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WHAT IS PARAGRAPH? AN OVER VIEW

Paragraph structure
The Topic Sentence
The Concluding sentence

Paragraph Structure
Gold
Gold, a precious metal, is prized for two important characteristics. First of
all, gold has a lustrous beauty that is resistant to corrosion. Therefore, it is
suitable for jewelry, coins, and ornamental purposes. Gold never needs to
be polished and will remain beautiful forever. For example, a Macedonian
coin 5remains as untarnished today as the day it was minted twenty-three
centuries ago. Another important characteristic of gold is its usefulness to
industry and science. For many years, it has been used in hundreds of
industrial applications. The most recent use of gold is in astronauts suits.
Astronauts wear gold-plated heat shields for protection outside spaceships.
10In conclusion, gold is treasured not only for its beauty but also its utility.
The three parts of paragraph
a) The topic sentence; states the main idea of the paragraph. It not only names the
topic of the paragraph, but it also limits the topic to one or two areas that can be
discussed completely in the space of a single paragraph. The specific area is called
the controlling idea.
Gold, a precious metal, is prized for two important characteristics.
Topic
Controlling Idea
b) Supporting sentences develop the topic sentence; that is, they explain the topic
sentence by giving reasons, examples, facts, statistics, and quotation.
First of all, gold has a lustrous beauty that is resistant to corrosion
For example: a Macedonian coin remains as untarnished today as the day it was
minted twenty-three centuries ago.
Another important characteristic of gold is its usefulness to industry and science.
The most recent use of gold is in astronauts suit.
c) The concluding sentence; signals the end of the paragraph and leaves the reader
with important points to remember;

In conclusion, gold is treasured not only for its beauty but also for its utility.
Unity and coherence
Unity means that you discuss only one main idea in a paragraph. The main idea is
stated in the topic sentence, and then each and every supporting sentence develops
that idea. If, for example, you announce in your topic sentence that you are going to
discuss two important characteristics of gold, discuss only those.
Coherence means that your paragraph is easy to read and understand because 1) Your
supporting sentences are in some kind of logical order, and 2) your ideas are
connected by the use of appropriate transition signals.
For example; in the paragraph about gold, there are two supporting ideas; Gold is
beautiful, and gold is useful. Each of these supporting ideas is discussed, one after the
other, and an example is given for each one. This is one kind of logical order.
In summary, a well-written paragraph contains five elements: a topic sentence,
supporting sentences, a concluding sentences, unity, and coherence.
The finished assignment format
Follow the instruction bellow to format the assignments you prepare for this class.
Your instructor may assign other formats as well:
a) Paper; standard 8 by 11 inch white binder paper.
Typed: standard 8 by 11 white typing paper. Type on one side only
b) Assignment identification; both handwritten and typed:
-

In the upper right-hand corner, write your name, the course title and/or
number, and the due date

In the upper left-hand corner, write or type the practice number and/or name of
the assignment and the page number

c) Title; handwritten: center the title on the top line of the first page
Typed: center the title about 1 inches from the top of the first page
d) Body; 1) handwritten; begin writing on the third line after skipping a line, indent the
first line of every paragraph about one inch from the margin, and write on every
other line. 2) typed; begin typing after skipping four single-spaced line, indent the
first line of every paragraph five spaces, and double space; that is, leave one blank
line between each line of typing. And 3) both handwritten and typed; leave oneinch margins on the left and right sides and at the bottom of each page, and number
every page except the first page.

Example;
Practice number
page number
Practice name

Practice 2, page 3
Unity

name Your name

English 001 Course title and
3/25/00 number
Date
Gold

Indent
about Gold, aprecious metal
one inch to
begin paragraph Is prized for two important

Center title

Write on every Characteristics, first of

other line
All, gold has a lustrous

One-inch margin
on right

One-inch margin Beauty that is resistant

on left
To corrosion therefore,
It is suitable for
Jewelry coins, and orna-

One-inch margin at bottom

Writing on a computer
Writing on a computer is the most efficient, timesaving method of reorganizing and
improving the content of your paper. You can add, change, and delete words, phrases,
sentences, or whole paragraphs with just a few keystrokes. You can also move items
from one location to another in a flash, and if you dont like the change you just made,
you can it back instantly.
Another advantage of using a computer is that you can tell the computer to proofread
your paper for spelling errors. Most word processing programs have spelling checkers
built into them. Most also automatically correct errors in capitalization. However, you
must still proofread your paper yourself because a computer may not find all of your
errors.
How to write a title
A title tells the reader what the topic of the paragraph is. It is usually a word or phrase,
not a sentence. It should be brief, but not so brief that it doesnt tell the reader what to
except.

Remember these points when writing a title:

1) The first, last, and all important words in a title are capitalized. Preposition and
articles are not considered important words in a title. Prepositions of more than five
letters, however, may be capitalized. Articles that begin the title, of course, are
capitalized
2) The title of a paragraph or essay in not underlined
3) The title is not enclosed in quotation marks, nor is it ended with a period.

The topic sentence

A topic sentence is the most important sentence in a paragraph. It briefly indicates
what the paragraph is going to discuss. For this reason, the topic sentence is a helpful guide
to both the writer and the reader. The writer can see what information to include (and
what information to exclude). The reader can see what the paragraph is going to about and
is, therefore, better prepared to understand it.
There are three important points about a topic sentence, as follow:
1) A topic sentence is a complete sentence; that is, it contains a subject, a verb, and
(usually) a complement.
Driving on freeways
The importance of gold
2) A topic sentence contains both a topic and a controlling idea.
Driving on freeways requires skill and alertness
Gold, a precious metal, is prized for two important characteristics
3) A topic sentence is the most general statement in the paragraph because it gives only the
main idea. It does not give any specific details.
The Arabic origin of many English words is not always obvious
The slang expression so long (meaning goodbye) is probably a corruption of the Arabic
salaam
the following sentence, on other hand, too specific.
English is a difficult language to learn
too general.

sentences such as the following may be

a. Position of topic sentence

The topic sentences are underlined.
Synonyms
Synonyms, words hat have the same basic meaning, do not always have the same
emotional meaning. For example, the words stingy and frugal both mean careful with
money. However, to call a person stingy is an insult, while the word frugal has a
much more positive connotation. Similarly, a person wants to be slender but not

skinny, and aggressive but not pushy. Therefore, you should be careful in choosing
words because many so-called synonyms are not really synonymous at all.

b. The two parts of a topic sentence

A topic sentences has two essential parts: the topic and controlling idea. The topic
names subject, or main idea, or the paragraph. The controlling idea makes a specific
comment about topic, which in indicate what the rest of the paragraph will say about
topic.
Convenience foods are easy to prepare
TOPIC
CONTROLLING IDEA
c. Writing topic sentence
- A topic sentence should be neither too general nor too specific.
Too general:

America food is terrible

Too specific:

America food is tasteless and greasy because America use too many
canned, frozen, and prepackaged foods and because everything is
fried in oil or butter

Good:

American food is tasteless and greasy

- Do not include too many unrelated ideas in your topic sentence; if you do, your
paragraph will not unified
Too many ideas:

San Fransisco is famous for its temperate climate, its many

tourist attractions, and its cosmopolitan atmosphere.

Good:

San Fransisco is famous for its cosmopolitan astmosphere

PRACTICE 1

Remember, the topic sentence indicates the main idea of a paragraph and is the most
general statement in the paragraph
STEP I

decide which of the following sentences is the topic sentence of the

paragraph

STEP II

Write TS on the line next to that sentence

STEP III

Decide the order of the supporting sentences and number them SS1, SS2, SS3,
and so on

Paragraph I
a.
b.
c.
d.

It enable customer to do several banking transaction twenty-four hour a day

In addition, a customer can transfer funds between accounts or get a cash
advance on a credit card
An automated teller machine (ATM) is a convenient miniature bank
For example, a customer can use an ATM to deposit money and withdraw a
limited amount of cash

Paragraph II
a. After an attack by a great white, 462 stitches were required to sew up an
Australian scuba diver
b. With their razor-sharp teeth and strong jaws, great white sharks are very
dangerous
c. Nevertheless, one did just that near a public beach in Australia in 1985.
d. Even when they attack humans, however, great whites do not usually eat
them
e. It bit in half and totally devoured a young female swimmer
f. Great whites do not usually attack humans, but when they do, they always
cause serious injury and even death
Paragraph III
a. Another important change was that people had the freedom to live and
wherever they wanted
b. The earliest significant change was for farming families, who were no longer
isolated
c. The final major change brought by the automobile was the building of
superhighways, suburbs, huge shopping centers, and many theme parks such
as Disney World in Florida
d. The automobile revolutionized the American way of life
e. The automobile enabled them to drive to towns and cities comfortably and
conveniently
f. In fact, people could work in a busy metropolitan city and drive home to the
quite suburbs
Paragraph IV
a. In time, this melted part rises as a magma
b. The formation of a volcanic eruption is a dramatic series of events
c. As the plate sinks, fiction and the earths heat cause part of it to melt
d. The magma produces heat, steam, and pressure
e. First of all, most volcanoes are formed where two plates collide
f. Then one of the plates is forced under the other and sinks
g. When the heat, steam, and pressure from the magma finally reach the surface
of the earth a volcanic eruption occurs.

PRACTICE 2

Circle the topic and underline the controlling idea in each of the following sentence.
Example: Driving on freeways requires skill and alertness
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Driving on freeways requires nerves of steel

Driving on freeways requires an aggressive attitude
The Carribean island of Trinidad attracts tourist because of its calypso music
Spectacular beaches make Puerto Rico a tourist paradise
Living in an America college dormitory can be a stressful experience for newly arrived
international students
6. Many religious rules developed from the health needs of ancient times
7. The spread of AIDS can be slowed by educating the public
8. A major problem for international students taking essay examinations
9. Participating in class discussions in English is a problem for international students
10. In my opinion, many television commercials for cosmetics lie to woman
11. Owning an automobile is a necessity for me
12. It is an expensive luxury to own an automobile in a large city.

PRACTICE 3

A. Write good topic sentences for the following paragraphs in the spaces provided.
Remember to include both a topic and controlling idea.
Paragraph 1

Americans relaxing at home, for example, may put on Kimonos, which is a Japanese word.
American who lives in a warm climate may take an afternoon siesta on an outdoor patio
without even realizing that these are Spanish words. In their gardens, they may enjoy the
fragrance of jasmine flowers, a word that came into English from Persian. They may even
relax on a chaise longue while sipping a drink made with vodka, words of French and
Russian origin, respectively.
Paragraph 2

In European universities, students are not required to attend classes. In fact professors in
Germany generally do not know the names of the students enrolled in their course. In the
United Stated, however, students are required to attend all classes and may be penalized
if they dont. Furthermore, in the European system, there is usually just one
comprehensive examination at the end of the students entire four or five years of study.
In the American system, on the other hand, there are usually numerous quizzes, tests,
and homework assignments, and there is almost always a final examination in each
course at the end of the semester.
Paragraph 3

For example, the Eskimos, living in a treeless region of snow and ice, some time build
temporary homes out of thick blocks of ice. People who live in desert, on the other hand,
use the most available material, mud or clay, which provides good insulation from heat.
In Northern Europe, Russia, and other areas of the world where forests are plentiful,
people usually construct their home out of wood. In the islands of the South Pacific,
where there is a plentiful supply of bamboo and palm, people use these tough, fibrous
plants to build their homes.
B. Write two or three topic sentences for each of the following topics. In other words, give
two or three controlling ideas for the same topic.
Example:
Topic
Televisions effects on children
Topic sentences 1) Television is harmful to children because it teaches them violence
as a way of solving problem
2) Television retards a childs reading ability
Smoking cigarettes
Pollution
Foreign travel
Touring your hometown
Prejudice
C. With your classmates, choose three topics that interest you as a group. Write a topic
sentence for each topic. Be sure to include a controlling idea.

The Concluding Sentence

A concluding sentence serves three purpose:

It signals the end of the paragraph
It summarizes the main points of the paragraph

 It gives a final comment on the topic and leaves the reader with the most important
ideas to think about.
Use one of the following end-of-paragraph signals to introduce your concluding sentence:
These are followed by a comma
Finally,
In conclusion,
In summary,
Therefore,
Thus,

As a result,
Indeed,
In brief,
In short,

There are not followed by comma

We can see that
It is clear that ..
These examples show that ..
There can be no doubt that ..
The evidence suggest that

Example; The concluding sentence

Synonyms
Synonyms, words hat have the same basic meaning, do not always have the same
emotional meaning. For example, the words stingy and frugal both mean careful with
money. However, to call a person stingy is an insult, while the word frugal has a much
more positive connotation. Similarly, a person wants to be slender but not skinny, and
aggressive but not pushy. Therefore, you should be careful in choosing words because
many so-called synonyms are not really synonymous at all.

Gold
Gold, a precious metal, is prized for two important characteristics. First of all, gold has
a lustrous beauty that is resistant to corrosion. Therefore, it is suitable for jewelry,
coins, and ornamental purposes. Gold never needs to be polished and will remain
beautiful forever. For example, a Macedonian coin remains as untarnished today as the
day it was minted twenty-three centuries ago. Another important characteristic of
gold is its usefulness to industry and science. For many years, it has been used in
hundreds of industrial applications. The most recent use of gold is in astronauts suits.
Astronauts wear gold-plated heat shields for protection outside spaceships. In
conclusion, gold is treasured not only for its beauty but also its utility.

PRACTICE 4
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
STEP 4

underline the topic sentence in each paragraph

Determine the main idea of each paragraph
Add a good concluding sentence to each. You may either paraphrase the topic
sentence or summarize the main points
Begin concluding sentence with an end-of-paragraph signal.

Paragraph 1
You can be a good conversationalist by being a good listen: When you are conversing with
someone, pay close attention to the speakers words while looking at his or her face. Show
your interest by smiling and/or nodding. Furthermore, dont interrupt while someone is
speaking; it is impolite to do so. If you have a good story, wait until the speaker is finished.

Also, watch your body language; it can affect your communication whether you are the
speaker or the listener. For instance, dont sit slumped in a chair or make nervous hand and
foot movements. Be relaxed and bend your body slightly forward to show interest in the
person and the conversation ...........................................
Paragraph 2
Modern communication technology is driving workers in the corporate world crazy. They
feel buried under the large number of message they receive daily. In addition to telephone
calls, office workers receive dozens or e-mail and voice mail message daily. In one
company, in fact, managers receive an average of 100 messages a day. Because they dont
have enough time to respond to these messages during office hours, it is common for them
to do so in the evenings or on weekends at home. .

REVIEW

These are the important points of you should have learned from this topic:
1.

A good topic sentence

Is a complete sentence with a subject, a verb, and a controlling idea
Is the neither too general nor too specific. It states clearly what the main idea or
the paragraph is but does not include specific details
Is usually the first sentences in the paragraph

2.

A good concluding sentence

Signals the end of the paragraph
Summarizes the important points or restates the topic sentence to different word

Writing Practice

Choose one of the topics and write paragraph ten to fifteen sentences in length.
STEP I
Brainstorming for parallelism: You have already completed this step
Prewriting

STEP II

Develop an outline, including a topic sentence and a concluding sentence (if

necessary). Underline them

planning
STEP III
Writing

Write a rough draft

STEP IV

ask a classmate to check your rough draft against the peer editing checklist
that that follows

Revising
STEP V
Rewriting

Write a second draft, and proofread it for grammar and mechanics

STEP VI

Write a final copy to hand in