PARAGRAPH

A paragraph is defined as a group of sentences that develops one main idea; in other
words, a paragraph develops a topic.
A topic is the subject of the paragraph; it is what the paragraph is about.
Topic sentence.
The topic of a paragraph is usually introduced in a sentence; this sentence is called the
topic sentence. However, the topic sentence can do more than introduce the subject of the
sentence. A good topic sentence also serves to state an idea or an attitude about the topic.
This idea or attitude about the topic is called the controlling idea; it controls what the
sentences in the paragraph will discuss.
All sentences in the paragraph should relate to and develop the controlling idea.
Example:
Another way to reduce the rate of inflation is to balance the national budget. (topic
sentence)
way to reduce the rate of inflation (the topic in the sentence)
balance the national budget (controlling idea)
The controlling idea should be clear and focused on a particular aspect.
Drinking coffee is bad. (topic sentence)
drinking coffee (the topic in a sentence)
bad (controlling idea)
This sentence has a topic (drinking coffee) and a controlling idea (bad) but they are
vague.
In what way is coffee bad? For whom or hat is it bad? Is drinking a little coffee bad, or is
drinking a lot of coffee bad?
As you see the, this topic sentence leaves a lot of questions that probably cannot be
answered effectively in one paragraph.
The sentence needs more focus and that focus can come from the controlling idea:
Drinking over four cups of coffee a day can be harmful to pregnant women. Topic
sentence)
drinking over four cups of coffee a day (the topic in a sentence)
harmful to pregnant women (controlling idea)
A topic sentence serves to introduce the topic and the controlling idea.
Generally because the topic sentence does introduce, it is a good idea to place it at or near
the beginning of the paragraph.

1. Prewriting: Planning
To generate more notes at this stage, you may find it useful to ask WH- questions.
The answers to these questions will serve as a foundation for the support of your
paragraph.
This material is used to support the opinion or attitude expressed in your topic sentence.
It serves to back up, clarify, illustrate, explain or prove the point you make in your topic
sentence. Most often we use factual detail to support a point. Such detail may include
facts from resource material such as magazines, journals and books or details about
things you or others have observed. Basically, support comes from the information you
used to arrive at the view you have expressed in your topic sentence.
The type of sentence which summarizes the main idea in a paragraph is called the
concluding sentence. Not all paragraphs need concluding sentences but they are useful
for ending the development of the support smoothly.
1. Generating Ideas
i. Brainstorming
A brainstorm is a sudden insight or connection. Brainstorming is a way to associate ideas
and stimulate thinking. To brainstorm, start with a word or phrase and let your thoughts
go in whatever direction they will. Write a list of ideas as quickly as possible, putting
down whatever comes to mind without looking back or organizing. After that see if any
of the ideas are related and can be grouped. If so, the groupings suggest a topic of
support. You can adopt this strategy for your essay.
ii. Free writing
Free writing is writing without stopping. It means writing whatever comes to your mind
without worrying about whether the ideas are good or the grammar is correct. Its purpose
is to free up your mind to let it make associations and connections. Write them as they
come to you. After you have finished, reread what you have written and look for
interesting ideas or insights that might be useful to you in your writing.
iii. WH Questions
When newspaper reporters write articles, they try to answer the following questions in the
first sentence of their report: who, what, when, where, why and sometimes how. You can
use this same questions to generate material for your writing. Asking these questions
allow you to see your topic from different points of view AND MAY HELP TO
CLARIFY YOUR POSITION ON THE TOPIC. To use this technique, write out as many
WH-questions as you can. Then answer them as fully as you can.

iv. Clustering
Clustering is making a visual map of your ideas. It frees you from following a strictly
linear sequence; thus it may allow you to think more creatively and make new
associations. Begin this technique by circling your topic and then draw a line out from
this circle and write an idea associated with it. Circle this idea and from it draw lines and
write ideas associated with it. Continue to map or cluster until you cannot think of any
more ideas. When you have finished, study your map to find new associations about your
topic and see the relationship of ideas.
2. Unity
Each sentence within a paragraph should relate to the topic and develop the controlling
idea. If any sentence does not relate to or develop the area, it is irrelevant and should be
omitted from the paragraph- it lacks unity.
Example of a paragraph that lacks unity:
Another problem facing a number of elderly people is living on a reduced income. Upon
retiring, old people may receive a pension from their company or Social Security from
the government. The amount of their monthly cheques is often half the amount of the
cheques the received when they were employed. Suddenly, retirees find that they can no
longer continue the lifestyle that they had become accustomed to, even if that lifestyle
was a modest one. Many find, after paying their monthly bills, that there is no money left
or a movie or a dinner out. Of course, sometimes they cant go out because of their
health. Maybe they have arthritis or rheumatism, and it is painful for them to move
around. This can also change their lifestyle. Some older people, however, discover that
the amount of money they receive will not even cover their monthly bills. They realize
with horror that electricity, a telephone and nourishing food are luxuries they can no
longer afford. They resort to shivering in the dark , eating little food to make ends meet.
Another problem facing a number of elderly people (topic of this paragraph)
Living on a reduced income ( controlling idea)
All of the sentences should deal with the idea of the problem of living on a reduced
income.
Three sentences that do not discuss this topic:
1. Of course , sometimes they cant go out because of their health.
2. Maybe they have arthritis or rheumatism and it is painful for them to move
around.
3. This can also change their lifestyle.
3. Coherence
A coherence paragraph contains sentences that are logically arranged and that flow
smoothly.

Logical arrangement refers to the order of your sentences which vary depending on your
purpose. Sometimes you remember something that you wanted to say earlier and include
it as you write. Unfortunately this sentence ends up out of place.
Smooth flow refers to how well one idea or sentence leads to another. Smooth flow can
be achieved through sentence combining and through the use of certain expressions,
called transitions, which provide the links between the ideas. Some transitional
expressions include for example, to begin with, in contrast, however, also.
The expressions another, also, in addition and finally bridge the gaps in ideas.
Combining sentences and adding transitions make the ideas and sentences easier to
follow. Coherence is an important quality of writing.

ESSAY
Unlike the paragraph, the essay is a more formal composition. Each paragraph in
an essay has a designated function:
1. Introduction
The introduction is usually one paragraph that introduces the topic to be discussed
and the central idea (thesis statement ) of the essay.
2. Developmental paragraphs
These paragraphs develop various aspects of the topic and the central idea.
They may discuss causes, effects, reasons, examples, processes, clarifications
or points of comparison and contrast. They may also describe or narrate.
3. Conclusion
This paragraph concludes the thought developed in the essay. It is the closing
sentence.
EDITING
Once you are satisfied with the content, you will want to turn your attention to the
form, with how you expressed your ideas. At this point, you may need to rephrase or
edit some of your sentences. Rephrase sentences that are not clear or nor precise.
Then you check your sentences to make sure they are grammatically and
mechanically correct.
As a last step, proofread your paper. Read the paper to find any errors in grammar,
spelling, mechanics or punctuations.