( Academic Writing

Paragraph Structure
Jon Buscall, PhD
)
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
 ( Jon who ?

* Communications consultant
)
* PhD in Writing

* Journalist, copywriter,
translator,

* www.jonbuscall.com

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

 ( Academic Writing...
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
)
 ( Why are we here?
)
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
 ( Avoid pain
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
)
 ( Academic Writing is a game
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
)
 ( Some folks
obey... )

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

 ( Others don’t
)

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

 ( Follow the rules
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
)
 ( Respect the rules
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
)
 ( Get it wrong
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
)
 ( And you won’t be...
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
)
 ( Get it right
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
)
 ( A successful
essay
is built on the solid foundation
)
of:

*tone

**structure

***evidence

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

 ( Getting it
wrong...
...is like turning up to work in
)
your pyjamas!

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

 ( Read...books!
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
)
 ( Be formal
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
)
 ( Remember:
)
⊛ cannot can’t

⊛ do not don’t

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

 ( Use sources...
)
⊛ within the body of your text you must cite your
sources as you use them

⊛ you must cite any and all data, facts,

information, opinion, ideas, tables, charts,
photographs, etc, that you obtained in your
research

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

 ( )
Learn how
to format
your essay

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

 ( Instructions
)
⊛ use A4 paper

⊛ set the font to 12 point, New Times Roman

⊛ 2.54 cm margins

⊛ double-space your text throughout

⊛ use a running header with your name: e.g.

Buscall 1

⊛ number pages consecutively, starting on page 1

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

 ( )
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
 ( On to paragraphs...
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
)
 Essay Structure

Introduction

( )
Body

Conclusion

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

 Paragraph Introduction

( )
Paragraph
Paragraph
Paragraph Body
Paragraph

Paragraph Conclusion

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

 Paragraph Thesis Statement

( )
Paragraph Evidence
Paragraph
Paragraph
Paragraph

Paragraph Conclusion

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

 ( Thesis statement?
)
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
 ( Paragraph Structure
)
All paragraphs have:

⊛ topic sentence

⊛ supporting sentences

⊛ concluding sentence*

*optional
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
 ( Topic sentence
)
⊛ Introduces the topic of
the paragraph

⊛ i.e. Tells the reader

what the paragraph is
about

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

 There are three reasons why Canada is one of
the best countries in the world. First, Canada
has an excellent health care system. All
Canadians have access to medical services at a
reasonable price. Second, Canada has a high
standard of education. Students are taught by
well-trained teachers and are encouraged to
continue studying at university. Finally, Canada's
cities are clean and efficiently managed.
Canadian cities have many parks and lots of
space for people to live. As a result, Canada is a
desirable place to live.

Source:http://www2.actden.com/writ_Den/Tips/paragrap/topic.htm

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

 Required Key sentence

There are three reasons why Canada is one of

the best countries in the world. First, Canada
has an excellent health care system. All
Canadians have access to medical services at a
reasonable price. Second, Canada has a high
standard of education. Students are taught by
well-trained teachers and are encouraged to
continue studying at university. Finally, Canada's
cities are clean and efficiently managed.
Canadian cities have many parks and lots of
space for people to live. As a result, Canada is a
desirable place to live.

Source:http://www2.actden.com/writ_Den/Tips/paragrap/topic.htm

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

 ( Supporting sentences
)
⊛ develop & discuss the
topic (i.e. give extra
details, provide
evidence)

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

 There are three reasons why Canada is one of
the best countries in the world. First, Canada
has an excellent health care system. All
Canadians have access to medical services at
a reasonable price. Second, Canada has a high
standard of education. Students are taught by
well-trained teachers and are encouraged to
continue studying at university. Finally,
Canada's cities are clean and efficiently
managed. Canadian cities have many parks
and lots of space for people to live. As a
result, Canada is a desirable place to live.

Source:http://www2.actden.com/writ_Den/Tips/paragrap/topic.htm

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

 There are three reasons why Canada is one of
the best countries in the world. First, Canada
has an excellent health care system. All
Canadians have access to medical services at
a reasonable price. Second, Canada has a high
standard of education. Students are taught by
well-trained teachers and are encouraged to
continue studying at university. Finally,
Canada's cities are clean and efficiently
managed. Canadian cities have many parks
and lots of space for people to live. As a
result, Canada is a desirable place to live.

Source:http://www2.actden.com/writ_Den/Tips/paragrap/topic.htm

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

 ( Concluding sentences
)
⊛ Signal the end of the
paragraph

⊛ Conclude the
paragraph

⊛ Link back to the thesis

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

 There are three reasons why Canada is one of
the best countries in the world. First, Canada
has an excellent health care system. All
Canadians have access to medical services at a
reasonable price. Second, Canada has a high
standard of education. Students are taught by
well-trained teachers and are encouraged to
continue studying at university. Finally, Canada's
cities are clean and efficiently managed.
Canadian cities have many parks and lots of
space for people to live. As a result, Canada is
a desirable place to live.

Source:http://www2.actden.com/writ_Den/Tips/paragrap/topic.htm

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

 There are three reasons why Canada is one of
the best countries in the world. First, Canada
has an excellent health care system. All
Canadians have access to medical services at a
reasonable price. Second, Canada has a high
standard of education. Students are taught by
well-trained teachers and are encouraged to
continue studying at university. Finally, Canada's
cities are clean and efficiently managed.
Canadian cities have many parks and lots of
space for people to live. As a result, Canada is
a desirable place to live.

Source:http://www2.actden.com/writ_Den/Tips/paragrap/topic.htm

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

 ( Hmm. Disagreement
)
⊛ Look at page 6a in the
course handout:
Writing Academic
English

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

 ( Note to Jon:
)
⊛ Open up the file
Paragraph 1.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

 ( Good Topic Sentences ?
Page 6b )
⊛ Languages influence
each other.

⊛ The slang expression

so long (meaning
“goodbye” is probably
a corruption of the
Arabic salaam.

⊛ The Arabic origin of

many English words is
not always obvious.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

 ( Good Topic Sentences ?
Page 6b )
The English language is influenced by Arabic.
(Introduction)

⊛ The Arabic origin of

many English words is
not always obvious. Paragraph 1

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

 ( Good Topic Sentences ?
Page 6b )
⊛ Languages influence
each other.

⊛ The slang expression

so long (meaning
“goodbye” is probably
a corruption of the
Arabic salaam.

⊛ The Arabic origin of

many English words is
not always obvious.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

 ( Supporting sentences
)
⊛ examples

⊛ facts

⊛ statistics

⊛ quotations

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

 Reasons for Borduriaʼs Advanced
Civilization

The role played by the ancient kingdom of

Borduria in the development of modern
civilization is complex. However by looking at
the historical facts available, we can come to
one simple conclusion: during its heyday,
Borduria was the most modern civilization in
Asia-Minor. This essay will examine how
Borduriaʼs sewage system, early postal
system, and theatrical traditions made it the
most advanced civilization in the region.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

 See 7b

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

 ( The concluding
sentence )
⊛ signals the end of the
paragraph

⊛ sums up the
paragraph

⊛ adds a final point

⊛ paraphrases the first

topic sentence

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

 ( Exercise
)
⊛ Page 8 b: Exercise on
Paragraph Structure

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

 Now (re)write your own paragraph.

Substitute: gold for “the ability to write fluent, formal

English”

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

 ( Good
writing...
...comes from working out.
)

Wednesday, October 21, 2009