Understanding the Paragraph

Three Levels of Information in a Paragraph

1. Main idea-is a stated as a topic sentence. Explains the author's one main point about the subject. Is a more general statement than any of the supporting details 2. Major detail-explains the main idea. Provides primary support to the main idea. Is more general than a minor detail 3. Minor detail-explains a major detail. Provides secondary support to the main idea. Is the most specific idea in the passage.

Compose a Topic Sentence

A focused main idea presents a narrowed subject and the writer's controlling point about the narrowed subject. The controlling point often indicates both the writer's opinion and a pattern of organization. A topic sentence states the focused main idea in a complete.

The traits of a paragraph

A paragraph allows a writer to express clearly and oowerfully one main idea about a narrowed subject. A well-weitten paragaph can express a vails consumer comokaint, a compelling reason to be hired, a sincere apology to a loved one, or a concepy tested by a written exam in a college course.

Identify the Three Part of a Paragraph

A paragraph is a series of closely related sentences that develop and support the writer's point about a narrowed subject. Often, the paragraph serves as a building block for a longer piece of writing such as an essay, since an essay is composed of two, three, or more paragraphs. In many situations a writer can make a point through one well-developed paragraphs. In many situations a writer can makes a stand-alone paragraph with a little. In addition to a title, a paragraph has three basic parts: A beginning-An introduction of one or more sentences: A topic sentence that states the author's purpose and main point. A middle-A body of major and minor details that support the topic sentence. An ending-A conclusion of one or more sentence that reinforces the author's purpose and main point.

What's the point of a paragraph

A paragraph is a well-thought-out chunk of information. A writer narrows a topic into a focused main idea.

Use Effective Expression

Effective expression enhances the writer's purpose through the precise choice and use of words, sentence structure, and grammar.

Relevant details

Explain and support only the writer's point. Once you narrow a subject into a focused main idea, you then include only those details that relate to you opinion and pattern of organization.

Sentence Structure

Four types of sentences serve as the basis for all sentences in the English language: simple, compound, complex, and compound-Complex sentences. Effective expression uses a variety of sentence types to express ideas in clear and interesting statements. Simple sentence- Jerome struggles with test anxiety. Compound sentence-Jerome knows the material, but he freezes up during an exam. Complex sentence-Because Jerome does not test well, he has created a test-taking plan to improve his scores. Compound-Complex Sentence-For example, Jerome reads through the entire exam; then he answers all the easy questions so that he can accumulate points and gain confidence.

Grammar

Grammar is a tool of effective expression. Writer's use grammar to clarify and polish ideas. Grammar includes a wide variety of language rules such as the following: tense, agreement, and punctuation. During the revision process, many writer's focus on the element of expression at a time.

Narrow the topic

Narrow the topic based on your opinion. An opinion is expressed by using words such as amazing, alarming, beautiful, best, likely, should, or any other word that states personal values, judgements, or interpretations. Use questions, free-writing, mapping, listing, or another brainstorming technique to discover your opinion about a topic. Example: General Topic:Dieting Narrowed Subject: A healthful diet Dangerous diets Narrow the topic based on a pattern of organization. A writer may use a pattern of organization to narrow a subject and generate details. Patterns of organization to narrow a subject and generate details. Patterns of organization are also used to develop, organize, and express a main idea, major details, and minor details in a logical order. The following list provides a few examples of patterns of organization and signal words for each one. Pattern of Organization: space order, time order, example, classification, compare/contrast, cause/effect Signal words: above, below, next to, underneath, behind First, now, then, before, after, process, use For example, exemplify, includes, such as Types, kinds, levels Similar, likewise, just as/however, in contrast Source, original/result, impact Example: General Topic: Exercise Narrowed Subject: the effect of exercise The types of exercise Combine topic, opinion, and pattern of organization to generate a narrowed subject. Example: General Topic: dieting, exercise Narrowed Subject: Three steps to a healthful diet Dangerous types of diets The benefits of weightlifting The difference between aerobic and anaerobic exercise

Adequate details

Offer in-depth explanations and supports for the writer's opinion and pattern of organization. In-depth support of a main idea often requires both major and minor details. Major details directly support the main idea. Minor details support and explain the major details.

Order of Topic Sentence

Often the controlling point of the topic sentence divides the subject into chunks if information. The order of the ideas in the topic sentence often reflects a pattern of organization or an order of importance for details.

Order of importance

Often, a writer decides upon and arranges details according to his or her opinion about the importance of the details, k own as climactic order. Usually, climactic order moves from the least important point and builds to the paragraph's climax, the most important point.

Write the topic sentence

Once you have focused a topic into a Narrowed Subject with your opinion and a pattern of organization, you are ready to write a complete sentence to state the main idea. Each of the writer's opinion and a suggested pattern of organization. Create (healthful) (diet) in (three steps). Healthful-writer's opinion Diet-topic Three steps-pattern of organization (Three types) of (diets) are (dangerous). Three types-pattern of organization Diet-topic Dangerous-writer's opinion (Weightlifting) offers (several)(benefits). Weightlifting-topic Several-pattern of organization Benefits-writer's opinion (Important) (differences) exist (between) (aerobic and anaerobic exercise). Import-writer's opinion Different-pattern of organization Between-pattern if organization Aerobic and anaerobic exercise-Topic

Word Choice

Precise word choice communicate exact meaning. Writer's choose words that effectively communicate tone, purpose, and order. For example, strong translation and signal words clue the audience into the logical order of the writer's thoughts. Another example of effective expression is the use of action verbs. In addition, words chosen for their emotional or visual impact create strong images in the reader's mind and carry out the writer's purpose. Ineffective Expression- Leigh (was) glad when the race (was) over. Was-non action verb Effective Expression-Leigh (shouted) in triumph when the race (ended). Shouted and ended- action verbs

Develop Relevant and Adequate Details

Relevant adequate details support and develop the main idea. As you narrow a topic, usually you generate many ideas before you decide in one main point. You must evaluate each detail based on its relationship to the point you want to make.

The general format of a paragraph

Title- Use key word or a Phrase to vividly describe the point of your paragraph. Introduction-As introduction is usually one or more sentences that explain the importance of the topic or give necessary background information about the topic. Your topic sentence states your narrowed subject and your point about the subject. Body- The body of a paragraph is made up a series of sentences that offer major details in support of your sentence. If needed, provide minor details. Link sentences within the paragraph with clear transitions so your reader can easily follow your thoughts. Conclusion- The conclusion restates or suns up your paragraph's main idea in one or more sentences.

Create logical order

Use a writing plan to establish a logical order for details and a clear flow of ideas. A writing plan includes one or more of the following elements: A Pattern of Organization Pattern of Organization-Description (Space order) Narrative/Process (Tome order) Example Classification Compare/Contrast Cause/Effect Signal Words-above, behind, below, next to, underneath After, before, first, next, now, stage, then Exemplify, for example, includes, such as Kinds, levels, types In contrast, like/however, similar Impact, origin/results, reason, source