MLA

ACADEMIC WRITING
Patience Ting 2020
MAKE A PLAN

Where you are

now

?? Have you
done this yet?
 STYLISTIC ELEMENTS

• I. The Big Picture

formal and logical.
• cohesive and logical flow of ideas (Think back on your freshman
• composition.)
• UNITY
• COHERENCE
• ORDER
• COMPLETENESS

•
FOUR ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS
FOR A GOOD PARAGRAPH WRITING
Patience Ting 2020
 WHICH GRAPH BEST EXPRESSES THE IDEA OF A
GOOD PARAGRAPH? WHY? WRITE DOWN YOUR
IDEAS. 3 MINUTES

1 2
3 4

5 6
7
TIME FOR SHARING.
 COMPONENTS OF A BASIC
PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE
• the topic sentence, 1
• three supporting sentences, 3
• and a concluding sentence. 1
• Beginning, middle, end
• Stupid but true!
 ELEMENT 1: UNITY.
• Unity: a key word—a topic sentence—a good paragraph
Unity relies on the key in the topic sentence, expressing one single,
controlling.
A paragraph is unified around this main idea, with the supporting
sentences providing detail and discussion.
 ELEMENT 2: ORDER
• Order: The way supporting sentences are arranged.
Good order makes solid paragraph: Chronicle order/logical order/
order of importance.
Order avoids confusion.
 ELEMENT 3: COHERENCE
• Coherence: For the sake of understanding.
• Coherence/cohesion/connection:
• Transition words for order: first, second, third
for spatial relationships: above, below
logic: furthermore, in addition, in fact
• Above all, be aware of consistent verb tense and point of view.
 ELEMENT 4: COMPLETENESS
• Completeness: well-developed.
• Use clear sentences and sufficient support to explain the main idea,
• Usually three supporting sentences, in addition to a topic sentence and concluding
sentence, are needed for a paragraph to be complete.
• The completion lies in the concluding remark, which should summarize your main idea
by reinforcing your topic sentence.
END OF REVIEW