Chapter 4 Paragraph writing

ChapterFourPARAGRAPHWRITINGContentsIntroductionClassificationFeaturesWaysofparagraphdevelopment4123Conclusion5I.Introduction1.DefinitionAparagraphisagroupoforderlysentencesthatdeveloponecentralideacompletely.Itmaybeapartofanessayoritmaystandalonelikeaminiessay.Itmaybelongorshort.2.Featureofaneffectiveparagraph:unified,coherent,specific,andadequatelydeveloped.3.Thecomponentsofastandardparagraph:atopicsentence,andsupportingsentencesII.TypesofparagraphsA.IndependentparagraphB.SpecialparagraphsIntroductoryparagraphTransitionalparagraphConcludingparagraphC.Bodyparagraph(Supporting/Amplifying)II.TypesofparagraphsA.IndependentparagraphAnindependentparagraphisanisolatedonewhichhasitsownseparatedexistenceanditislikeacompleteessaybyitself.Components:atopicsentence;supportingsentencesandaconcludingsentenceE.g.editorialpagesofnewspapersorcommentsoncurrentevents.II.TypesofparagraphsIbelievethattheChinesepeoplepossessallthementalandphysicalqualitiesrequiredfornationalgreatness.Theylovethelandoftheirbirthwithreverence;theybelieveintheirownsuperiority.Theyarefinemen,endowedwithgreatpowersofendurance;theyareindustriousandthrifty.Absolutelyindifferenttohardshipanddeath,theyarefearlessandbrave,andwhenwelltrainedandwellled,theymakefirst-ratesoldiers.Ihaveseenthemunderfire,andfoundthemcoolandundismayedbydanger.(fromtheChinesePeoplebyLordWoolsey)B.SpecialparagraphsIntroductoryparagraphTransitionalparagraphConcludingparagraphInform&infunction:Interestgetter;Pointer;ClincherWhyaretheyspecial?II.TypesofparagraphsII.TypesofparagraphsB.SpecialparagraphsInanessay,thereareoftenspecialparagraphswhichbeginit,linkpartswithinit,orendit.Whyaretheyspecial?Informandinfunction.1.Introductoryparagraphs:Interest-getters,2.Transitionalparagraphs:pointers,3.Concludingparagraphs:clinchers.Theyarenotfullydevelopedunitsofadiscussion.II.Typesofparagraphs1.Anintroductoryparagraph(propositional)paragraphItsmainpurposeistointroducethesubjectundertreatment.Athesisstatementisasinglesentencewhichstatesclearlythemainideaofawholeessay.Itappearsatthebeginningofanessay,statingthetheme,andalsobrieflyexpressingthewayofdevelopmenttobefollowed.Itstartlesthereadersandmakesspecialefforttointerestthem.Someexamplestoillustratethewaysofwritinganintroductoryparagraph:II.Typesofparagraphs1.Anintroductoryparagrapha.Statingthethemeintheformofachallengingquestionandhintingatitsimportance:Intowhatisamoderngirltogrow?Manyapsychologistoreducatortodaywillfindfewquestionsmorerecurrentormoretroublingthanthisoneifhestopstoconsiderit.(from“GrowingUpFemale”byBrunoBellelheim)II.Typesofparagraphs1.Anintroductoryparagraphb.Statingthetopicandpointingoutthetwosubtopicsthataretobetreated:ThisbookisacollectionofshortstoriesbySouthernwriters.Thatinvolvestwoquestionswhichmorethanoncehadtobeconsideredinthemakingofthisbook.WhatisaSouthernwriterandwhatisashortstory?(fromSouthernHarvestbyRobertPenn)II.Typesofparagraphs1.Anintroductoryparagraphc.Statingthethemeandindicatingthewayofdevelopmenttobefollowed:ThemainpurposeofthisbookistoexaminethelinesandproductionsofsuchBritishpoetsashavegainedreputationwithinthelastfortyyears.Incidentally,Ihopetoderivefromthebodyoftheirverse,--sovariousinformandthought,--andfromtherecordoftheaimandprovinceoftheartofpoetry,andnotafewstrikingillustrationsofthepoeticlife.(FromVictorianPoetsbyEdmundClarenceStedman)II.Typesofparagraphs1.Anintroductoryparagraphd.Statingthethemeanddescribingaproblemintheformofabriefrepresentativeincident:Agroupofyoungsters–theoldestwas14–formedacircleandsolemnlyinhaledonaTurkishwaterpipeuntiltheireyeswereglazedanddistant.Allofthemweredeep-tanned,sun-bleached,sports-playingCalifornia-affluent-junior-high-schoolers,goodstudentsandnormalchildrenwhoseparentsthought,theywereonapicnic.(from“Marijuana:MillionsofTurned-onUsers”byAlbertRosenfield)II.Typesofparagraphs2.TransitionalparagraphItisawholeshortparagraphthatservesasatransitionbetweenthemaindivisionsofthesubject.Itappearssomewhereinthemiddleofapapertomarkthecloseofonedivisionandsuggestthereadinesstotakeupanother.Itislikeabridgelinkingtogetherthetwobanksofariver.a.Summingupbeforestartinganotherdivision:Well,that’showitwasbefore“she”cameintomylife.Nowletmetellyouwhatit’sliketobemarriedtoaHonda.II.Typesofparagraphs2.Transitionalparagraphb.Providingatransitionfromageneralizationtoadiscussionofspecificexamples:Iknowofcoursethatallthisstillsoundsvague.Butdon’tworry.Formthispointonwearegettingdowntobrasstacks.II.Typesofparagraphs2.Transitionalparagraphc.Indicatingwhatthewriterintendstodonext:Confuciusbelongstothatsmallcompanyofselectoneswhoseliveshavebeendevotedtothemoralelevationoftheirfellow-men.Amongthemhestandshigh,forhesoughttoimplantthepurestprinciplesofreligionandmoralsinthecharacterofthewholepeople,andsucceededindoingit.Toshowthatthiswashispurpose,itwillbenecessarytogiveabriefsketchofhislife.II.Typesofparagraphs3.AconcludingparagraphTheconcludingparagraphisthelastparagraphinanessaywhichshouldconcentrateonthemainideaofwhat