Paragraph (Parts, Characteristics, and Development) || RNW

paragraph

• group of sentences that deals with one particular idea (thesis statement)

• defined by the point they support (controlling idea)

composition

paragraphs connected together

1. topic sentence

2. supporting details

3. concluding sentence

what are the parts of a paragraph?

topic sentence

tells reader the main idea of your paragraph

supporting details

• elaborates on the topic sentence

• may range from facts, examples, or instances

concluding sentence

wraps up the idea

1. unity

2. adequate development

3. coherence

what are the characteristics of an effective paragraph?

unity

• whole paragraph should begin and end with one focus only

• all sentences relate to topic sentence

adequate development

topic sentence in paragraph should be elaborated on using concrete evidence (just enough supporting details)

coherence

• sentences arranged in logical manner (easy to read, follow, and understand)

• achieved when sentences flow smoothly between paragraphs (use transitional devices)

1. organized according to chronological, spatial, and emphatic order

2. cause and effect (reason and result)

3. comparison and contrast (similarities and differences)

4. narrative (sequence of events)

5. description (sensory details)

6. definition (meaning of a concept)

7. exemplification (illustration)

8. persuasion (convince reader)

9. deductive reasoning

10. inductive reasoning

what are the logical arrangements under cohesion?

chronological order

• for stories, procedures and step-by-step writing

• based on time sequence (start, middle, end)

spatial order

• for descriptions of places, scenes, and objects

• arranged on location or position

emphatic order

• used for persuasive writing, arguments, and emphasis

• ideas arranged based on importance

cause and effect

• arranged from why to what happens or vice versa

• reason and result

comparison and contrast

• arranged point-by-point or block style

• similarities and differences

narrative

• follows clear beginning, middle, and end

• sequence of events

description

• often follows spatial order for details

• sensory details

definition

• starts with clear definition followed by details

• meaning or concept

exemplification

• uses examples to explain ideas; support main idea clearly

• illustration

persuasion

• uses logical and organized arguments

• convince readers

deductive reasoning

• under persuasion

• general idea to specific

inductive reasoning

• under persuasion

• specific idea to general

1. transitions

2. repetitions

3. synonyms

4. pronouns

5. parallelism

what are examples of signal devices?

transitions

words and phrases that conect one idea to another

repetitions

repeats main idea to keep continuity and highlight important ieas

synonyms

words similar in meaning to important words

pronouns

words that connect readers to the original word that it replaces

parallelism

using similar sentence structures