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How To Write Paragraph Effectively
How To Write Paragraph Effectively
even creative ways of structuring your ideas. Accordingly, there are no simple formulae
for writing. To start with, begin by learning to write a paragraph.
In an essay, there are 4 types of paragraph:
1. Introductory paragraph
2. Body paragraph
3. Transitional paragraph
4. Concluding paragraph
WHAT IS A PARAGRAPH?
A group or specially and intentionally related sentences that revolve around a single idea
All sentences in the paragraph explain, develop, and support a central idea
in some way.
To achieve unity, begin with a clear topic sentence. Once you know what
point you want to introduce in your topic sentence, you can create a
unified paragraph by making sure that all the rest of the sentences are
clearly related to the first one.
One way to ensure that your paragraphs have unity is to underline the
subject of each supporting sentence to see if it points back to the key
concepts in the topic sentence.
2. Development:
Being fully developed means that a paragraph doesnt leave any significant
questions in readers minds.
Developing it with:
* The right level of detail: Try using the 5Ws to imagine what questions an
informed reader might ask.
* The right kind of detail:
Depending on the demands of the assignment and the discipline you are
writing in. For example, if you are asked to write a personal essay, your
details might be examples of personal experiences. If you are asked to
write a history paper, the right kind of details might come from your
analysis of a historical text.
Another way to think about choosing the right kind of detail is in terms of
warm (those that appeal to emotions) or cool proofs (like logical arguments
and statistics that appeal to reason).
3. Coherence:
pronouns,
transitional
words,
and
repetition.
by
using
the
pronoun
them.
(likewise,
similarly,
in
other
words)...
Does the topic sentence declare an argument point? Because the reader generally
expects that each paragraph will explore one point in your argument, it's important that
your topic sentence isn't too ambitious. If your topic sentence points to two or three
ideas, consider developing more paragraphs.
o
Does the topic sentence further my argument? Give your topic sentences a "so
what?" test. If your topic sentence isn't interesting, your paragraph probably won't serve
to further the argument.
o
Is the topic sentence relevant to my thesis? It might seem so to you, but the
Is there a clear relationship between this topic sentence and the paragraph that
came before? If you make a sudden turn in your reasoning, signify that turn to the
reader by using the proper transitional phrase - on the other hand, however, etc.
o
Where have I placed my topic sentence? Often a topic sentence comes at or near
the beginning of a paragraph. If your argument requires that you put it elsewhere, plan
accordingly. You can justify putting the topic sentence in the middle of the paragraph,
for example, if you have information that needs to precede it. You can also justify
putting the topic sentence at the end of the paragraph, if you want the reader to consider
your line of reasoning b efore you declare your main point. But the placement of the
sentence matters.
Example: 75 percent of the students who do not attend class regularly receive
grades of C or worse.
- GRAPHS
Example: Figure 9-1 is one type of graph.
- QUOTATIONS from authorities
Example: Professor Smity admits, I tell students they dont need to attend my
class if they dont want to. I know, however, that if they dont come, they wont pass.
- VIVID DESCRIPTIONS
Example: The students took the exam from the professors hand, quickly looked
at the grade, gave a sigh or relief and began to smile.
two things. First, you ensure that your reader is on solid ground: she moves from the
familiar to the unknown. Second, because we tend to give emphasis to what comes at the
end of a sentence, the reader rightfully perceives that the new information is more
important than the old.
* Use repetition to create a sense of unity.
* Use transition markers wisely. Sometimes you'll need to announce to your reader
some turn in your argument. Or you'll want to emphasize one of your points. Or you'll
want to make clear some relationship in time. In all these cases you'll want to use
transition markers.
Here are some examples:
o To show place - above, below, here, there, etc.
o To show time - after, before, currently, during, earlier, later, etc.
o To give an example - for example, for instance, etc.
o To show addition - additionally, also, and, furthermore, moreover, equally important,
etc.
o To show similarity - also, likewise, in the same way, similarly, etc.
o
When you are writing a paper about a matter that is controversial, you might
wish to summarize the point of view of your adversaries. Then state your own
position in opposition to theirs. In this way you place yourself clearly in the
ongoing conversation. Some imagining of other views, or of resistance to one's
own, occurs in most good essays. And instructors are glad to encounter
counterargument in student papers, even if they haven't specifically asked for it.
Counterargument in an essay has two stages: you turn against your argument to
challenge it and then you turn back to re-affirm it
Your return to your own argument can be announced with a but, yet, however,
nevertheless or still
- As a section or paragraph just after your introduction, in which you lay out the
expected reaction or standard position before turning away to develop your own
- As a quick move within a paragraph, where you imagine a counterargument not
to your main idea but to the sub-idea that the paragraph is arguing or is about to
argue
- As a section or paragraph just before the conclusion of your essay, in which you
imagine what someone might object to what you have argued
4. Using action verbs, the writer can create a jovial image and elicit amusement from the
readers.
5. Colorful adjectives. Keep a dictionary and thesaurus handy to look up adjectives that
will spice up your writing. Use adjectives to describe all five senses as you paint a picture
with words.
6. Find new ways to say the same old thing. Was the woman large? Or does she look like
she's built for comfort rather than speed? Was the man skinny? Or did he have to run
around in the shower just to get wet?
7. Satire and irony add humor to the written story also.