Group 1 Summary of Paragraph Patterns

Members:
1. Bielsa Thahira (23018005)
2. Nisya Apridila (23018036)
3. Daniella Utami (23018077)

A. Understanding Paragraph
Paragraph is a group of sentences that cohered and related to each other about a single topic.
Elements of paragraph are:
 Topic: A particular subject that you discuss or write about. It can be expressed in two or
three words.
 Main idea: A sentence that explains the topic. The sentence that expresses this idea is
called the topic sentence. Topic sentence can be in the first sentence, in the last sentence,
in the middle of paragraph, or in the first and last sentences. Main idea that not unstated in
the paragraph called implied main idea.
 Supporting details: The proof, support, explanation, reasons, or examples that explain the
main idea. Major details explain and develop the main idea. Minor details expand them
more detail.
Example:
[1]
Functional illiteracy – the inability to read and write well enough to carry out everyday
activities – is a complex social problem that stems from several sources. [2]One source of the
problem is our educational system. [3]Our schools are too quick to pass children from one grade to
the next even when their learning is woefully deficient. [4]Even teachers who care may not want to
“buck the system” by refusing to pass along students who have not yet learned important basic
skills. [5]The community also contributes to functional illiteracy. [6]Local businesses and agencies,
indifferent to education, do not work with schools towards improving children’s motivation and
learning. [7]Another source is the home. [8]Millions of children grow up with illiterate parents who
do not give them the opportunity or encouragement to learn language skills. [9]In all too many
homes, a television is turned on much of the time, but there are few if any books to interest children
in reading.
Explanation:
Topic: Functional illiteracy.
Main idea: [1]Functional illiteracy – the inability to read and write well enough to carry out
everyday activities – is a complex social problem that stems from several sources.
Major details: [2], [5], and [7]
Minor details: [3]. [4], [6], [8], and [9]
 B. Paragraph Patterns
Paragraph patterns are the different ways that writers can organize and structure their
paragraphs to effectively convey their ideas. It shows the relationship between supporting details
in paragraphs, essays, and chapters. Also helps you to understand how an author thinks and helps
you remember what you read.
1. Listing
It enumerates ideas, events, names, or things, in a parallel form. It is mentioning things one
after the other. Changing the order does not change the meaning of the paragraph.
Signal words: In addition, another, for example, also, several…
Example: Diamonds are expensive for several reasons. First, they are difficult to find. They are
only found in a few places in the world. Second, they are useful. People use diamonds to cut
other stones. Third, diamonds do not change. They stay the same for millions of years. Finally
they are very beautiful

2. Narration
Narrative tells a story. The paragraph basically contains a series of events usually in time
sequence as well as other information such as the setting and who is involved. Narrative also
describes steps, events, processes, or procedures. It arranges information in chronological order.
Signal words: first, second, then, soon, before, after, later, lastly, finally, suddenly…
Example: Before the girls got to the porch, I heard their laughter crackling and popping like pine
logs in a cooking stove. I suppose my lifelong paranoia was born in those cold, molasses-slow
minutes. They came finally to stand on the ground in front of Momma. At first they pretended
seriousness. Then one of them wrapped her right arm in the crook of her left, pushed out her mouth
and started to hum. I realized that she was aping my grandmother.

3. Description
The purpose of description is to recreate, invent, or visually present a person, place, event, or
action so that the reader can picture that which is being described. It is heavily based on sensory
details: sight, sound, smell, feel, taste. It should provide specific details of the most important
features and use appropriate adjectives to describe attributes and qualities.
Example: The dirt of the girls' cotton dresses continued on their legs, feet, arms, and faces to make
them all of a piece. Their greasy uncolored hair hung down, uncombed, with a grim finality. I knelt
to see them better, to remember them for all time. The tears that had slipped down my dress left
unsurprising dark spots, and made the front yard blurry and even more unreal. The world had taken
a deep breath and was having doubts about continuing to revolve.
 4. Definition
Definition paragraph is a paragraph explaining a term or subject using distinguishing
characteristics or synonyms. This can be done in three different ways:
 Synonym is explaining the term by using the words that mean the same thing.
 Class is when you put your topic in a larger category to explain your term.
 Negation means that the write first says something is not, and then says what it is.
Signal words: defined as, is, known, the term means, refers to, is stated as, is used to mean…
Example:
I. The viola is a stringed instrument in the violin family. It is only slightly larger than the
violin and is tuned at a lower pitch. Like its smaller relative, the viola is held on the shoulder
under the chin and is played with a bow. While the violin has many uses, the viola is used
mainly in orchestral and chamber music.

II. Longitudinal dunes are long, low ridges of sand that lie approximately at right angles to
the trend of the sand waves, or parallel to the direction of the wind (Douglas, 2006). Some
of the ridges are almost straight, and others are slightly wavy. They range up to about 10
meters in height and 30 meters in width. Many are more than one and one-half kilometers
long. Both sides of these dunes have practically the same slope and are usually covered
with grass and shrubs.

III. An amtrack is not a boat; however, it is a military vehicle that moves on the ocean as well
as on land. It’s an armored vehicle that weighs twenty-six tons. An amtrack’s job is to carry
troops from ships off shore onto the beach in an amphibious assault. It’s made out of
aluminum, with steel suspension. It has a tracked suspension, much like a bulldozer.

5. Cause-Effect
In this pattern, one item is showed as having produced another element. An event (effect) is
said to have happened because of some situation or circumstance (cause). The cause (the action)
stimulates the event or effect (the outcome).
Signal words: Cause, causes, caused, because of, as a result, for this reason, consequently, hence,
therefore, since, made…
Example: A cold winter causes serious problems in Florida. It has a bad effect on farming. The
farmers there grow a lot of oranges. Very cold weather can cause orange trees to die. Cold weather
also results in fewer tourists. There are many hotels and vacation places in Florida. These places
are in trouble if there are fewer tourists. And finally, very cold weather can cause health problems.
Many people do not have heating in their homes. So, they can become ill from cold.
 6. Comparison-Contrast
A comparison shows similarities. A contrast shows differences.
Signal words: also, in addition, likewise, further, but, however, although, even so, in contrast, on
the other hand, nevertheless, yet…
Example: Tomatoes are very popular in most parts of the United States, but most people prefer
tomatoes grown in the home garden. There is a great difference between tomatoes from the
supermarket and home garden tomatoes. The supermarket tomatoes have a very little taste, their
color is pale yellow-red, and they as hard as rocks. On The other hand, home garden tomatoes are
deep red, juicy, tasty, and tender.

7. Exemplification
Exemplification paragraph provide example to support or clarify a generalization.
Signal words: for instance, for example, furthermore…
Example: In order to maintain a healthy lifestyle, it is important to incorporate regular exercise
into your daily routine. For instance, engaging in cardiovascular activities such as running,
swimming, or cycling can help strengthen the heart and improve overall cardiovascular fitness.
These exercises increase the heart rate, leading to better blood circulation and oxygenation of the
body. Furthermore, strength training exercises, such as lifting weights or doing bodyweight
exercises, can help build muscle mass and increase bone density. This not only improves physical
appearance but also reduces the risk of developing osteoporosis or experiencing bone fractures.
Lastly, participating in activities like yoga or Pilates can enhance flexibility, balance, and posture,
which are crucial for maintaining proper body alignment and preventing injuries. By incorporating
a variety of exercises into your routine, you can reap the numerous benefits of physical activity
and lead a healthier life.

8. Process
A process paragraph explain how to do something or how something happen. It consists of a
series of connected steps.
Signal words: first, second, third, then, lastly…
Example: Making a good cup of tea is exquisitely simple. First, the teapot is heated by filling it
with water that has just come to a boil. This water is then discarded, and one teaspoon of loose tea
per cup is placed in the teapot (the exact amount may vary according to taste). Fresh water that has
just come to a boil is poured into the pot. A good calculation is six ounces of water for each cup
of tea. The tea must now steep for three to five minutes; then it is poured through a strainer into a
cup or mug. A pound of loose tea will yield about two hundred cups of brewed tea. Using a tea
bag eliminates the strainer, but it is still best to make the tea in a teapot so that the water stays
sufficiently hot. The typical restaurant service—a cup of hot water with the tea bag on the side—
will not produce the best cup of tea because the water is never hot enough when it reaches the table
and because the tea should not be dunked in the water; the water should be poured over the tea.
Although tea in a pot often becomes too strong, that problem can be dealt with very easily by
adding more boiling water.

9. Argument
An argument paragraph presents opinion supported by evidence. Evidence to prove can include
reasons, statistics, confirmed facts, expert research, and, in some special cases, personal
experience. For the claim to be persuasive, an argument writer must support it with the most
effective evidence that comes from a variety of credible sources
Signal words: For this purpose, to this end, above all, truly, in fact, really, furthermore, certainly,
surely, admittedly, undoubtedly…
Example: Epidemiological studies have severe limitations. First, such studies can seldom be made
in a way that adheres to all the requirements of experimental science as the ‘objects’ being studied
are people and they come with a variety of behaviors and appetites (Watson, 2011). Second, the
study can take place only in the conditions that have occurred and not in a laboratory re-creation
of them where certain factors can be varied systematically to determine their influence and effect
(Baker, 2015). Most seriously, epidemiological studies can take decades to be completed, so that
when studying occupational disease, by the time a positive result becomes evident, large numbers
of workers may have been damaged or injured irreversibly (Watson & Jones, 2015). Hence, the
identification of occupational disease cannot be allowed to rest on epidemiology alone.

10. Problem-Solution
A problem-solution paragraph identifies a problem, or problems, and recommends a plausible
solution(s).
Signal words: the problem is, the solution is, the result…
Example: General Computers, a Fortune 500 company, has recently experienced problems with
employee dissatisfaction, especially in the area of lack of flexibility with work schedules.
However, this problem can be easily solved by implementing new technology to allow employees
to telecommute, which results in greater schedule flexibility and may, in effect, result in increased
employee satisfaction. According to Edwards (2006), the problem was first recognized when
General Computers administered a survey on employees and work satisfaction. Surprisingly,
General Computers found that the majority of employee dissatisfaction (82%) resulted from a lack
of flexibility in employee work schedules. The solution to General Computers’ problem lies in the
implementation of a telecommuting program to enable employee greater scheduling flexibility.
The telecommuting program would enable employees to bring up their workstation desktops from
home. This method could facilitate greater scheduling flexibility in two areas: while this program
would enable some employees to make the transition to full‐time telecommuters, other employees
who still physically work in the office would also enjoy greater scheduling flexibility. For
example, if an employee’s child has a dental appointment late in the afternoon, the employee can
seek permission to leave work early and simply finish what he/she was working on from home
later that evening.

C. Combining Paragraph Patterns

Paragraphs can be structured with a combination of patterns. For example, narrative and
descriptive paragraph can be combined in a paragraph so it's not bland and more vivid. We can
call it "mixed" or "combined" paragraph. It shows flexibility in conveying information or ideas
using various patterns in a single paragraph. Paragraph with combined patterns are often used to
develop the effectiveness of the paragraph. It also depending on the content of the paragraph, we
allow to use different pattern in a single paragraph to give clearer information, for example we can
write a story chronologically and describing the details at the same time. But you must have a
dominant pattern or major pattern.
Example: An avalanche is a huge snow slide that rushes down the side of a mountain, carrying
large trees, rocks, and other debris in its path. Avalanches are similar to landslides but can be more
dangerous and destructive. Avalanches can occur when huge amounts of new snow fall on layers
of snow and ice that have become unstable because of melting. They can also be triggered by
explosions or earthquakes.
Patterns: Combination of definition and cause-effect pattern.
 References

Cuesta College. 2024. Organizational Patterns of Paragraph.

(https://www.cuesta.edu/student/resources/ssc/study_guides/reading_comp/306_read_paragraph.
html, accessed on 11 February 2024).

Catalyst. 2003. Paragraph Patterns.

(https://highered.mheducation.com/sites/0070400555/student_view0/writing-
999/paragraph_patterns.html#, accessed on 11 February 2024).