English 8

PARAGRAPH
COMPOSITION

Quarter 4 Lesson 3
 OBJECTIVES
At the end of this lesson, you are
expected to:

1 Compose effective paragraphs.

Identify the different parts of the paragraph; and

2

Create works using correct and appropriate

3
Language
OUTLINE

• Map of your work

• Shows what information each section of
your paragraph contains
• General plan of what you are writing
TIPS IN WRITING AN OUTLINE

Identify your topic.

Decide what points you would like to discuss on

your paper.

Put your points in numerical order.

Write possible transitions between paragraphs.

Example:
 Primary Source
provides credible evidence and
first-hand information.
(Letters, Photographs,
Newspapers, Archives,
Manuscripts, Books,
Broadcast, Contemporary
Language, Data, Film, Maps,
Pamphlets, Periodicals, Sound
Recordings)
Secondary Source
summarizes or discusses
They are information originally
presented in another source.
best when
(Textbooks, Articles, Book
used
Reviews, Commentaries,
together. Encyclopedias, Almanacs)
Composing an Effective
Paragraph
UNITY

• Unity in the paragraph means oneness of idea. A good

paragraph possesses unity when all the sentences develop
the main idea. Unity in the paragraph is achieved by the
use of
⚬ (a) a topic sentence that develops the idea,
⚬ (b) supporting details, and a
⚬ (c) clinching sentence.
COMPLETENESS

• Completeness is achieved in a paragraph if it says all

that is intended to say and it includes only enough
examples.
COHERENCE

• The word “coherence” is derived from “cohere” which literally

means “to hold together.” If the sentences in the paragraph
should relate to the topic sentence to effect a unified whole,
these sentences should further be arranged in an orderly
sequence and linked to one another to ensure a smooth
progression of ideas from one sentence to another. It means
sentences move clearly from one idea to the next without gaps.
EMPHASIS / ORDER

• Emphasis is achieved when sentences reveal an

order that the reader can see and follow, such as,
from general to specific, from whole to part,
from cause to effect, from abstract to concrete,
and so on.
 • The Topic Sentence
PARTS OF A PARAGRAPH ⚬ The first part of the text contains the topic sentence
that states the main idea.
• The Supporting Sentences
⚬ The second part of the text is composed of
supporting sentences and is usually found in the
middle of the paragraph. They provide details such
as explanations or examples that expand on or
support the topic sentence.
• The Concluding Sentence
⚬ The last part of the text is the concluding sentence
which is sometimes used in longer paragraphs to
sum up the ideas presented.
Steps in writing a Simple
Paragraph
 Choose one question (from step 3) on
Steps in writing a Simple
which to focus your paragraph. 4
Paragraph

Reword your question (from step 4) into a

1 Choose a general topic. statement. This will be the 5

topic sentence for your paragraph.

Write down three sentences that help

Narrow down general topic to
support your topic sentence. 6
2 a specific topic.

Write up to three questions (how, Summarize your topic sentence

when, where, why, who, what) and three supporting sentences
3 7
about your specific topic. with a concluding sentence.