PARAGRAPH DEVELOPMENT

PARAGRAPH DEVELOPMENT BBI2412 WRITING FOR ACADEMIC PURPOSES

Three parts of paragraph: • Topic sentence (it has a controlling idea) • Supporting sentences • Concluding sentence

Topic Sentence • The most important sentence in the paragraph. • It states the topic and the controlling idea of the paragraph. • Three important points to be remember about a topic sentence: • A topic sentence is a complete sentence • It controls or guides the whole paragraph. When you read the topic sentence, you know what to expect in a paragraph. • Topic sentence contains topic and controlling idea. • The most general statement in the paragraph because it gives only the main idea. • A good topic sentence is not too general nor too specific.

Topic Sentence • A good topic sentence is not too general nor too specific. • E.g. • Tea is delicious = TOO GENERAL • Green tea has many health benefits = GOOD topic sentence. • By the third century AD many stories were being told and some written about tea and the benefits of tea drinking, but it was not until the Tang Dynasty (618 AD - 906 AD) that tea became China's national drink and the word ch'a was used to describe tea. = TOO SPECIFIC

Controlling idea • A good topic sentence has controlling ideas= words or phrases that help guide the flow of ideas in the paragraph. • Controlling idea limits the topic to a specific area to be discussed in the space of a single paragraph • Example: Deceptive advertising can cost consumers both their money and their time.

Controlling idea • Convenience foods are easy to prepare. • Malik is popular due to several reasons. • A university education helps in career advancement.

Controlling idea • The best season for kids is winter, - the reader expects the paragraph to give reasons and examples why winter is the best season for children. • Football is popular for many reasons. -the readers expects the paragraph to give a variety of information about football and why it is popular around the world.

Supporting Sentence/Point • Supporting sentences are the facts and ideas that explain or prove the topic sentence or the main idea. • It presents details, facts, examples, quotes, and arguments that support the main idea. • In each supporting sentence/point, there are details that support the sentence.

Topic Sentence: Animals living in modern zoos enjoyed several advantages. S.S. 1 : The first advantage is that zoo animals are separated from their predators. Detail= They are protected, so they live without risk of being attacked. S.S. 2: Another advantage is that someone feeds them regularly, so they do not have to hunt for food. Detail= Also, they do not suffer times when food is hard to find. S.S. 3: A third advantage is that veterinarians give animals regular checkups. Detail= Sick animals get prompt medical attention. Concluding Sentence: In conclusion, because all their needs are taken care of, most zoo animals are healthy and contented.

Supporting Sentence/Point Write 3 supporting sentences for each of the topic sentences below: • Owning a small car has several advantages. • A good friend has three important qualities. • A college education is important for some reasons.

Concluding Sentence • It signals the end of paragraph • It is the last sentence of the paragraph. • It should summarize what has already been said and leaves the reader with the most important ideas to remember. • Conclude the paragraph by summarizing the main points of the paragraph or repeating/paraphrase the topic sentence in different words.

Conclusion signals • In conclusion, ___________________ • In short, ____________________ • To summarize, _______________ • To conclude, ________________ • In brief, ____________________ • In summary, _________________ • To sum up, __________________ • It is clear that ________________

Topic Sentence:________________________________________________. • Supporting Sentence: A._______________________________________. • Supporting Detail: 1._________________________. • Supporting Detail: 2._________________________. • Supporting Sentence: B._______________________________________. • Supporting Detail: 1._________________________. • Supporting Detail: 2._________________________. • Supporting Sentence: C._______________________________________. • Supporting Detail: 1. _________________________. • Supporting Detail: 2. _________________________. • Concluding Sentence :___________________________________________.

Cause and Effect Paragraph • Cause/effect paragraphs generally follow basic paragraph format. • They begin with a topic sentence and this sentence is followed by supporting sentences. • A cause and effect paragraph can be organized in three ways: • Identify the effect in the topic sentence and write about its causes; or • Write about the cause in the topic sentence and write about its effects. • Talk about causes followed by the effects of each cause.

Cause/Effect Paragraph Writing • Block Organization • A short paragraph often separates one major section from another major section. • Chain Organization • Causes and effects are linked to each other in a chain. • One event causes the second event and so on. • Chain organization works better when the causes and effects are too closely linked to be separated.

Basic Paragraph Outline TopicSentence Supporting Sentence 1 SupportingSentence 2 SupportingSentence 3 ConcludingSentence

Cause and Effect Paragraph Outline • Writing about CAUSES Topic Sentence: Statement of the effect and overview of the causes Cause 1 Cause 2 Cause 3 Concluding Sentence: Restatement of effect, summary of all causes

Sample Paragraph 1 There are several reasons why cities have grown so large that now about 50% of the Earth's population lives in urban areas. a)First, the increasing industrialization of the nineteenth century resulted in the creation of many factory jobs, which tended to be located in cities. b) These jobs, with their promise of a better material life, attracted many people from rural areas. c)Second, there were many schools established to educate the children of the new factory laborers. d)The promise of a better education persuaded many families to leave farming communities and move to the cities. e)Finally, as the cities grew, people established places of leisure, entertainment, and culture, such as sports stadiums, theaters, and museums. f)For many people, these facilities made city life appear more interesting than life on the farm, and therefore drew them away from rural communities. In short, 50% of Earth population live in the city because of better jobs, better education and better entertainment.

Cause and Effect Paragraph Outline • Writing about EFFECTS Topic Sentence: Statement of the cause and overview of the effects Effect 1 Effect 2 Effect 3 Concluding Sentence: Restatement of cause, summary of all effects

Sample paragraph 2 The are many things that cause a person to drink alcohol; however, there are three negative effects that derive from dinking too many alcoholic beverages. (b) First of all, alcohol causes liver damage because your body cannot constantly expel all the toxins that alcohol contains. (c) For example, my uncle was an excessive drinker, and he died from liver failure. The doctors said his liver gave out from all the alcohol. (d)Another effect of alcohol is brain damage. Alcohol kills brains cells, which decreases your memory. (e) For instance, my friend’s father is an alcoholic of over 20 years. Well, his father always forgets people’s names and conversations that he just had.(f) Finally, alcohol destroys relationships because it can emotionally and sometimes physically hurt the people who are around the drinker. (g) To illustrate, I watched a movie about a man who drink so much that he would come home and beat his wife and kids. (h) To sum up, liver damage, brain damage, and relationship damage are the three negative effects of drinking alcohol.

Cause and Effect Paragraph (Chain Organization) Topic Sentence Cause 1 Effect 1 Cause 2 Effect2 Cause 3 Effect 3 Concluding Sentence

Hot Weather • CAUSE: high body temperature • EFFECTS: the body sweats; the body loses water • CAUSE: muscle pain • EFFECTS: many people feel tired, weak • CAUSE: loss of body water; feeling tired, weak • EFFECTS: serious illness

Cause/Effect Signal words and Phrases (Refer to text book page 101 & 102) for as a result because as a consequence since therefore as thus to result from consequently to be the result of hence due to so because of to result in the effect of to cause the consequence of to have an effect on as a result of to affect as a consequence of the cause of the reason for thereby

PARAGRAPH DEVELOPMENT