USING PARAGRAPH PETTERNS

IN FINDING MAIN IDEAS AND

SUPPORTING IDEAS
Dr. Sunarsih, M.A.
What is a paragraph pattern?

A paragraph pattern is a plan. It shows the parts

of a paragraph and how they are put together.
PARAGRAPH SONG

 Introduce a topic in a general way

 Next, you add some details of what you want
to say
 Then you write a clincher, put this sentence
last
 Now you have just completed your great
paragraph
What are main ideas?
The main idea is the subject of the paragraph. It is what the
paragraph is about. Writers may directly state their main
ideas or they may imply them.

A directly stated main idea is one that the writers tell you
about in a topic sentence.

An implied main idea is just the opposite of a directly stated

idea. Writers do not tell you the main idea in a topic
sentence. They give you only the sentences with the
supporting ideas.
What Types of Paragraph Patterns Do
Writers Use?

The three types used most often are these:

• Questions to be answered
• Problems to be solved
• Topics to be discussed
 Where Do Writers Place Their Ideas
in a Paragraph?

The Main Idea First in the Paragraph Here the

topic sentence (that is, the sentence carrying the main
idea) opens the paragraph. The sentences carrying the
supporting ideas come next. People sometimes draw
this placement as an upright triangle:
a. Main Idea
b. Supporting Ideas
 Where Do Writers Place Their Ideas
in a Paragraph?

The Main Idea Last in the Paragraph In this

placement, the topic sentence is at the end of the
paragraph. The supporting ideas come first. This
drawing of an upside-down triangle shows the
placement:
a. Supporting Ideas
b. Main Idea
 Where Do Writers Place Their Ideas
in a Paragraph?

The Main Idea within the Paragraph Here the

writers start with some of the supporting ideas. Then,
they put in the main idea. Next, they give some more
supporting ideas. This placement is shown in this
drawing of two smaller triangles:
a. Supporting Ideas
b. Main Idea
c. Supporting Ideas
 REVIEW

What did we learn today?

So what? (relevancy, importance, usefulness)
Which part did you find easy/fun?
Which part did you find difficult?
What do you want to know more?
 RESOURCES

Supriyanto, B. Critical Reading. Bandung:

Institut Teknologi Bandung.