Lesson 4.

Elements of a
Paragraph
PurCom
 To follow a writer’s line of thinking, reader’s need a
message that is sensibly organized. Writer’s must
shape the material into an organized unit of meaning.
So, in setting out to organize a message, writer’s face
deliberate decisions:
 Objectives
11 22 33
What do I What
What do I
want to comes
say first?
emphasize? after?

4 5
How do I
How do I
stay on the
end?
track?
As with the decisions with the content, a writer’s
decision about organization are guided by the
audience’s expectations. Most useful messages –
whether in the form of a book, chapter, news article,
letter or memo- usually a common organizing
pattern: introduction, body and conclusion.
 Introduction
previews the discussion and reveals the
subject and purpose of the message.
Here the writer makes a commitment to
the readers about what will be said.
Knowing immediately what to expect,
readers can follow the message more
easily.
 Body
delivers on the promise implied in the
introduction, with a full explanation of
the main point. This section has unity in
that everything expands on the main
point. And it has coherence in that the
thought sequence is one continuous link
idea to idea.
 Conclusion
brings the message to a perceptible end, instead of
just stopping. Often, the main point is re-
emphasized.
In just about any message, the shape of an
organized unit of meaning is basically the same.
This shape is best illustrated in the form of a
standard support paragraph, a type of paragraph
that develops a single main point in enough detail
to convey the writer’s exact meaning.
THE RECEPTIVE SKILLS:

WRITING
 PURCOM

WHAT IS WRITING?
Writing is not just a simple task that can be
done in a few minutes. It is a complex and
challenging process that requires a lot of
effort, patience, and dedication.

Writing is a way of expressing your thoughts

and ideas in words, and it can be done in
many different forms, such as essays,
articles, stories, poems, and more.
 THE BASIC RULES
The basic rule of thumb with
paragraphing is to keep one
idea to one paragraph.
If you begin to transition into a
new idea, it belongs in a new
paragraph.
You can have one idea and
several bits of supporting
evidence within a single
paragraph.
You can also have several
points in a single paragraph as
long as they relate to the
overall topic of the paragraph.
Do not use word contractions
in Academic and Formal
Business writing.
Avoid using Passive Voice
instead use Active Voice
sentences.
 PUNCTUATION
MARKS
PERIOD . SEMICOLON ;

QUESTION MARK ? APOSTROPHE '

EXCLAMATION POINT ! QUOTATION MARKS "

COMMA , HYPHEN -

COLON : INTERROBANG ?!
 End of a sentence
it is used to end a declarative or
imperative sentence
Abbreviations
it is used to indicate an
abbreviation
Outlines
it is used optionally after letters or
numbers designating sections and

PERIOD sub-sections.
Numericals
The uses of PERIOD it is used in a numerical form such
as representing a decimal point
End of a sentence
it is used to end an interrogative
sentence
Within a sentence
it is used optionally within a
sentence to add emphasis to a
multiple query
QUESTION MARK
The uses of QUESTION MARK

EXCLAMATION POINT
The uses of EXCLAMATION POINT
End of a sentence
it is used to end an exclamatory
sentence
Interjection
it is used after an interjection or
after any word used as an
interjection.
Emphasis
adds emphasis to imply a sense of
urgency and to capture the reader’s
attention.
Elements within a sentence
set off any phrase or clause which
might otherwise be misread. Here’s
the part where you have to
concentrate
Comma in Quotations
used to separate a direct quotation
from its source unless it is
superseded by other punctuation.
Opening and closing of a letter
Dear John, Very truly yours,
Name and titles
COMMA
Enrique G Baking, Ed D. The uses of COMMA
Numbers
Commas are used to separate the
thousands in large numbers.
 List of items
The parts of speech are as follows:
Nouns, Pronouns, Verbs,
Adjectives, Adverbs, Prepositions,
Conjunction, and interjections.
Highlight
As you go through life, remember
one thing: The most humiliating
criticism is indifference.
Business Letter
COLON Dear Sir: To whom it may concern:
Dear Madam:
The uses of COLON Division of time, literature or scripture
3:45 P.M John 3:16
Independent Clauses
used to join two independent
clauses with or without a modifying
connective.
In place of comma
used to separate a direct quotation
from its source unless it is
superseded by other punctuation.
SEMICOLON
The uses of SEMICOLON
 Showing possession
One man’s hat many men’s hats
that woman’s hat

Plurals for symbols

They are 6’s and 7’s.
Can we use #’s to indicate pounds?

Contractions
APOSTROPHE don’t aren’t won’t haven’t
the summer of ’42 in November ’86
The uses of APOSTROPHE
Direct Quotations
Only the exact words of the
speaker or writer are enclosed in
quotation marks.
She said, “I want to go, but only if we
leave by dawn.”
Punctuation within quotations
A period or comma is always placed
before the closing quotation marks.
John said, “the report is due this week.”
“The report is due this week,” said John. QUOTATION MARKS
Titles
The rule of thumb is that anything long
The uses of QUOTATION MARKS
enough to appear in book form
including plays, opera, collection of art,
etc. are underlined or printed in italics.
 Compound words
used to join the parts of certain
compound words.
mother-in-law pre-Columbian weak-
heated
Divided words
is placed after the syllables of a
word divided at end of line to
indicate that the balance of the
HYPHEN word follows on the next line.
Dash
The uses of HYPHEN
is placed after the syllables of a
word divided at end of line to
indicate that the balance of the
word follows on the next line.
Emphasis
a combination of question mark and
exclamation point to emphasize those
statement which engender both
wonderment and a strong emotional
response: not quite a question, but
certainly questionable.
She did what?!

A recent study financed by the INTERROBANG

government reached the conclusion that
people don’t like to go to the dentist The use of INTERROBANG
because they fear pain?!