The Paragraph

Hello!

What is Paragraph?

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 Look at this!
The weather in March was unpredictable. One day
there was heavy ground fog, and the next day was
clear. It rained for a few days and cleared up, and
then it rained again. One day the temperature
ranged from 45 degrees to 75 degrees, and the
next day the temperature stayed around 55
degrees all day long. It was difficult to plan
activities or know what to wear with such
unpredictable weather.

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 Look at this!
The weather in March was unpredictable. One day
there was heavy ground fog, and the next day was
clear. It rained for a few days and cleared up, and
then it rained again. One day the temperature
ranged from 45 degrees to 75 degrees, and the
next day the temperature stayed around 55
degrees all day long. It was difficult to plan
activities or know what to wear with such
unpredictable weather.

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 The Paragraph
A group of sentences that develops ONE MAIN POINT
or IDEA. It consists of of SEVERAL SENTENCES or
ONE/TWO SENTENCES
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A paragraph can be as
short as ONE SENTENCE
or as long as TEN
SENTENCES.

The number of sentences

is unimportant, however
the paragraph should be
long enough to develop
the main idea clearly.
 PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE

A good paragraph in the kind of

writing that students do for
college courses (Research
papers, report, essay exams)
usually has a special structure.

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PARAGRAPH
STRUCTURE  TOPIC SENTENCE

 DEVELOPMENT/
SUPPORTING SENTENCES

 CONCLUDING SENTENCE
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TOPIC SENTENCE
A paragraph consists of A TOPIC SENTENCE,
which gives its main idea and several other
sentences, which give details about the main
idea.

It comes near the beginning of the paragraph.

The idea expressed in the topic sentence is MORE

GENERAL than those in the other sentences.
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TOPIC SENTENCE
The topic sentence not only names the topic of
the paragraph, but it also limits to topic to one or
two ideas that can be discussed completely in the
space of a SINGLE PARAGRAPH.

The SPECIFIC IDEA is called The CONTROLLING

IDEA.
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TOPIC SENTENCE
1. It expresses the MAIN IDEA of a paragraph.
2. It is a COMPLETE SENTENCE (A Subject, A
Verb, and A Complement)
Driving on freeways.
Driving on freeways is really fun.
3. It provides the reader with a clear
understanding of what a paragraph is about.
4. It contains both a topic and a controlling idea.
It names the topic and then limits to a specific
area to be discussed in the space of a single
paragraph.
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TOPIC SENTENCE
5. It is the MOST GENERAL statement in the
paragraph because it gives only the MAIN
IDEA. It does not give ANY SPECIFIC DETAILS.
6. It gives direction to a paragraph that both the
writer and reader can follow.
7. It is the final “wrap up” sentence in a
paragraph which often reinforces the topic
sentence.
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Example 1
Mary Louise is not as naïve as she acts.
Actually she’s been dating boys since she
was in the seventh grade. When she was
in eight grade, she went to a high school
dance with a junior. She loves to flirt in a
quite , shy way, and she knows to blink
those big dark eyes to attract attention.
She’s the kind of girl that can steal a
boyfriend before you realize what’s
happened.
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Example 2
Easter week is going to be terrific. First, I
have the whole week off from the stationery
store because it’s going to be closed. My
friends are all staying in town, so there will
be plenty to do. We’ll go to the arcades
during the day and rent movies or go
downtown in the evenings. I’ve also saved
enough money to visit my cousin in Buffalo
for a couple of days, and we always have a
good time together. This could be the best
East week I’ve had in a long time.
What are the ingredients of an effective topic
sentence?
What makes one topic sentence more effective
than another?
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1. A good topic sentence usually states an opinion or

attitude that can be supported by details and examples.

Topic Sentence: Topic Sentence:

“Write The weather is miserable today. Mr. Jo is a good teacher.
about
Support: Support
anything” 105 – Degree temperature Knowledgeable in his field
High humidity Excellent lecturer
No breeze Fair
Bad pollution Works hard
Helpful
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2. A good topic sentence is specific enough to be clear and

interesting.

Good TS: The palm trees in your backyard look diseased.

“Writing is Weak TS: The trees in your yard look bad.
easy”

Good TS: Harry enjoys being in politics.

Weak TS: Harry works in politics.

Good TS: Mulia University is having financial problems.

Weak TS: A university in town is having some problems.
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3. A good topic sentence gives a DEFINITE DIRECTION to a
paragraph

Good TS: I spent a perfect week’s vacation in New York.

(Direction given: Describing the “perfect” vacation)
Weak TS: I went on vacation to New York last week.
“Writing is fun” (No direction given for paragraph)

Good TS: The first student council meeting on Monday was

interesting.
Weak TS: The student council met for the first time.

Good TS: My view of the mountains in the spring is gorgeous.

Weak TS: I can see the mountains this time of year.
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1. A TS should be neither nor too

specific.
If it is too general, the reader cannot
tell exactly what the paragraph
POINTS TO is going to discuss.
If it is too specific, the writer may
REMEMBER not have anything left to write.
TO WRITE 2. Do not include too many
TOPIC unrelated ideas in your TS; if
you do, your paragraph will not
SENTENCE be unified.
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Example 1:
Convenience foods are easy
to prepare.
The Two Parts
of a TOPIC
Topic: Convenience foods
Controlling idea: easy to
SENTENCE
The topic names the prepare
subject, or main idea, of
Example 2:
the paragraph.
The native foods of
America’s immigrant
The controlling idea population are reflected in
makes a specific American cooking. The TOPIC
comment about the And
topic, which indicates Topic: The native foods of
what the rest of the America’s immigrant The
paragraph will say population CONTROLLING
Controlling idea: American
about the topic. IDEA
cooking.
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DEVELOPMENT/SUPPORTING
SENTENCES

In addition to the TS, a paragraph usually

has other sentences.

The sentences which develop the MAIN

IDEA with MORE SPECIFIC DETAILS 
Development sentences)
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Main Qualities of a well

developed paragraph

1. It provides enough supporting points for the

main idea expressed in the TS to be clearly
understood.
2. It provides enough specific details and
examples to be interesting and informative.
3. It does not leave the readers with
unanswered questions that could be cleared
up with a little more detail or an additional
example or two
 1. The example of paragraph that is effectively developed

Your sister is an attractive woman. Her large, dark

eyes are beautiful. Her complexion is flawless,
and she has a lovely big smile. Her long, black hair
is full and shiny. She is tall and slender, and her
every movement is graceful. She is also dresses
stylishly, and her assortment of peasant skirts
and loose-fitting blouses look great on her.

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 1. The example of paragraph that is effectively developed

Your sister is an attractive woman. Her large, dark

eyes are beautiful. Her complexion is flawless, and
she has a lovely big smile. Her long, black hair is full
and shiny. She is tall and slender, and her every
movement is graceful. She is also dresses stylishly,
and her assortment of peasant skirts and loose-fitting
blouses look great on her.
The main point of the paragraph-how attractive the woman is – is supported by a
number of specific details.

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 2. The example of paragraph that is effectively developed

There is plenty to do tonight beside watching television.

We can invite the neighbors over and play gin rummy.
We can catch up some reading we’ve been putting off.
We can build a fire in the fireplace, roast
marshmallows, and pop popcorn. We can get out the
old Monopoly board and play a few hour. We can get
out the paintbrushes and repaint the hallway as we’ve
been threatening to do for months.

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 2. The example of paragraph that is effectively developed

There is plenty to do tonight beside watching

television. We can invite the neighbors over and play
gin rummy. We can catch up some reading we’ve
been putting off. We can build a fire in the fireplace,
roast marshmallows, and pop popcorn. We can get
out the old Monopoly board and play a few hour. We
can get out the paintbrushes and repaint the hallway
as we’ve been threatening to do for months.
The main point of the paragraph-that there is plenty to do – is supported by a number
of specific examples.

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 3. The example of paragraph that is effectively developed

The housing industry in Omaha is not doing well. House sales are
down 65 percent from two years ago. The average length a house is on
the market before being sold is two years. The average house price
has actually dropped $5,000 this year. There has also been no new
housing construction within the city limits in the last six months. Two
building contractors have gone out of business, and the carpenter’s
union has sixty-five unemployed members. Lumber sales have
dropped over 35 percent, and the local mill has sold three klogging
trucks and laid off twenty-five workers. It has been the worst period
for the housing industry in over thirty years.

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 3. The example of paragraph that is effectively developed

The housing industry in Omaha is not doing well. House sales are down 65
percent from two years ago. The average length a house is on the market
before being sold is two years. The average house price has actually dropped
$5,000 this year. There has also been no new housing construction within the
city limits in the last six months. Two building contractors have gone out of
business, and the carpenter’s union has sixty-five unemployed members.
Lumber sales have dropped over 35 percent, and the local mill has sold three
klogging trucks and laid off twenty-five workers. It has been the worst period
for the housing industry in over thirty years.

The main point of the paragraph-that the housing industry is doing badly– is
supported by a number of specific facts.

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 4. The example of paragraph that is effectively developed

I just turned fifty, and I ‘m feeling it. I have a constant ringing in my

ears that bothers me when I try to sleep at night. I get winded after
thirty minutes of tennis. My back is sore when I get out of bed, and I
keep pulling muscles when I try to lift weights. My blood pressure is
abnormal, and my temples throb when I am under stress. I had my
first root canal done last Thursday, and my gums are showing signs of
deterioration. I used to go to one doctor, and one dentist, but now I
have an internist, a podiatrist, and ear specialist, an ophthalmologist,
and a dental surgeon that I keep busy. I guess all of this comes with
middle age.

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 4. The example of paragraph that is effectively developed

I just turned fifty, and I ‘m feeling it. I have a constant ringing in my

ears that bothers me when I try to sleep at night. I get winded after
thirty minutes of tennis. My back is sore when I get out of bed, and I
keep pulling muscles when I try to lift weights. My blood pressure is
abnormal, and my temples throb when I am under stress. I had my
first root canal done last Thursday, and my gums are showing signs of
deterioration. I used to go to one doctor, and one dentist, but now I
have an internist, a podiatrist, and ear specialist, an ophthalmologist,
and a dental surgeon that I keep busy. I guess all of this comes with
middle age.
The main point of the paragraph-that the wroter is feeling his fifty years– is supported
by a number of examples.

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THE
CONCLUDING A concluding sentence is not absolutely
SENTENCE necessary; in fact, a concluding sentence is
not customary for every paragraph in a
multiparagraph essay.

However, for SINGLE PARAGRAPH

(Long), a concluding sentence is helpful to
the readers because it SIGNALS THE END
of the paragraph and because it is a
REMINDER of the important points.
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THE
CONCLUDING Three Purposes:
SENTENCE

1. It signals the end of the paragraph

2. It summarizes the main points of
the paragraph
3. It gives a final comment on the
topic and leaves the readers with
the most important ideas to think
about.
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End-of-paragraph signals to introduce the
THE concluding sentence.
CONCLUDING
SENTENCE
These are followed by a comma These are not followed by a comma

Finally, _____ We can see that _____

In conclusion, ______ It is clear that _____
In summary, ______ These examples show that ____
Therefore, ________ There can be no doubt that ____
Thus, _______ The evidence suggests that ____
As a result, ______
Indeed, _______
In brief, ________
In short, _______
 The example of concluding sentence
1
Synonyms, words that have the same basic meaning, do
not always have that same emotional meaning. For
example, the words stingy and frugal both mean “careful
with money”. However, to call a person stingy is an insult,
while the words frugal has a much more positive
connotation. Similarly, a person wants to be slender but not
skinny, and aggressive but no pushy. Therefore, you should
be careful in choosing words because many so-called
synonyms are not really synonymous at all.
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 The example of concluding sentence
1
Synonyms, words that have the same basic meaning, do
not always have that same emotional meaning. For
example, the words stingy and frugal both mean “careful
with money”. However, to call a person stingy is an insult,
while the words frugal has a much more positive
connotation. Similarly, a person wants to be slender but not
skinny, and aggressive but no pushy. Therefore, you should
be careful in choosing words because many so-called
synonyms are not really synonymous at all.
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 The example of concluding sentence
2
Gold, a precious metal, is prized for two important characteristics. First
of all, gold has a lustrous beauty that us resistant to corrosion.
Therefore, it is suitable for jewelry, coins, and ornamental purposes.
Gold never needs to be polished and will remain beautiful forever. For
example, a Macedonian coin remains untarnished today as the day it
was minted twenty-three centuries ago. Another important characteristic
of gold is its usefulness to industrial applications. The most recent use
of gold is in astronauts’ suits. Astronauts wear gold-plated heat shields
for protection outside spaceships. In conclusion, gold is treasured not
only for its beauty but also for its utility.

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 The example of concluding sentence
2
Gold, a precious metal, is prized for two important characteristics. First
of all, gold has a lustrous beauty that us resistant to corrosion.
Therefore, it is suitable for jewelry, coins, and ornamental purposes.
Gold never needs to be polished and will remain beautiful forever. For
example, a Macedonian coin remains untarnished today as the day it
was minted twenty-three centuries ago. Another important characteristic
of gold is its usefulness to industrial applications. The most recent use
of gold is in astronauts’ suits. Astronauts wear gold-plated heat shields
for protection outside spaceships. In conclusion, gold is treasured not
only for its beauty but also for its utility.

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 Thanks!
Any questions?

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