UNIT IV-THE PARAGRAPH

Module 1

Definition and Parts of a Paragraph

Learning Outcomes

Define paragraph briefly

Identify the three parts of a paragraph
Develop an effective topic and concluding sentence
Evaluate the effectiveness of a paragraph
Write an effective paragraph

Brainstorm
Writing is a very important communication skill not only inside but also outside the
school. Cinco and Habana say that fluency in writing is very important (2011). It is therefore
essential for a student to possess writing skills proficiency. Yet, acquiring these skills takes time
and practice in writing. How about you, do you want to be a proficient writer too? Well then, get
ready to be one!

Delve Deeper
Etymologically, the English word paragraph is of Greek origin: from the words para
(beyond/beside) and graphein (to write). Basically, it means a group of related sentences. The
first line being indented or moved in, a paragraph is easy to recognize.
Generally, there are two types of paragraphs: 1) the standard paragraph and 2) special
purpose paragraphs.

Standard Paragraph
Authors define standard paragraph as a group of sentences that discusses one idea. It
always contains the three essential parts: topic sentence, body and concluding sentence. There
is no definite number of sentences in a paragraph; it may range from two to four or even more.
The important thing is that these sentences form an organized unit in developing a common
idea or topic.

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Special Purpose Paragraph

This type of paragraph is not intended to stand alone as one organized unit. They serve
other purposes than developing a single impression.
1. Introductory Paragrapharouses the readers interest by stating general remarks about
the topic as a way of introducing it.
2. Concluding Paragraphties together or summarizes the ideas in the preceding
paragraphs to have an effective ending.
3. Transitional Paragraphbridges or connects the ideas develop in two separate
paragraphs: one preceding it and the other following it.
4. Developer Paragraphhelps to continue developing the central or overall idea of the
preceding paragraph.
5. Dialogue Paragraphused to record dialogues of characters in fiction like in a short
story or in a novel, or even in an personal essay.

Parts of a Standard Paragraph

In order for a student to be able to write a good paragraph, he must know its basic parts.

Topic Sentence
The first part of a paragraph is the topic sentence. Habana and Cinco define topic
sentence as a general statementwhich the other sentences in the paragraph support or
develop. It both introduces and states an idea or attitude about the topic of the paragraph. It
has two sub-parts: main topic and controlling idea.
Study this example:
Reading books broadens a students stock knowledge.
Main Topic

Controlling Idea

The main topic is the subject of the topic sentence while the controlling idea is the
predicate which serves as the focus of the paragraph. Finding the controlling idea of a topic
sentence can be done by asking this way: What is important about reading books? The answer
is that it broadens a students stock knowledge.
Look at these topic sentences:
POOR: Reading books is advantageous to students.
GOOD: Reading books broadens a students stock knowledge.

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The topic sentence is very important because it guides the writer in choosing the correct
and appropriate ideas to be included in the paragraph he is developing. On the part of the
reader, it prepares him for the ideas he will encounter while reading the paragraph. The topic
sentence may be located at the beginning, in the middle or at the end of a paragraph.
Deciding where to place the topic sentence is not guided by mere choice but by style hand-inhand with purpose. The topic sentence can also be either explicit (clearly or directly stated) or
implicit (not directly stated, or suggested).
Ideally, for a beginning writer, it is advisable to state the topic sentence directly and place
it at the beginning to serve as his guide in writing other sentences.
Score:

Skill Fixer 1

Directions: Write Good if the sentence is a good topic sentence and Poor if it needs some
improvement.

_____1. Computer skills are advantageous to teachers.

_____2. Watching violent cartoon shows gives children the idea that hurting people is normal.
_____3. Nature preservation determines humans survival in the future generation.
_____4.Global warming destroys the ecological balance in the environment.
_____5. Realistic novels offer stories that teach readers to be better people.
_____6. Global warming is harmful to the environment.
_____7. Realistic novels are better fantasy novels.
_____8. Nature preservation is very necessary.
_____9. Watching violent cartoon shows is dangerous to children.
_____10. Computer skills facilitate teachers computation of grades.
8-10Congratulations! Youve learn the skill very well.
4-7Read the parts where you have difficulty.
1-3Re-read the module at home.

Body
The second part of a standard paragraph is the body where you can write your
supporting sentences which add details about your topic sentence. Folse et.al. (2003) say:
Typically, there are four to eight supporting sentences in the body. Each sentence must say
support the opinion or attitude about the topic sentence. They do any of the following: clarify,
illustrate, explain, or prove. Forlini et. al enumerates five basic kinds of supporting information
usually found in the body.
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1. Examplesparticular instances of a general idea or principle. In a paragraph about the

best shows in Metro Manila Film Festival, for instance, examples might include three to
four particular shows.
2. Detailssmall items or pieces of information that make up something larger. Details
often make up descriptions. A paragraph describing a person, for example, might include
details about appearance.
3. Factsspecific pieces of information that can be verified as being true and accurate. A
paragraph about an election might include the names, backgrounds, and policies of the
major candidates.
4. Reasonsexplanations, justifications, or causes. They often answer the question Why?
about the main idea. If a topic sentence presents an opinion about the legal driving age,
for instance, the support might offer reasons that support the opinion.
5. Incidentsevents or happenings. One or more incidents can be used to illustrate a main
idea. A paragraph about the dangers of roller skating might relate one or more incidents
that demonstrate some of these dangers.
Here are three supporting sentences for the topic sentence about reading books:

One way in which the students acquire wide range of knowledge is through reading different kinds
of books. From these books they learn information not included in their textbooks. When they synthesize
the data from other books with the data in their textbooks, they understand the concepts deeper.
Skill Fixer 2

Directions: In 10 minutes, develop the main topic below by writing three sentences using any of the
supporting information discussed above.
Writing a paragraph is challenging for beginning writers. ________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
If you are able to write three supporting sentences in
3-5 minutesCongratulations! You are a good writer.
6-8 minutesYou can do better next time.
9-10 minutesPractice writing during your free time

No. of minutes spent

________________

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Concluding Sentence
The third and last part of a paragraph is the concluding sentence. When you write one
standard paragraph about a topic, it is very necessary to end with a concluding sentence. Here,
you can sum up the contents and express his feelings. A concluding which leaves a strong
impression to the reader is called a clincher.
Since the concluding sentence recapitulates the main idea, it therefore serves as
remainder to the reader of what the paragraph is about. In other instances, the concluding
sentence introduces the idea of the next paragraph. It acts as a transitional sentence. Yet, that
is only possible when you are writing few or several paragraphs.
Here is the concluding sentence for the paragraph about reading books.
Reading different kinds of books must be a common activity among students.

Skill Fixer 3
Directions: In 5 minutes, write a concluding sentence for your paragraph in Skill Fixer 2.
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
If you are able to write three supporting sentences in
1-2 minutesCongratulations! You are a good writer.
3-4 minutesYou can do better next time.
5 minutesPractice writing during your free time.

No. of minutes spent

________________

Relax, Think and Answer

Score:

Mnemosynes Challenge
Directions: Give a phrase or a clause that will briefly define the following key words.
Ex. Standard paragrapha single unit paragraph and has three basic parts of a paragraph
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Introductory Paragraph --__________________________________________________

Concluding Paragraph--___________________________________________________
Transitional Paragraph--___________________________________________________
Developer Paragraph--____________________________________________________
Dialogue Paragraph--_____________________________________________________
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Relax, Think and Answer

Score:

Directions: Answer the following questions according to your own learning.

1. What is a paragraph?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
2. Enumerate the three main parts of a paragraph and define them briefly.
a. __________________-- _________________________________________________
b. __________________-- _________________________________________________
c. __________________--__________________________________________________
3. What is a main topic?
________________________________________________________________________
4. What is a controlling idea?
________________________________________________________________________
5. What is a clincher?
______________________________________________________________________

Dip Your Pen

Directions: Write an effective standard paragraph applying the knowledge and skills you have
learned in writing a paragraph. Give at least three supporting sentences in the body.

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Prepared by: franztatel

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