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Cairo University
Faculty of Engineering

Gen 600
Technical Writing

Dr. Ahmed Fady Farid

Lecturer of structural engineering
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Paragraphs
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Before Writing the Text/Paragraph, build the

Thesis/Topic Statement.

How To Build?
1- Identify keywords (KW)

2- Group KW

3- Combine KW to get the main idea.

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Optimal method
 The topic sentence is placed at the beginning
 The paragraph is developed through comparison-
contrast
 Transition elements reflect the pattern of
development
 The paragraph has a conclusion
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• Once the topic is defined

• Try to find a comment that complements the message
(objective of writing)
• Repeat basic ideas explaining the message (using
brainstorming or innovative techniques) until the thesis
is fully explained.
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Proposed Approach

Divide TS into Topic + Comment

Consider SMCR
Draft Topic sub-statements
Draft Comment sub-statements
Select the appropriate WTB and WTD for each
paragraph
Group paragraphs into Introduction, Body, Conclusion
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Way to Begin and Ways to Develop Paragraphs

• Each paragraph must have a TS.

• When each TS is well known, select a way to
begin
• Select a way to develop each paragraph
• All sentences must have cohesion to the TS of
the paragraph.
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The Opening Paragraph(s) / Introduction of a

Text
 Captures reader's interest
 Announces the topic.
Contents
 Defines problem
 Defines background/history
 Presents the thesis statement
 States purpose/scope/objective
 Presents contents of the text.
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The Body Paragraph(s) / Main Stream of a Text

Contents
 Is a typical paragraph
 Has a topic statement,
 Detailing the Topic
 Detailing the comment
 It does not play the role of
introduction, nor conclusion, nor
transition.
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The Transitional Paragraph

 Short paragraph of one or two sentences
 Sums up previous topic(s)
 Highlights the following text.

The Closing Paragraph(s)/ Conclusion

 Restates/Rephrases thesis
 Summarizes conclusions
 Discusses significance
 Addresses future implications
 May present recommendations.
 Do not introduce any new information.
 Do not rely on modifiers alone.
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Introduction Example
End of Introduction: Smoking is hazardous

¶-1: Smoking is hazardous to health

¶-2: Smoking weakens social rapports

Body
¶-3: Smoking is expensive, too
¶-4: Smoking initiates many fires events
Conclusion:
Consequences of smoking are quite serious; it is the
third cause of death worldwide – Stop wasting
precious human resources.
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Developing paragraphs
Types
 Opening
 Body
 Transitional
 Closing
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Then, give
Introductions your reader a
brief
explanation
(2-5
Attention
sentences) of
Grabbing
what you will
First, grab you Opening
be explaining
readers attention about your
with a general topic.
catchy statement
about your topic. End your introduction with
a strong statement/ claim
that tells your reader what
Thesis you intend to prove to them
about your topic.
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The Opening Paragraph

Introduction
 Captures reader's interest
 Announces the topic.
Contents
 Defines problem/process/objects
 Contains quotations
 Defines background/history
 Presents the thesis statement
 States purpose/scope/objective
 Presents contents of the text.
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The Opening Paragraph

Structure
Introduce topic + prepare for the thesis.
Or
Write the thesis + shortly develop it.
Or
Use both techniques.

The Body Paragraph

 Is a typical paragraph
 Has a topic statement, detailing the thesis
 It does not play the role of introduction, nor
conclusion, nor transition.
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The transitional Paragraph

 Short paragraph of one or two sentences
 Sums up previous topic(s)
 shows where to go next.
The Closing Paragraph
 Restates thesis
 Summarizes conclusions
 Discusses significance
 Addresses future implications
 May recommend actions.
 Do not introduce new information.
 Do not rely on modifiers alone.
 The content should reflect nature.
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Cohesion of the paragraph

is achieved through

1) Tying all sentences to the topic statement

2) Maintaining a clear pattern of development

3) Using specific transition elements within and

between sentences.
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An Important Example
Analysis of the Paragraph (on Smoking)
• Way-To-Begin of the ¶: Summary – starts with the thesis statement,
summaries the whole paragraph; background (Sentence 2).
• Way-To-Develop: listing of health hazards, exemplification.
• Used Techniques of Repeating Words: list of words that carry almost the
same meaning: forms of hazards, full form repetition, short form repetition,
pronouns (also a tool for cohesion), …
• Transition Words: The evidence (the link), aside from, for example, finally,
structure (whether … or …)
• Paragraph Type: body paragraph, develops the first topic statement
• The Sentence “Moreover, cigarettes are not only hazardous to
health but expensive too” does not belong to the same comment, it covers
financial hazards.”
• Emphasis of the keywords: placement(s of the main verb, close to the period,
beginning of the main clause, repetition – all forms).
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"Smoking is hazardous to your health. Several years ago, studies

linked the intake of tar and nicotine, found in cigarettes, with the
development of cancer in laboratory animals. The evidence was
so overwhelming that governments required cigarette
manufacturers to put a warning on the outside of each package of
cigarettes. Aside from the most serious and dreaded disease,
cancer, cigarette smoking also aggravates or promotes other
health problems. For example, smoking can increase the
discomfort for the people with asthma and emphysema.
Moreover, cigarettes are not only hazardous to health but
expensive too. It can give one a "smoker's cough" and contribute
to bronchitis. Finally, recent studies have shown that cigarette
smokers are susceptible to common colds and flu. Whether you
get an insignificant cold or the major killer, cancer, smoking
cigarettes is hazardous."
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Several years ago, studies linked the intake of tar and

nicotine, found in cigarettes, with the development of cancer
in laboratory animals. The evidence was so overwhelming
that governments required cigarette manufacturers to put a
warning on the outside of each package of cigarettes. Aside
from the most serious and dreaded disease, cancer, cigarette
smoking also aggravates or promotes other health problems.
For example, smoking can increase the discomfort for the
people with asthma and emphysema. Moreover, cigarettes
are not only hazardous to health but expensive too. It can
give one a "smoker's cough" and contribute to bronchitis.
Finally, recent studies have shown that cigarette smokers are
susceptible to common colds and flu. Whether you get an
insignificant cold or the major killer, cancer, smoking
cigarettes is hazardous to your health.
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Several years ago, studies linked the intake of tar and

nicotine, found in cigarettes, with the development of cancer
in laboratory animals. The evidence was so overwhelming
that governments required cigarette manufacturers to put a
warning on the outside of each package of cigarettes. Aside
from the most serious and dreaded disease, cancer, cigarette
smoking also aggravates or promotes other health problems.
For example, smoking can increase the discomfort for the
people with asthma and emphysema. Smoking is hazardous
to your health. It can give one a "smoker's cough" and
contribute to bronchitis. Finally, recent studies have shown
that cigarette smokers are susceptible to common colds and
flu.
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Formal Thinking
versus
Creative Thinking

Both kinds of thinking are

interdependent and
complementary.
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Formal Thinking Creative Thinking

(A) (B)

• Analytical •Generative
• Convergent • Divergent
• Linear • All directions
• Focused • Diffuse
• Objective • Subjective
• Verbal • Diversified
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Getting Ideas
1. Brainstorming
Is a process designed to obtain the maximum
number of ideas.

Basic Guidelines for Brainstorming

 Suspend judgment.
 Think freely.
 Improve, modify, build on others ideas.
 Quantity of ideas is important.
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2. Asking Questions

 Where? When? Where?

 What? Who? For what?
 To where? For whom?
 What have others done?
 Where to find an idea?
 What ideas can I modify?
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The “Change” Curve

To improve performance,
change a fixed parameter at a time
output

Change here

Incremental
change/unit input

Input, Time
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3
output

1
Input
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Effective Arguments
Argument of Fact

Air in Greater Cairo has become very polluted.

1. Sub argument of definition
Air become polluted when it has more than …, and ….
These proportions are defined by ….
2. Sub argument of existence
Air in Greater Cairo has exceeded these limits. …, ….
3. Sub argument of quality
If there are no measures to stop the process, the
situation shall become dangerous for ….
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Effective Arguments
Argument of Policy
Air in Greater Cairo has reached serious proportions.
Authorities must react before the situation becomes
dreadful.
1, 2, 3 Sub argument of fact +
4. Sub argument of goodness
A cleaner Greater Cairo should enhance Egypt’s image
…
+
5. Sub argument of usefulness
Those who initiate such a commendable process shall be
praised fore ever.
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Text Outlining
Types of Outlines

Sentence outline (SO)

In SO, ideas are complete sentences.
SO formulates clear ideas.
SO remains clear if left for a long time.
SO may become cumbersome.
Topic outline (TO)
Using phrases to express ideas
Advantages: shortness
Disadvantages: lack of clarity
Mixed outlining (MO)
For major topics, use sentence outline.
TO for minor topics.
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Text Organizing

Follows three orders

 Natural
 Logical
 Psychological
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Thanks