Assignment Format and

Paragraphs 101
Why are we talking about this?
All final drafts of academic and personal writing from this class (unless specifically
stated otherwise) will be written in essay format.

Essays are short pieces of writing that consists of paragraphs designed around a
theme.

Rough drafts may be brought to class for peer-reviewing on hand-written sheets,

but final drafts MUST be typed.

Do NOT email me the assignment UNLESS you will not be attending class on the
day that it is due.
Format
Your papers FONT SIZE should be 12 point.
This is 12 point.

Your paper must be double spaced.

This is an examples of a double spaced essay. Pay attention to the large space that will be between each line of

text. It is equal to twice the size of the font.

Whenever you create an essay, it must be arranged in paragraphs.

What are paragraphs?
A paragraph is a collection of related sentences
dealing with a single topic. Writing in
paragraphs will help keep you organized when
editing and revising

Basic Rule #1: For each paragraph, there

should only be ONE big idea. Every sentence
after that should be an extra detail that supports
the big idea

Basic Rule #2: Each paragraph should include

Unity, Coherence, A Topic Sentence, and
Adequate Development.
Unity and Coherence
Unity
The entire paragraph should concern itself with
a single focus. If it begins with one focus or
major point of discussion, it should not end with
another or wander within different ideas.

Coherence
Coherence is the trait that makes the paragraph
easily understandable to a reader.
Topic Sentence and Adequate Development
Topic Sentences Adequate Development

The topic (which is introduced by the topic

A topic sentence is a sentence that indicates in
sentence) should be discussed fully and
a general way what idea or thesis the paragraph
adequately
is going to deal with.

In the case of many assignments in this class,

when responding to a question in paragraph WARNING: Beware of
form, your topic sentence should be your paragraphs that only consist of
answer to the question. 2 or 3 sentences. There is a
good chance that the paragraph
is not developed enough.
How should I make sure that my topic is well-
developed?
Some methods to make sure your paragraph is well-developed:

● Use examples and illustrations

● Cite data (facts, statistics, evidence, details, and others)
● Examine testimony (what other people say such as quotes and paraphrases)
● Use an anecdote or story
● Define terms in the paragraph
● Compare and contrast
● Evaluate causes and reasons
● Examine effects and consequences
● Analyze the topic
● Describe the topic
● Offer a chronology of an event (time segments)
More Basic Rules
Basic Rule #3: Make your essay flow
by using signposts and transitions.

-Signposts are internal aids to assist readers;

they usually consist of several
sentences or a paragraph outlining what the
article has covered and where the article will be
going.
-Transitions are usually one or several
sentences that "transition" from one idea to the
next.
Effective Use of Rule #3
Example 1: Overall, Management Systems
International has logged increased sales in
every sector, leading to a significant rise in
third-quarter profits. Another important thing to
note is that the corporation had expanded its
international influence.
Revision: Overall, Management Systems
International has logged increased sales in
every sector, leading to a significant rise in
third-quarter profits. These impressive profits
are largely due to the corporation's expanded
international influence.
Example 2: Fearing for the loss of Danish
lands, Christian IV signed the Treaty of Lubeck,
effectively ending the Danish phase of the 30
Years War. But then something else significant
happened. The Swedish intervention began.
Revision: Fearing for the loss of more Danish
lands, Christian IV signed the Treaty of Lubeck,
effectively ending the Danish phase of the 30
Years War. Shortly after Danish forces withdrew,
the Swedish intervention began.
More Basic Rules
Rule #4: Be concise with your writing

The goal of concise writing is to use the most

effective words. Concise writing does not
always have the fewest words, but it always
uses the strongest ones.

Like bad employees, words that don't

accomplish enough should be fired. When only
the most effective words remain, writing will be
far more concise and readable.
How to use Rule #4
Replace several vague words with
more powerful and specific words.
Wordy: Suzie believed but could not confirm
that Billy had feelings of affection for her. (14
words)
Concise: Suzie assumed that Billy adored her.
(6 words)
Eliminate words that explain the
obvious or provide excessive detail
Wordy 2: Imagine a mental picture of someone
engaged in the intellectual activity of trying to
learn what the rules are for how to play the
game of chess.(27 words)
Concise: Imagine someone trying to learn the
rules of chess.(9 words) Wordy
More Basic Rules
Rule #5 Eliminate Unnecessary Words

Writers sometimes clog up their prose with one

or more extra words or phrases that seem to
modify the meaning of a noun but don't actually
add to the meaning of the sentence

Be sure to avoid repetitive words as well.

How to use Rule #5
Wordy 3: I would appreciate it if you would
Wordy 1: Balancing the budget by Friday is an
bring to the attention of your drafting officers the
impossibility without some kind of extra help.(14
administrator's dislike of long sentences and
words)
paragraphs in messages to the field and in
Concise: Balancing the budget by Friday is
other items drafted for her signature or
impossible without extra help.(10 words)
approval, as well as in all correspondence,
reports, and studies. Please encourage your
Wordy2: The supply manager considered the
section to keep their sentences short.(56 words)
correcting typewriter an unneeded luxury.(10
words)
Concise: Please encourage your drafting
Concise: The supply manager considered the
officers to keep sentences and paragraphs in
correcting typewriter a luxury.(9 words)
letters, reports, and studies short. Dr. Lomas,
the administrator, has mentioned that reports
and memos drafted for her approval recently
have been wordy and thus time-consuming.(37
words)
How to use Rule #5
Pairs to avoid using together: Words to avoid overusing:
● past memories ● kind of
● various differences ● sort of
● each individual _______ ● type of
● basic fundamentals ● really
● true facts ● basically
● important essentials ● for all intents and purposes
● future plans ● definitely
● terrible tragedy ● actually
● end result ● generally
● final outcome ● individual
● free gift ● specific
● past history ● particular
● unexpected surprise
● sudden crisis
I hate wet and rainy days. It rained a lot in 1816.... a lot - like everyday; the weather in Europe was abnormally
wet because it rained in Switzerland on 130 out of the 183 days from April to September. If I was Mary Shelley I
might decide to write a book too. Afterall, it was the only thing you could do without TV or anything. She said
that she "passed the summer of 1816 in the environs of Geneva...we occasionally amused ourselves with
some German stories of ghosts... These tales excited in us a playful desire of imitation" So, people were stuck
inside and bored. Mary Shelley decided to write a book because it was so awful outside. I can totally see her
point, you know? I guess I would write a novel if there was nothing else to do.
 I hate wet and rainy days. It rained a lot in 1816.... a lot - like everyday; the weather in Europe
No was abnormally wet because it rained in Switzerland on 130 out of the 183 days from April to
indentation. September. If I was Mary Shelley I might decide to write a book too. Afterall, it was the only thing
you could do without TV or anything. She said that she "passed the summer of 1816 in the
No double environs of Geneva...we occasionally amused ourselves with some German stories of ghosts...
spacing These tales excited in us a playful desire of imitation" So, people were stuck inside and bored.
Mary Shelley decided to write a book because it was so awful outside. I can totally see her point,
you know? I guess I would write a novel if there was nothing else to do.
 My first day of college was a disaster. First, I went to the wrong classroom for math. I was sitting in the

class, surrounded by people taking notes and paying attention to how to do equations, which would have been

okay if I was supposed to be in an algebra class. In reality, I was supposed to be in geometry, and when I

discovered my error, I had already missed the first twenty minutes of a one-hour class. When I got to the

correct class, all twenty-five students turned and looked at me as the teacher said, “You’re late.” That would

have been bad enough, but in my next class my history teacher spoke so fast I could not follow most of what

he said. The only thing I did hear was that we were having a quiz tomorrow over today’s lecture. My day

seemed to be going better during botany class, that is, until we visited the lab. I had a sneezing fit because of

one of the plants in the lab and had to leave the room. When I finally finished my classes for the day, I

discovered I had locked my keys in the car and had to wait for my brother to bring another set. My first day of

school was so bad that I know the rest will have to be better.
 My first day of college was a disaster. First, I went to the wrong classroom for math. I was sitting in

the class, surrounded by people taking notes and paying attention to how to do equations, which would have

been okay if I was supposed to be in an algebra class. In reality, I was supposed to be in geometry, and when I

discovered my error, I had already missed the first twenty minutes of a one-hour class. When I got to the

correct class, all twenty-five students turned and looked at me as the teacher said, “You’re late.” That would

have been bad enough, but in my next class my history teacher spoke so fast I could not follow most of what

he said. The only thing I did hear was that we were having a quiz tomorrow over today’s lecture. My day

seemed to be going better during botany class, that is, until we visited the lab. I had a sneezing fit because of

one of the plants in the lab and had to leave the room. When I finally finished my classes for the day, I

discovered I had locked my keys in the car and had to wait for my brother to bring another set. My first day of

school was so bad that I know the rest will have to be better.