Understanding Paragraph Structure and Organization

Paragraph Structure

What is a paragraph? A paragraph is a group of sentences about a single topic. The sentences of the paragraph explain the writer s main idea (most important idea) about the topic. A paragraph is often between five and ten sentences long. The first sentence of a paragraph is usually indented.

An example of a paragraph: The giant panda, the creature that has become the symbol of conservation, is facing extinction. The major reason is loss of habitat, which has continued despite the establishment, since 1963, of 14 panda reserves. Deforestation, mainly carried out by farmers clearing land to make way for fields as they move higher into mountains, has drastically limited the mammal s range. The panda has disappeared from much of central and eastern China, and is now restricted to the eastern side of Himalayas. Fewer than 1400 of the animals are believed to remain in the wild. What is the topicof the paragraph? -------------------------------------- What is the main idea about the topic? ---------------------------------- What ideas help explain the main idea? --------------------------------- a. b. c.

Paragraph Organization The components of a paragraph: The topic sentence The supporting sentences The concluding sentence 1. 2. 3.

The topic sentence: Contains the main idea of the paragraph Is usually the first sentence of the paragraph Is the most general sentence of the paragraph

: The supporting sentences Are sentences that talk about or explain the topic sentence Are more detailed ideas that follow the topic sentence Can be further divided into: - major supporting sentences (more general in scope) - minor supporting sentences (more specific in scope)

The concluding sentence: May be found as the last sentence of a paragraph Can finish a paragraph by: - repeating the main idea or - giving a final comment about the topic

Paragraph unity When you use supporting sentences to develop the main idea, you should pay attention to: the relevance of the supporting material to the main idea A unified paragraph will contain only sentences that explain or support the general statement made in the topic sentence. Any sentence that does not relate to the main idea will not develop it.

The topic sentence and the main idea: The topic sentence usually comes first in a paragraph, in some cases, it appears in the last sentence in a paragraph and in some rare cases, it is implied. The topic sentence gives the writer s main idea or opinion about the topic and helps the reader understand what information the paragraph will contain.

The topic sentence and the main idea: The topic sentence usually appears in the form of a statement and contains a number of key words and controlling ideas aboutwhich the readercan ask questions. forexample, in the following topic sentence: There are several funny superstitions in my country death. One can ask questions such as what are they? and why are they funny? about the keywords superstitions and funny. about

How to write a good topic sentence: Here is some information to helpyou out: Rememberwhata paragraph is. 2. Stateyour main ideaclearly. 3. Hook your reader. 4. Keep it shortand sweet. 5. Givea provableopinion. 1.

: Remember what a paragraph is A paragraph is a group of sentences on a related topic, a single topic. In a paragraph, you will state one main ideaand explain it. Paragraphs are extremely important because they help organize information in a way that is easy for your reader to follow, thus bettering the flow of yourwriting.

State your main idea clearly The topic sentence must include your topic (e.g., "gardening") and an opinion, or your controlling idea (e.g., is a good exercise" or "produces betterorganic food"). Keep in mind that this is not an invitation to simply announce your topic. for example, "Today I'm going to discuss the benefits of gardening" is not an effective topic sentence. You should be able to make your intentions clear without stating them explicitly.

: Hook your reader One of the many importantrolesof a topicsentence is to: draw the readers in and Bring up questions in their mind that you intend to answer. An effective way to do this is to drop them straight into the action. This can be done in a numberof ways: Describe acharacter: This can be a physical oremotional description. 1. Use dialog: If there is a relevant conversation that will attract your reader'sattention, considerusing part of it tostartyourparagraph. 2.

Hook your reader (cont.): 3. Portray an action: Use the opening sentence to portray an emotion toyour reader. 4. Use detail: While you don t want to write a run on sentence by creating too much detail, it s a good idea to create interest using sensory language in your topic sentence. 5. Avoid rhetorical questions: While you want your reader to formulate questions in his or her mind, you do not want to formulate the questionsyourself.

: Keep the topic sentence short and sweet The topic sentence should put forward your intention without forcing your reader to hunt it down. keeping the topic sentence short will: - help keep your intention clear, - help the flow of your paragraph.

Give a provable opinion: The body of your paragraph is meant to support your topic sentence. Therefore, your topic sentence should state something that you think or believe that can be supported by concrete evidence. Take, forexample, the topic sentence: "Growing herbs will further your appreciation for fresh cooking." The phrase "further your appreciation" states something that you believe, and you can now spend the rest of the paragraph explaining whyyou believe whatyou believe.

Give a provable opinion (cont.): Always avoid solid facts in your topic sentence. While facts may be interesting, they do not introduce the reader to your paragraph nor do they draw the reader in. If you wish to include a fact, also include your own input. For example, instead of writing "All dogs need food," try "All dogs need regular care, including healthy food, and children are the best ones to do it." Alternatively, save your facts to use as evidence in the body of your paragraph.

: Tips for writing a good topic sentence Read samples in your text or read good articles (not newspaper stories) to see some examples. Show your teachera sentence and ask if it's a good one for a topic sentence. Make sure you will discuss your idea in the paragraph. Or make sure the topic sentence fits with what you actually said. Re-write it if necessary.

Tips for writing a good topic sentence (cont.): Don t write too vague or general idea or you will never be able to discuss it in a single paragraph. This is too general: "The United States suffered a lot during the Civil War. Don t write too narrow statement. There is nothing much to talk about then, because it s probably a fact. This is too narrow: Christmas trees are either Cedars or firs.

Tips for writing a good topic sentence (cont.): You d better not use possessive forms, me or I. (Don t make your writing too personal unless the topic demands personal experiences.) Try to include key words which refer to the main points you will cover in your paragraph. for example, you will eat better if you can cook your own meals, grow a few vegetable, and learn about nutrition. here the reader will expect you to discuss these three aspects of eating better, and you know how to structure topic sentences in your paragraph.