Paragraph Writing A paragraph is a group of sentences consisting of a topic sentence, sentences of development (body) and a concluding sentence.

nce. Choose a subject you know something about. Use a series of short sentences, each containing one idea. A paragraph should contain a minimum of three sentences of development.

Topic Sentence The topic sentence establishes the purpose of the paragraph by stating the main or controlling idea about a certain subject. Subject: what you are talking about Controlling idea: what you say about the subject. The topic sentence works best as the first sentence in the paragraph. Subject & Controlling Idea Deal with only one subject narrow enough to be covered in 8 to 10 sentences Narrow the scope to paragraph length. Choose a subject you are comfortable with (have ideas to support). Examine and explore options. Jot down different approaches. Exercise: Narrow the following broad subjects, making them suitable for a paragraph. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Jobs Business College Cars Politics Once you have a subject, covert your topic into a topic sentence by choosing the controlling idea (the main statement you wish to make about your subject).

Example: A reading habit has many advantages. Now, select information that will support the idea of advantages. These ideas become the body of your paragraph.

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Bracket and label the subject (S) and controlling idea (CI) in the following topic sentences. 1. 2. 3. 4. A gasoline carburetor functions better at night. The coastal area offers many recreational activities. Architecture interests me. Safety rules are established for a purpose. Focus the topic sentence. Make sure it is not too broad or too narrow.

Example: The computer has a color monitor. (Too narrow) Computers have changed greatly over the last two decades. (Too broad) A home computer can perform several helpful functions. (Well focused) One thing to consider is the choice of words for the controlling idea. Words such as nice, interesting, and bad are usually ineffective because they lack specific meaning. Use a thesaurus for synonyms.

Concluding Sentence Remind the reader of what you set out to do. Restate the main idea of the topic sentence using different words to avoid repetition. If the paragraph has at least three main points, you may use a summary technique to conclude. Example: Topic sentence: Restatement type: Summary type: Exercise routines should be carefully planned for best results. Therefore, exercise can be beneficial if some basic guidelines are followed. As you can see, proper supervision, good eating habits, and strict routines can produce excellent outcomes for the exercise enthusiast.

Developing Unity Each sentence must contribute to the support or proof of the controlling idea. Developing Coherence Logical connection between ideas order or sequence of ideas. Use transitional expressions linking words to show relationship between ideas.

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