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Lecture 4
Paragraph building
Lecturer: Hamidreza Norouzi
Amirkabir University of Technology 5/11/2021
 2 Punctuations

What are punctuations?

 dash, colon, semicolon, parenthesis, etc.
Use them to combine very short sentences into longer and more
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readable sentences.
The new printing technology would enable manufacture of solar modules at
reduced cost. The cost is below the prices of retail grid electricity in most of the
US.
The new printing technology would enable the manufacture of solar modules at
reduced cost: below the price of retail grid electricity in most of the US.
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 3 Punctuations

From the least to the most powerful punctuations

Comma , mostly non-restrictive qualifiers
Colon : giving a list or extra definition to a noun or sentence
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Dash - extra definition in the middle (everywhere) of the sentence

Parenthesis () extra definition
Semicolon ; connecting two separate sentences or items in a list
Period . full stop at the end of a sentence

Avoid using too many dash or parenthesis because they are less formal.
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 4 Semicolon

Connecting two independent clause or sentences with the same idea

You use ; to put emphasis on the second part.
Ex: RF cavities that operate in a vacuum are vulnerable to dark-current-
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generated breakdown; thus, extra safety windows are required to separate RF

regions from hydrogen energy absorbers.
Separating items in a list with internal punctuations
They dramatically reduced the number of series in production: in 1935 fourteen
series were circulating; in 1940, nine; by 1950, when the syndicate was in the
final years, only four.
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 5 Semicolon

Applications that require such measurements include air quality

control; atmospheric chemistry; mapping of agricultural, landfill, and
traffic emissions; and pipeline leak detection.
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(note that the third item contains sub-list)

This project will develop a defect-free membrane that has high flux,
high selectivity, and high resistance to contaminants; is able to handle
high pressure and temperature; and is durable and economical.
(the first item in the list contains three sub-list)
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(also note the parallelization in this sentence)

 6 Parentheses

Use parentheses to insert an afterthought or an explanation (a word,

phrase or sentence) into a passage that is grammatically correct without
it.
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Use it to introduce short form of phrases.

Use it to give a definition of something/a word in the sentence.
Note that:
The material within the parentheses is unnecessary; that is, if you remove the
material, the main point of the sentence should not change.
It gives the reader the permission to skip over it.
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 7 Parentheses

Computation fluid dynamics (CFD) is a numerical tool for …

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The diamond-carbon stripper foil, made by combining pulse arc

deposition (which produces tensile stressed layers) with pulse laser
deposition (which produces compressively stressed layers), increased
the lifetime by 100 coulombs per foil.
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 8 Colon

Use a colon after an independent clause to introduce a list, quote,

explanation, or conclusion.
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The proposed technology would have the following benefits: (1) low capital
cost and operation cost, (2) high efficiency, and (3) scalability to any size for
hydrogen production.

The technical feasibility of the membrane measurement tool will be

demonstrated by: establishing the functional specifications, developing a
prototype test system, and developing a preliminary test protocol.
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 9 Colon

Note on the use of colon:

The items in the list and the part of sentence that the list is referring to should
have similar parts of speech/structures.
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Wrong: two aspects of alcohol use is related to the brain injury: as a factor to
associated with risk of an injury such as motorcycle crash, and as a factor in TBI
diagnosis, recovery…
Correct: two aspects of alcohol use is related to the brain injury: its association
with risk of injury such as motorcycle crash, and its influence on TBI diagnosis,
recovery…
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 10 Dash

Use dash to add emphasis or insert an abrupt definition or description

almost everywhere in the sentence.
Just don’t overuse it.
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A dash is a mark of separation stronger than a comma and less formal

than a colon or parentheses.
Example:
The fiber-reinforced plastic composite will combine desirable properties – such
as thermal robustness, electrical conductivity, and radiation shielding – suitable
for use in satellite components
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 11 Writing sentences and phrases in parallel structure

The items in a list separated by “comma”, “and”, “or”, etc. should have
similar structures.
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The pairs of phrases or sentences joined by “and”, “or”, “but”

The velocity decreased by 50% but the pressure increased by only 10%.

We aimed to increase the resolution and to improve picture quality.

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 12 Writing sentences and phrases in parallel structure

The design of the Wurster coater requires providing a condition in

which the sprayed coating solution is uniformly spread on the pellets,
no agglomeration occurs via providing good contact between wet
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pellets and hot gas and controlling pellet temperature to prevent APIs
from damage.
The design of the Wurster should provide conditions in which it uniformly
distributes coating solution on the pellets, eliminates agglomeration via
providing good contact between pellets and hot gas, and limits pellet
temperature to prevent APIs from damage.
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 13 Writing sentences and phrases in parallel structure

Bates describes five principles for the success of decision support

systems: speed, real-time delivery, integration into workflow, simplicity
and to avoid data entry.
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How to correct it?

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 14 Paragraphs

1 paragraph = 1 idea
Bring the main idea early
Paragraph flow is helped by:
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Logical flow of ideas

Parallel sentence structure
If necessary, using transition words
Your reader remember the first sentence and the last sentence the most.
Put the idea at the first and emphasis at the end!
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 15 Paragraph

Logical flow of ideas:

Sequential in time or procedure: start from earliest to the latest subject
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General → specific (take-home/main idea message first)

Logical arguments: if a then b / a; therefore b.

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 16 Paragraph

Transition words:
To indicate a conclusion that follows from the preceding sentence(s): therefore,
thus, consequently, as a result.
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To indicate a contrasting thought from that expressed in the preceding

sentence(s):however, nevertheless, alternatively, unfortunately, instead, in
contrast
To indicate a follow-on thought that supplements the preceding sentence(s): in
addition, in particular, finally, furthermore, moreover, for example
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 17 Example 1

 Many refinery off-gases are sent to flare, which contributes to energy losses
and greenhouse gas emissions. Instead, these off-gases could be converted
into valuable chemicals such as hydrogen. However, the production of
hydrogen uses a nickel-based steam reforming catalyst, which would be
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poisoned by the large concentrations of sulfur contained in refinery off-

gases. Traditionally, the sulfur has been removed by a two-step process:
hydrodesulfurization followed by the removal of H2S with an expendable
metal oxide absorbent. Unfortunately, the one-time use of expendable metal
oxide absorbents is not practical because the high sulfur levels in refinery
off-gases require high quantities of the expensive sorbent. Therefore, to
enable hydrogen production, a regenerable absorbent is needed to desulfurize
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refinery off-gases.
117 words
 18 Example 1

Main idea: off-gas conversion to hydrogen.

Supporting idea: using nickel-based catalyst
The problem: high concentration of sulfur
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Solution: pre-treatment processes

 The problem: use of expendable absorbent
 Solution (conclusion): use of re-generable absorbent
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 19 Example 1

Refinery off-gases can be converted into valuable chemicals such as

hydrogen, instead of being sent to flare, which contributes to energy
losses and greenhouse emissions. The production of hydrogen needs
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nickel-based steam reforming catalyst that is poisoned by the high

concentration of sulfur compounds in the refinery off-gasses. The
sulfur can be removed by a two-step process: hydrodesulfurization and
H2S removal with an expendable metal oxide absorbent. Metal oxide
absorbent is not re-generable; so, H2S removal step from off-gases with
high content of sulfur requires large quantities of this expensive
sorbent. Therefore, a re-generable absorbent is needed to desulfurize
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refinery off-gases.
101 words
 20 Example 2
 CMSMs are rigid and highly porous materials. The porous nature of carbon
membranes provides the justification of high productivity, while their
molecular-sieving morphology restricts the rotational freedom degree of gas
penetrants to yield highly selective membranes. As a result, carbon
membranes can attain the high selectivity without loosing the productivity
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[8,9] and thus surpass the upper bound limit of polymeric membranes
[10,11]. Present studies showed a CMSM can be tailored to acquire a
distribution of selective micropores in the order of 3–6A ˚, which similar to
the molecular size of diffusing gas [12,13]. Therefore, there is growing
interest in using CMS membranes to allow precise discrimination between
the gas molecules of similar molecular dimensions. Moreover, due to their
rigidity, CMSMs are able to retain their stability in aggressive (vapor or
solvents, and non-oxidizing acids or bases) and adverse (high temperature
and pressure operation) environments [14,15].
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Source: article 5
 21 Example 2
 CMSMs are rigid and highly porous materials. The porous nature of carbon
membranes provides the justification of high productivity, while their
molecular-sieving morphology restricts the rotational freedom degree of gas
penetrants to yield highly selective membranes. As a result, carbon
membranes can attain the high selectivity without loosing the productivity
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[8,9] and thus surpass the upper bound limit of polymeric membranes
[10,11]. Present studies showed a CMSM can be tailored to acquire a
distribution of selective micropores in the order of 3–6A ˚, which similar to
the molecular size of diffusing gas [12,13]. Therefore, there is growing
interest in using CMS membranes to allow precise discrimination between
the gas molecules of similar molecular dimensions. Moreover, due to their
rigidity, CMSMs are able to retain their stability in aggressive (vapor or
solvents, and non-oxidizing acids or bases) and adverse (high temperature
and pressure operation) environments [14,15].
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147 words
Source: article 5
 22 Example 2

Main ideal: unique properties of CMSM

High selectivity and productivity
They are very porous and the molecular sieve morphology restricts gas rotation in micro-
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pores ➔ higher selectivity and productivity even higher than polymeric membranes.
The size distribution of micro-pores can be tailored in range of 3-6 A ➔ precise separation
between gases with close molecular dimensions.
High rigidity
Resistance to aggressive mediums such as vapor or solvents and non-oxidizing acids and
bases and adverse conditions such as high temperature and pressure
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 23 Example 2

CMSMs have unique properties such as high porosity and rigidity.

Their very porous structure with molecular-sieving morphology, which
restricts the gas rotations in micro-pores, yields high selectivity [8,9].
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These membranes can attain both high selectivity and productivity; and
thus they surpass the maximum productivity of polymeric membranes
[10,11]. The size distribution of microspores can be tailored in range of
3-6 A that can be used in the precise separation between gases with
close molecular dimensions [12,13]. The rigid structure of the
membrane also tolerates aggressive mediums such as vapor or solvents
and non-oxidizing acids and bases and adverse conditions such as high
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temperature and pressure [14,15].

106 words