To conclude, ________________
In brief, ____________________
In summary, _________________
To sum up, __________________
It is clear that ________________

 Topic Sentence:________________________________________________.
Supporting Sentence:
A._______________________________________.
Supporting Detail: 1._________________________.
Supporting Detail: 2._________________________.
Supporting Sentence:
B._______________________________________.
Supporting Detail: 1._________________________.
Supporting Detail: 2._________________________.
Supporting Sentence:
C._______________________________________.
Supporting Detail: 1.
_________________________.
Supporting Detail: 2.
_________________________.
Concluding Sentence
:___________________________________________.

Cause and Effect

Paragraph
Cause/effect paragraphs generally follow basic
paragraph format.
They begin with a topic sentence and this
sentence is followed by supporting sentences.
A cause and effect paragraph can be organized in
three ways:
1.Identify the effect in the topic sentence and write
about its causes; or
2.Write about the cause in the topic sentence and
write about its effects.
3.Talk about causes followed by the effects of each
cause.

Cause/Effect Paragraph
Writing

Block Organization
- A short paragraph often separates one major
section from another major section.
Chain Organization
- Causes and effects are linked to each other in
a chain.
- One event causes the second event and so on.
- Chain organization works better when the
causes and effects are too closely linked to be
separated.

Basic Paragraph Outline

Topic Sentence
Supporting Sentence 1
Supporting Sentence 2
Supporting Sentence 3

Concluding Sentence

Cause and Effect Paragraph

Outline
Writing about CAUSES
Topic Sentence: Statement of the effect
and overview of the causes
Cause 1
Cause 2
Cause 3
Concluding Sentence: Restatement of
effect, summary of all causes

Sample Paragraph 1
There are several reasons why cities have grown so large that
now about 50% of the Earth's population lives in urban areas. a)First, the
increasing industrialization of the nineteenth century resulted in the
creation of many factory jobs, which tended to be located in cities. b)
These jobs, with their promise of a better material life, attracted many
people from rural areas. c)Second, there were many schools established
to educate the children of the new factory laborers. d)The promise of a
better education persuaded many families to leave farming communities
and move to the cities. e)Finally, as the cities grew, people established
places of leisure, entertainment, and culture, such as sports stadiums,
theaters, and museums. f)For many people, these facilities made city life
appear more interesting than life on the farm, and therefore drew them
away from rural communities. In short, 50% of Earth population live in
the city because of better jobs, better education and better
entertainment.

Cause and Effect Paragraph

Outline
Writing about EFFECTS
Topic Sentence: Statement of the cause
and overview of the effects
Effect 1
Effect 2
Effect 3
Concluding Sentence: Restatement of
cause, summary of all effects

Sample paragraph 2
The are many things that cause a person to drink alcohol;
however, there are three negative effects that derive from dinking
too many alcoholic beverages. (b) First of all, alcohol causes liver
damage because your body cannot constantly expel all the toxins
that alcohol contains. (c) For example, my uncle was an excessive
drinker, and he died from liver failure. The doctors said his liver
gave out from all the alcohol. (d) Another effect of alcohol is brain
damage. Alcohol kills brains cells, which decreases your memory.
(e) For instance, my friends father is an alcoholic of over 20 years.
Well, his father always forgets peoples names and conversations
that he just had. (f) Finally, alcohol destroys relationships because it
can emotionally and sometimes physically hurt the people who are
around the drinker. (g) To illustrate, I watched a movie about a man
who drink so much that he would come home and beat his wife and
kids. (h) To sum up, liver damage, brain damage, and relationship
damage are the three negative effects of drinking alcohol.

Cause and Effect Paragraph (Chain

Organization)
Topic Sentence
Cause 1
Effect 1
Cause 2
Effect 2
Cause 3
Effect 3
Concluding Sentence

Hot Weather

CAUSE: high body temperature

EFFECTS: the body sweats; the body loses water
CAUSE: muscle pain
EFFECTS: many people feel tired, weak
CAUSE: loss of body water; feeling tired, weak
EFFECTS: serious illness

Cause/Effect Signal words and

Phrases (Refer to text book
page 101 & 102)
for
because
since
as
to result from
to be the result of
due to
because of
the effect of
the consequence of
as a result of
as a consequence of

as a result
as a consequence
therefore
thus
consequently
hence
so
to result in
to cause
to have an effect on
to affect
the cause of
the reason for
thereby