Nama : Muh Taufanny Y

No : 07004149
Class :C

THE IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF A WELL-WRITTEN

PARAGRAPH

If we write down paper, article, etc we will find the components of them. One of
them is paragraph. There are many meanings of paragraph. One of them can be found in
Oxford Advance Learner’s Dictionary, Paragraph is division of piece of writing, started
on new line. (Hornby, 1998: 289) Division has meaning group or community. In this
perception “group” is compatible to mean “division”. So that, paragraph can be meant a
group of piece of a writing and written by starting in new line. Besides that, a paragraph
also can be meant, it is a series of sentences related to a single topic.
Another meaning, according to Warriner in Saraka (1998: 26-27), a paragraph is series of
sentences developing one topic. It can be understood a paragraph has only one topic.
Because of a paragraph consists of many sentences that make series, so just one sentence
that become a topic and another sentences are supporting for a topic. Besides that, a
paragraph can be built if we develop just one topic, if it is more than one so we cannot
say it a paragraph. In fact, if we want to make more than one topic we must make a new
paragraph.

A building can be built because of it has a construction or

components/elements. This thing is similar with a paragraph. It can be made, if
it a structural parts or components that support each other. According to
Oshima and Hogue (1991: 17), a paragraph has three major structural parts:
topic sentence, supporting sentence and concluding sentence.

These are the explanations of them which are taken from similar quotation above.

a) Topic Sentence

The topic sentence states the main idea of the paragraph. It not only names the topic of
paragraph, but also limits the topic to one or two areas that can be discussed completely
in the space of a single paragraph. Notice how the topic sentence of the model states both
the topic and the controlling idea.
e. g

Gold, a precious metal, is prized for two important characteristics.

(Topic) (Controlling Idea)

b) Supporting sentences develop the topic sentence. That is, they explain the topic
sentence by giving reasons, examples, facts, statistics, and quotations.

E. g: Some of the supporting sentences that explain the topic sentence about gold are. .
· First of all, gold has a lustrous beauty that is resistant to corrosion.
· For example, a Macedonian coin remains as untarnished today as the day it was minted
twenty-three centuries ago.
· Another important characteristic of gold is its utility in industry and science.
· Most of recent application of gold is in astronauts’ suits.

c) The concluding sentence signals the end of the paragraph and leaves the reader with
important points to remember.

e. g: In conclusion, gold is treasured not only for its beauty but also for its utility.
(Oshima and Hogue, 1991: 17)

From quotation above, it can be found the explanation of the components of a paragraph.
They are topic sentence, supporting sentence and concluding sentence. The first, topic
sentence, it is the main idea of a paragraph. Every paragraph possesses just one topic
sentence. If we make more than one topic sentence, we must make new paragraph.

Johan (Desember, 10 2008) said the form of topic sentence is noun or the group
of noun. Second, supporting sentence, it is used to support the topic sentence.
According to Oshima and Hogue (1991:17) the support sentence explain the topic
sentences by providing reasons, facts, statistics, and quotations.

The topic sentence in a paragraph always not only one sentence. It is caused by the
supporting sentences aim to give the proofs that make the topic sentence can be
understood. The last concluding sentence, according to

Oshima and Hogue (1991: 17) the concluding sentence is the signals to end the
paragraph. This sentence should give the important points for reader. It is seem
like a summary in a note. But it is simpler, in order to remember easily.

According to an effective paragraph is a paragraph which possesses what one often calls
unity, completeness, order and coherent (Saraka, 1988: 61) This quotation can be
understood an effective paragraph should posse unity, completeness, order and coherent.
The first, Unity means that you discuss only one main idea in a paragraph. (Oshima and
Hogue, 991: 17). So, there is not two or more main idea in a paragraph which is stated in
the topic sentence. Other sentences of a paragraph aim only to supporting and concluding
the sentences which develop main idea. Second, completeness means a paragraph must
be complete. All of explanations of topic sentences which use supporting sentence and
concluding sentence can be presented completely. Third, order is ways of arranging
Information within or between paragraphs.

According to Edu (Desember, 4 2008), it occurs order of time (chronology),

order of space (descriptions of a location or scene), order of climax (building
toward a conclusion), and order of importance (from least to most important or
from most to least important).

The last, coherent, according to

Oshima and Hogue (191: 17), it means that your paragraph is easy to read and
understand because (1) your supporting sentences are in some kind of logical
order and (2) your ideas are connected by the use of appropriate transition
signal. It can be understood that an effective paragraph is the connection of every
arguments or ideas of a paragraph can be connected logically. Besides that
coherent also means a paragraph can be understood clearly and easily.

Another characteristic of the effective paragraph, according to Edu (December, 4 2008),

the first, the effective paragraph should unify around a main point. Second, all sentences
should be clear relate to the main point in some manners. The last, the paragraph's main
idea should be supported with specific information that develops or discusses the main
idea in greater detail.
Not only a paragraph has the components, but also writing. The components of writing
are classified into five, that is, content, form, grammar, style, and mechanics.

(Haris, 1969: 69) The first, content means the volume of a writing that has
meaning. So, everything that called writing, if it has content. Second, form means
the type or kind of writing’s format. There are many kinds of writing format. For
example essay format, paper format, journal, etc. Third, grammar means role or
norms in writing. A writing, article, etc must have grammatically structure in
process of writing every sentence. It can be known that writing easier to
understand grammatically construction, but without grammar will be hard to be
understood. Fourth, style means the particularly ways to present writing.

The writing should posse style. Nugroho (December, 12 2008) said there are two styles to
write a writing, essay, etc. They are APA style and MLA style. The last mechanics,
according to Oxford Learner’s Pocket Dictionary it means the ways of the writing is done
(2004: 267). It must be owned by every writer when start to write. In order that the
writing can be wrote well.
 Bibliography

Saraka. 1988. From Paragraph to Essay Concepts and Practice. Jakarta: Departemen
Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan.

Oshima, A. and A. Hoggue. 1991. Writing Academic English. New York: Publishing
Company.

Haris, P. David. 1969. Testing English as Second Language. New York: Mc. Grawwhill.

Hornby, AS. 1998. Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary. Oxford: Oxford University.

http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-paragraph.html. Thursday, November 12,

2009, 10:52:15 AM

http://writing2.richmond.edu/WRITING/wweb/paragrph.html. Thursday, November 12,

2009, 10:52:15 AM

http://www.kent.k12.wa.us/KSD/KR/WRITE/GEN/para_index.html. Thursday,
November 12, 2009, 10:52:15 AM

http://grammar.about.com/od/developingparagraphs/Composition_Developing_Effective
_Paragraphs.htm. Thursday, November 12, 2009, 10:52:15 AM