Paragraph Techniques

1. Paragraph Techniques Unit 4 Special Types of Paragraphs Lecturer: Shang Yanzhi

2. 1. Introductory paragraphs 2. Transitional paragraphs 3. Concluding paragraphs

3. 1. Introductory paragraphs A good introduction to an expository or argumentative essay accomplishes these functions: (1) It arouses readers’ interest. (2) It introduces your subject. (3) It presents your thesis logically and quickly. (4) It sets the tone---humorous, serious, somber, light- hearted, angry---of what will follow.

4. 1.1 Effective methods for introductions 1.1.1 A directly stated thesis 1) general-specific For generations, morality has been molded primarily by parents, religion, and school. Children traditionally acquired their ideas about what is right and wrong, which goals are important in life, and how others should be treated from these sources. But now there is another powerful force influencing youngsters. Television is implanting in children negative values about sex, work, and family life.

5. 1.1.1 A directly stated thesis 2) Thesis-explanation We all know that failure is the mother of success. It means that when a person fails, he doesn’t lose heart or give himself up, instead, he draws some lessons from his failure and works even harder. Such a person is sure to make success sooner or later.

6. 1.1.1 A directly stated thesis 3) Claim & counter–claim Nowadays, with the improvement of Chinese people’s living standard, more and more families can afford to buy private cars. Some people regard owning a private car as a sign of success. They think private cars can bring them respect, convenience and comfort. I don’t think so. In my opinion, private cars have many negative effects, and should not be encouraged in China.

7. 1.1.2 Dramatic Introduction 1) A Brief Narration ( a story or personal experience） Last year, I went traveling to Nanjing with my mother. In one of the parks, we saw many dead fish floating on the surface of the lake. My mother told me these fish were killed by the polluted water. How terrible! Nowadays, pollution has become a serious problem that calls people’s attention all over the world.

8. 1.1.2 Dramatic Introduction 2) A Description My hometown used to a beautiful small village. The village was covered by many kinds of green trees. Every morning the birds were singing happily in the trees. The small river running around the village was clean and pure with many fish in it. But now, everything has changed. The trees have died. The birds have stopped singing. The river has got dry. And the fish have all disappeared. What happened to them? It was pollution. The village was severely polluted by the newly built factories around it.

9. 1.1.2 Dramatic Introduction 3) A Question My Roommate’s Dishonesty Have you ever known a person who tells lies about you behind your back? Has anyone ever stolen your English paper and turned it in as his own, or told stories about himself that you later found were untrue? My roommates Fred is guilty of all of these acts; he’s dishonest in his dealings with me and with others.

10. Have you noticed that the once clear and blue sky has turned to be dark and grey? Have you considered the problem that the birds have stopped singing in the morning? Have you wondered why we can seldom observe the bright moon and shiny stars in the city’s evening sky? This phenomenon is caused by the serious environmental pollution.

11. 1.1.3 Serious Introduction 1) A Quotation The Importance of Health As the proverb goes, “No one knows the value of health until he loses it.” In other words, nothing is more valuable than health. How to Read Books “Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested.”Perhaps this is the best advice on how to read, given by Francis Bacon.

12. 1.1.3 Serious Introduction 2) Startling facts or statistics Seventy percent of the respondents (回答者) in a poll conducted by columnist (报刊专栏作家) Ann Landers stated that, if they could live their lives over, they would choose not to have children. This starting statistic makes one wonder what these people believed what parenthood wood be like. Most parents, it seems, have unrealistic expectations about their children. Parents what their children to accept their values, follow their paths, and succeed when they failed.

13. 1.1.3 Serious Introduction 3) Quotation What is a little learning? A little learning suggests “ scanty knowledge,”“ being ignorant and ill –informed,” or “ half baked knowledge.” An English proverb reads: “A little learning is s dangerous thing.” I think it quite right. But why is it dangerous? The following points will clarify my stand and reasoning.

14. 1.1.3 Serious Introduction 4) Definition A proverb reads: “ A little learning is a dangerous thing.” It means “People with a little knowledge are often unaware of their ignorance and are consequently misled.” (quoted from Pope’s Essays on Criticism) I agree to both the sayings and will prove the truth by deduction as follows.

15. 1.2 Ineffective Methods for Introductions 1. Avoid beginning your paper with a complaint or an apology. 2. Avoid beginnings that start too far back. 3. Avoid beginning with an introduction that merely repeats the assignment. 4. Avoid starting your essay with a reference to the title.

16. A Summary 1) A directly stated thesis 2) A story or personal experience 3) A brief narration or description 4) A question 5) A quotation or definition 6) Startling facts or statistics

17. Transitional Paragraphs State Of Mind and Efficiency College students tend to complain either about their teachers’ teaching methods, or about their intelligence quotient if they find, however hard they are, they cannot achieve satisfactory results. Is it really the case that their poor results are solely due to the problems as they think to be? The answer is definitely “No”. As a matter of fact, there are many other factors that have something to do with a student’s performance, among which his state of mind is the most important. When a student is in good mood and his mind in peace, his brain works most efficiently. On the contrary, if he is in a troubled mood, he cannot concentrate on anything he is doing. He may find his head as numb as a block of wood, unable to think., to deduce, to calculate or even to read. This is typical of the case when a student worries too much about his studies, when he has too many things to do, when he thinks too much about other things. So to get a good result in his studies, a student must learn to keep his mind in peace under any circumstances. Only in this way can he work most efficiently and get a satisfactory result.

18. 3. Concluding Paragraphs An effective conclusion will accomplish the following functions. 1. Summarizing the essential points discussed in the essay 2. Arriving in an conclusion 3. Raising an echo to the beginning

19. 3.1 Effective Methods for Conclusions 1) A restatement of the thesis Since private cars bring us much trouble and waste us a lot of money, they should be reduced in China. If government can open up more bus routines and increase the taxes for using cars, more and more people will choose to travel by bus and private cars will become fewer and fewer in China.

20. 3.1 Effective Methods for Conclusions 2) A summary or conclusion Therefore, you must keep healthy before you become wealthy. In order to be healthy, you should develop a good living habit and do physical exercises regularly. Remember the proverb “Health is not valued until sickness comes.”

21. 3.1 Effective Methods for Conclusions 3) An Echo Now the law has passed to allow college students to get married. College students can be free to have their choice. I think it is fight. If such law had been passed 15 years earlier, what has happened to the two college students would have been avoided.

22. 3.1 Effective Methods for Conclusions 4) A few words of encouragement a. Writing is an important skill for college students to master. If they read a lot and keep practicing everyday, they are sure to make some progress in writing.. b. Generation gap can lead to many troubles in life and need people’s great care. If both parents and children can stand in each other’s shoes and try to understand each other, generation gap is sure to be narrowed.

23. 3.1 Effective Methods for Conclusions 5) A call for support or action It is high time that we solved the problem The school authority should realize the injustice cheating will bring and take some measures to prevent it. Every honest student should also be encouraged to fight against those students who cheat. Only in this way can the phenomenon disappear in examinations.

24. 3.2 Ineffective Methods for Conclusions 1) Don’t merely repeat your thesis. 2) Avoid some overworked expressions as In conclusion, In summary, I hope, I have shown., or In the final analysis 3) Don’t introduce a new topic. 4) Avoid conclusions that apologize or back out.

25. Choose one of the following topics and write an essay of about 200 words. Pay attention to your introduction. 1. My Friends 2. Saving Money 3. The Value of Exercise 4. Teenage Love Writing Exercise (5 mins)

26. Thank You All! ---- The End ----