Module-II

NATURE AND STYLE OF SENSIBLE WRITING

Paragraph Meaning
 The word ‘paragraph’ is originated from Ancient Greek word PARAGRAPHOS which
means “to write beside” or “written beside”.
 A Paragraph is a series of related sentences developing a central idea called the
topic/controlling idea/theme.
 A paragraph is a sentence or a group of sentences that supports the topic.
 The main function of a paragraph is to develop, support, exemplify or explain this theme.
Structure of Paragraph
1. Main/ Topic Sentence/Introducer - expresses the main idea of the paragraph.
2. Supporting Sentences/Developers - Expand, illustrate, explain, support or strengthen the
main idea.
3. Concluding sentence - explains what the paragraph is about.
Example: Winter
Winter is my favourite season because I like the clothes, the food and the activities. In the
winter, I can wear a big coat and my favourite sweater. When it’s cold, I can eat hot food and
soup. I can drink hot Chocolate too. Best of all, in the winter I can do a lot of activities. I can
play in the snow and make a snowman, I can go skiing, ice skating, or stay at home by the
fireplace. That’s why winter is my favourite season.
Organizing Principles/Characteristics/Features of Paragraph
 Paragraph Length: There is no definite rule about the length of paragraphs. It depends
upon the nature & type of document. The length of a sentence may include minimum of 3
words to maximum 30 words.
 Unity: Unity is the principle of oneness. Unity in communication means the components
deal with one main idea, thought or thesis that develops the central theme.
 Coherence: Coherence is very important in paragraph writing because ideas are linked and
one idea logically leads to the next. As one word in a sentence naturally leads to another, one
sentence in a paragraph leads to another with the use of linkers i.e., moreover, likewise, in
addition to, this, hence, therefore, to queen up, etc.
 Logical Development: A paragraph has a logical structure where the central theme
contained in the topic sentence is expanded. As one word in a sentence leads to another word,
one sentence in a paragraph leads to another. This organization of sentences in a paragraph is
determined by the nature of information and style of presentations.
 Courtesy & Correctness: All the sentences should be grammatically correct and
courteousness should be seen in voice.
Writing Introduction and Conclusion
 Good Introduction Provides the reader with a brief overview of topic and an
explanation of the thesis.
 A good introduction should be fresh, engaging and interesting.
 Strong Conclusion will provide a sense of closure to the essay while again placing the
concepts in a somewhat wider context.
Types / Kinds / Strategies of Paragraphs
1. Narrative
2. Descriptive
3. Compare & contrast
4. Sustained analogy – more figurative and literary
5. Cause and effect
6. Quotations and paraphrasing
7. Enumeration – Listing a series of ideas in order to substantiate the topic sentence.
8. Definition
9. Expert Testimony - by citing expert’s comments
10. Paragraph
Choose the appropriate answer.
1. The other sentences in a paragraph _____ the topic sentence.
a) change b) always come before c) hide d) support
2. The ______ sentence is usually the first sentence of a paragraph.
a) unimportant b) topic c) ending d) supporting
3. _______ paragraph should have a topic sentence.
a) Every b) No c) Only one d) Only a big
4. The sentence that introduces the main idea in a paragraph is called ______ .
a) introduction sentence b) exclusive sentence c) topic sentence d) first sentence
5. Which of the following is not a kind of paragraph?
a) Narrative b) Persuasive c) Descriptive d) Expansion
6. The following form of condensation involves the writing to highlight the purpose and
scope of work.
a) Synopsis b) abstract c) paraphrase d) summary
Art of Condensation / Precise Writing : It is a form of condensation.
 Precise - short and concise account of some text write up.
 Summary - Brief summary of main findings of a study, journalistic article, geographical
survey etc.
 Abstract - Shorter than a summary to highlight purpose, scope and significance of work. It
is used or research article and journals.
 Synopsis - A condensed & shortened version of an article or thesis.
 Paraphrasing - to reproduce the author’s ideas in your own words.
Seven steps ladder to writing an effective précise
1. Read & comprehend
2. Prepare a skeleton of main ideas
3. Assimilate the essentials
4. Review & compare
5. Edit and Review
Choose the suitable answer for the following questions.
1. Topic sentences is usually introduced in___
a) introduction b) conclusion c) body d) none
2. What is the order of writing an effective precis?
P - Read and Comprehend R - Prepare a skeleton of main ideas
Q - Edit and Revise S - Prepare the first draft
a) PORS b) PROQ c) RSQP d) PRSQ
Misplaced Modifiers
 A modifier is a word / phrase / clause which modifies other words in a sentence. To be
specific a modifier is either an adjective or an adverb.
 A misplaced modifier is a word, phrase, or a clause that is improperly separated from the
word it modifies / describes. Because of the separations, sentences with the error often sound
awkward, ridiculous/ confusing.
Examples:
1. On her way home, Pragathi found gold man’s watch.
The above example suggests that a gold man owns a watch.
Misplaced modifiers can usually be corrected by moving the modifiers to a more sensible
place in the sentence, generally next to the word it modifies.
Corrected: On her way home, Pragathi found a man’s gold watch.
2. Crying over the broken toy car, the mother consoled the little girl. (who was crying
the mother/the child?)
Corrected: The mother consoled the little girl crying over the broken toy.
3. Playing in the garden, the snake bit the child. (who was playing in the garden – the
snake or the child?)
Corrected: The snake bit the child playing in the garden.
1. Identify the sentence in which modifier/s are correctly placed.
a) on her way home, Pragati found gold man’s watch
b) crying over the broken toy car, the mother consoled the little girl.
c) playing in the garden, the snake bit the child.
d) the brother applied ointment to the wound of his sister crying out of pain.
Contractions
 A contraction is a shortened form of set of words by elision (omission) of a particular
letter in a word.
 Contractions are also called short forms. They combine a ‘pronoun’ or ‘noun’ and
‘verb’, or ‘verb’ and ‘verb’ and ‘not’ in a shorter form.
 Contractions are used in everyday speech and informal writing. But using
contractions in formal writing is not appropriated.
 When we make a contraction, we commonly put an apostrophe in place of missing
letter.
For Example: can not - can’t
1. shall not - shan’t
2. was not - wasn’t
3. will not - won’t
4. could have - could’ve
5. they are - they’re
6. where is - where’s
7. how is - how's
8. she would have - she’d ‘ve
9. of the clock - o’ clock
10. I am - I’m
11. he will - he’ll
12. that is - that’s
13. he has - he’s
Choose the appropriate Contracted form.
1. _________ been to London last week.
a) They’ve b) They’d c) They’ll d) They’re
2. I ____________ go to market
a) shouldn’t b) should’ed c) should’t d) should’en
3. If you don’t behave properly, __________trouble.
a) there’d be b) there would’ be c) there’ id d) there be
4. ___________ definitely pay you back next week.
a) We’ Will b) We’ill c) We’ll d) We’l
Collocations: Collocation refers to pairing or putting together of words & expression that
are often used together.
Ex: Let me take a quick / fast look at the report & only then comment on it.
 Forward / pass on the salt please.
 The committee is still holding meeting to arrive / reach at a decision.
 The effect / impact of the earthquake was also felt in other parts of the country.
 A collocation is two or more words that often combine naturally.
 Smoking is strictly forbidden.
 Smoking is strongly forbidden.
 Very cold and very dark.
 Bitterly cold and pitch dark.
1. Fast cars (not quick cars)
2. Fast food (not quick food)
3. Commit suicide (not undertake suicide)
4. Densely populated (not thickly populated)
5. Imported goods (not foreign goods)
6. Driving test (not driving assessment)
7. Put on weight (not add on weight)
Common Collocations related to time:
1. Free time
2. From dawn till dust
3. Great deal of time
4. Early/late
 5. Make time for
6. Next/past few days
7. Right on/out of time
8. Time goes
9. Time passes
10. Waste time/time waste.
Word Order: Word order refers to the way words are arranged in a sentence.
Order in English is SVO
S - subject - typically a noun / pronoun, place, person or thing.
V - verb - action / state of action.
O - object - the word / group of words influenced by the verb.
Ex: I (S) bought (v) a new computer (O).
He (S) loves (V) the cold breeze (O).
2. Word order in English is _____.
a) SVO
b) SOV
c) VOS
d) OVS
Errors due to the confusion of words
1. Advice (Noun) v/s Advise (verb)
 She took my advice and took out a loan. (Advice as a noun)
 I advise her to take out a loan. (Advise as a verb)
2. Alot v/s A lot v/s Allot
 Alot - word does not exist.
 A lot - misspelled as one but it is actually two.
 Allot - distribute.
3. Among v/s between
 I found a pen hidden among the papers on the desk. (Among is used to express a loose
relationship of several items.)
 I found a pen hidden between two sheets of paper on the desk. (Between express the
relationship of one item to another item.)
4. Capital v/s Capitol
 Capital can be noun or an adjective.
 Capitol is a building.
5. Complement v/s Compliment
 Complement is related to completion.
 Compliment relates to flattering words.
6. Effect v/s Affect
 Effect (noun) indicates the result.
 Affect (verb) means to impact.
7. Emigrate v/s Immigrate
 Emigrate – means to leave.
 Immigrate – refers to enter.
8. Except v/s Accept
 Except – refers to unless or exclude.
 Accept – to believe in or receive.
9. Breathe v/s Breath
 Breathe – refers to inhaling air (verb).
 Breath – full cycle of breathing (noun).
10. Apostrophe
 The girls are at home - more than one girl.
 The girl’s home - the home belongs to the girl.
 The girls’ home - the home belongs to more than one girl.
The meaning in the above phrase is changed dramatically based on the placement of the
apostrophe.
Choose suitable answer to fill the blanks.
3. I found a pen hidden _____ the papers on the desk
a) among b) between c) with d) together
4. The ______ phone is at home.
a) girl b) girls c) girls’ d) girl’s
5. She took my _____ and took out a loan.
a) advice b) advise c) advize d) advige