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Basics of Writing a Paragraph. All Nations Leadership Institute April 2010 Jan Paron. Paragraph Defined. A paragraph states a point. The paragraph contains details about the point. Details explain and expand the point’s meaning. Characteristics of a Paragraph.
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Basics of Writing a Paragraph All Nations Leadership Institute April 2010 Jan Paron
Paragraph Defined A paragraph states a point. The paragraph contains details about the point. Details explain and expand the point’s meaning.
Characteristics of a Paragraph • a well-focused topic sentence • unified, specific supporting details • transitional and concluding sentences
Overview of a Paragraph • Draws the paragraph to a close • Leads to the next paragraph • Identifies the content of the paragraph • Makes a point about the topic • Connects to the previous paragraph Topic Sentence • Explain the topic sentence • Support the topic sentence with evidence Supporting Details Concluding or Transitional Sentence
Well-Focused Topic Sentence • Identifies the meaning of the paragraph • Makes a point about the topic • Connects to the previous paragraph
Supporting Details • Explain the topic sentence • Multiple support • Unified
Transitional & Concluding Sentences • Move the reader from one point in the paragraph to another • Draw the paragraph to a close • Lead to the next paragraph
TOPIC SENTENCE One of my favorite desserts is cake. • SUPPORTING DETAILS • Detail 1--First order support –Tell me more. • I love all cakes. If you pushed me to tell you which cake is my favorite, I would say chocolate. • Detail 2 -- Second order support---Because… • When I think of chocolate, my mouth waters because of its savory taste and complex flavors. • Detail 3 -- Third order support—So that… • As far as I am concerned, the combination of taste and flavor sends me into euphoria. • CONCLUDING AND TRANSITIONAL SENTENCES • Certainly, chocolate cake ranks high on my list as a favorite dessert. While I am very fond of it, I place chocolate moose track ice cream in the top position. Perhaps, I have a bias towards chocolate desserts.
Citing Scripture Within Text: Psalm 27:14 (King James Version) states, "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD." The source of one’s strength is our Lord and Savior. So be encouraged and strong. Wait with expectancy in your heart. “Wait for the LORD…” (Psalm 27:14, English Standard Version).
Common Errors in Grammar • Not capitalizing proper names • All names of God, including the pronoun reference, Bible, Scripture and books of the Bible. (Do not capitalize biblical, biblically, scriptural or scripturally.) • Body of Christ, Church (when referring to the body of Christians who make up Christ’s church)
Common Errors in Grammar Correct: • Jesus, He is my Lord and Savior. (All are proper nouns. He refers to Jesus.) • Jesus, He is the King of kings. (Do not capitalize kings. Only Jesus is the King.) If you’re not sure, look it up. Regent University has a good guide. You can find it at http://www.regent.edu/admin/mktsrv/editorial_style/b-c.cfm.
Common Errors in Grammar 2. Using all capital or bold letters to emphasize a word within text or a heading 3. Not capitalizing the first word in a sentence
Common Errors in Grammar 4. Ending without punctuation or placing it in the wrong spot. 5. Using an ellipsis with an incomplete thought.
Common Errors in Grammar 6. Using a dash to signify another thought 7. Using colons to introduce a quotation
Common Errors in Grammar 8. Missing commas in a series • Improper commas usage • Incorrect word choice between it’s, its, and its’ or their, there, and they’re
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