PARAGRAPH

DEVELOPMENT
Prepared by:
Ms. Jeny U. Sese

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RECALL
WORDS
make up a

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PHRASE
makes up

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SENTENCES
make up a

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PARAGRAPH
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“A solidly written paragraph takes its readers
on a clear path, without detours.”

- a group of sentences organized

around a central topic.

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Parts of a
Paragraph
1 Topic Sentence - tells the
reader what the paragraph
is going to be about.

1
0
2 Supporting Sentence –
make the topic more
interesting or help
explain it more clearly .

1
1
 Clincher/Concluding Sentence –
3 provides a logical conclusion
based on the information found in
the supporting sentences.

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2
 My mother is neither tall nor heavy, but she’s the
biggest person in my life. There has been no other person
with a greater influence on me. Most mothers
feed, wash, and clothe their children, and my mother is no
exception. But more than this, she made sure that I
received the finest education possible. This education
was not at expensive schools or famous universities, but
at home, by her knee, patiently. My mother explained to
me the difference between right and wrong; the virtues of
generosity, honesty, and hard work; and the importance of
family and social ties. From her, I understood who I
was, where I belonged, and how I should spend my
energy. No matter how big I might grow to be, I hope to
be as great as my mother.
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3
 My mother is neither tall nor heavy, but she’s the biggest
person in my life. There has been no other person with a greater
influence on me. Most mothers feed, wash, and clothe their
children, and my mother is no exception. But more than this, she
made sure that I received the finest education possible. This
education was not at expensive schools or famous
universities, but at home, by her knee, patiently. My mother
explained to me the difference between right and wrong; the
virtues of generosity, honesty, and hard work; and the
importance of family and social ties. From her I understood who I
was, where I belonged, and how I should spend my energy. No
matter how big I might grow to be, I hope to be as great
as my mother.
Topic Sentence
Supporting Sentence
Clincher 14
Guess
what?
 UNITY

FOUR
COHERENCE ESSENTIAL ORDER
ELEMENTS

COMPLETENESS

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UNITY
• Refers to the extent to which all of the ideas
contained within a given paragraph ‘hang
together’ in a way that is easy for the reader to
understand.
• Unity in a paragraph begins with the topic
sentence.

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ORDER
• Refers to the way you organize your
supporting sentences.
Whether in chronological order, order of
importance, or another logical
presentation detail.
• Helps the reader grasp the meaning and avoid
confusion

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COHERENCE
• The quality the makes your writing
understandable.
• Closely related to UNITY.
Paragraph need to connect each other and work
together as a whole.
• Uses transition words that show order (first
second, third); logic (furthermore, in
addition, in fact)

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COMPLETENESS
• Completeness means a paragraph is well-
developed.
• If all sentences clearly and sufficiently support
the main idea.

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 Paragraph writing is the
foundation of all essay
writing, whether the form is
expository, persuasive, narrative
, etc.

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 DIFFERENCE?
PARAGRAPH ESSAY
1. generally much 1. Consists of many
shorter than an paragraphs
essay
2. you could explore
2. should be centered many ideas while
on one idea only
talking about one
or write about only
one topic general topic

If you take the parts of a paragraph and

expand them, you can create an essay. 15
 PARAGRAPH DEVELOPMENT
Developing paragraphs in a variety of patterns
that reflect your thinking about the material. As
you write the topic sentence and its supporting
sentences, look for ways to structure your
thinking. Where one author advances his or her
material by narrating a series of events, another
undertakes a physical description and another
undertakes an analysis of the topic.

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 Topic
vs.
Pattern
 Categorical/
Topical

Comparison/ Biographical
Contrast

Chronological

Problem- Causal
Solution

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 BIOGRAPHICAL
• presents descriptions of
your life or of a person,
famous or not
 CATEGORICAL/
TOPICAL
• presents related categories
supporting the topics
Example:
Specific Purpose: To inform my audience about the use of
lasers

Central Idea: Lasers harness the power of light for a wide

range of uses.

Main Points:
I. Lasers have many important uses in Science.
II. Lasers have become indispensable to industry.
III. Lasers are revolutionizing the practice of medicine.
Example:
I. Genetic engineering is producing new plant
hybrids that will vastly increase world
agricultural production.
II. Genetic engineering is producing
breakthroughs in medicine that will allow
people to live healthier lives.
III. Genetic engineering is producing bacteria
that will help clean up industrial plants.
Example:
I. What is diabetes?
II. What causes diabetes?
III. What are the symptoms of diabetes?
IV. What are the treatments of diabetes?
 CAUSAL
• presents the cause-effect
relationships
Example:
I. What is diabetes?
II. What causes diabetes?
III. What are the symptoms of diabetes?
IV. What are the treatments of diabetes?
 CHRONOLOGICAL
• presents the idea in time
order
Example:
Specific Purpose: To inform my audience how the Great
Wall of China was built

Central Idea: The Great Wall of China was built in three

major stages.

Main Points:
I. Building the Great Wall began during Qin dynasty of
221-206 BC.
II. New sections of the Wall were added during Han
Dynasty of 206 BC – 220 AD
III. The Wall was completed during Ming Dynasty of 1368-
1644.
Example:
Specific Purpose: To inform my audience how the Great
Wall of China was built

Central Idea: The Great Wall of China was built in three

major stages.

Main Points:
I. Building the Great Wall began during Qin dynasty of
221-206 BC.
II. New sections of the Wall were added during Han
Dynasty of 206 BC – 220 AD
III. The Wall was completed during Ming Dynasty of 1368-
1644.
 COMPARISON/
CONTRAST
• presents the comparison
and contrast of two or
three points.
Green Apple vs. Red Apple
 PROBLEM-
SOLUTION
• presents an identified
problem, its causes and
recommended solutions
Identify the pattern on
how the given
paragraph is formed.
Exercise no.1

To inform a group of college

Specific Purpose students about the uses and
misuses of Internet dating

I. Define and describe

Internet dating.
II. Explain some strategies to
enhance your Internet
Main Points
dating experience.
III. List some warning signs
to look for in potential
online dates.
Exercise no. 2
To inform a group of physicians about
Specific Purpose Drug X, a newer drug with similar
applications to Drug Y

I. Show how Drug X and Drug Y are

Main Points similar.
II. Show how Drug X and Drug Y differ.

To inform a group of physicians about

Specific Purpose Drug X, a newer drug with similar
applications to Drug Y

I. Explain the basic purpose and use of

both Drug X and Drug Y.
Main Points II. Show how Drug X and Drug Y are
similar.
III. Show how Drug X and Drug Y differ.
Exercise no. 3
To persuade a civic group to support a
Specific Purpose citywide curfew for individuals under the
age of eighteen

I. Demonstrate that vandalism and

violence among youth is having a
negative effect on our community.

II. Show how vandalism and violence

among youth go up after 10:00 p.m. in
Main Points our community.

III. Explain how instituting a mandatory

curfew at 10:00 p.m. would reduce
vandalism and violence within our
community.
PICTURE
ANALYSIS
 WAYS IN DEVELOPING A PARAGRAPH
1. Creating an Outline
• Write down the main points that you wish to discuss
in the paragraph first. Aim for two or three main
points.
• Underneath each main point, add a piece of
supporting evidence from a
journal, novel, poem, etc.
• After the evidence, offer a brief explanation.

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 WAYS IN DEVELOPING A PARAGRAPH
1. Creating an Outline
2. Topic Sentence Development
How to write?
It should discuss an idea only in generic terms
without proving too many details.

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 WAYS IN DEVELOPING A PARAGRAPH
3. Supporting details
For example, a piece of support in an essay about drug usage
could read, "Drug usage is becoming an increasing problem in
the United States." After that, introduce a statistic showing the
rise of drug usage over the last decade.
4. Using quotations and evidence
5. Analyzing quotations and evidence

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 WAYS IN DEVELOPING A PARAGRAPH
6.Providing strong, relevant information
Important facts, textual analysis and all of the
information must be relevant. Stay focused!
7. Using concise language
Words such as "good," "nice" and "bad" are extremely
vague and should not be used in professional writing.
Find clearer words - "respectful," "giving" and "selfish,"
for example, with which to replace these vague words.

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 WAYS IN DEVELOPING A PARAGRAPH
8. Using colorful and clear words
Furthermore, do not use confusing words or words of
which you do not know the meaning, because your lack
of understanding will translate to the reader.
9. Crafting a strong conclusion statement
At the end of one paragraph, suggest that there is
another idea that piggybacks on top of the one that
you have discussed, or state that there are some
disagreeing ideas in the field.

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 WAYS IN DEVELOPING A PARAGRAPH
10. Utilizing appropriate transition words
Ex: Order (first,second,last),
Spatial Relationships (above, below),
Logic (furthermore, in addition, in fact), etc.
11. Following proper grammar rules
Ensure that your paper is free of grammar errors.

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Thank
you!

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