unit 5.1 paragraph

7/30/2019 Unit 5.1 Paragraph

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The parts of a paragraph

In academic writing

A paragraph is a small unit of writing thatfocuses onone idea. This one idea is

explained and developedin the paragraph.The first line of each paragraph is indented.The indentation signals the beginning of anew paragraph.

A paragraph generally has three parts:a topic sentencesupport

a conclusion.


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SAMPLE

Parents can help their children be successful inschool by encouraging them. Children usually enjoyplaying games instead of studying their boring lessons,so parents have to take the responsibility to monitor

their studying and to remind them to do theirhomework at home after school. Parents should alsoencourage their children to study by buying storybooks with pictures, or they can buy text books ortapes that help children learn to spell or read. The bestway to encourage children to study efficiently is toreward them when they get an "A." As a child, Iexperienced this. My parents gave me a gift if I hadstudied well, and then I was very excited. So. ifparents really want their children to succeed in school.they need to pay attention to their children's studiesand encourage them. *-Truong Dinh


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The Topic Sentence The topic sentence is the main-idea

sentence. It is the most general andmost important sentence of the

paragraph.

It tells the following:the topic - what the paragraph isaboutthe controlling idea- the writer'sattitude or idea about the topic


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The controlling idea

is a word or phrase thatfocuses or controls the

information in the rest of theparagraph. The reader can askquestions about the controllingidea and expect to have

them answered in theparagraph


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Analyze

In the paragraph above, the topic sentence isthe following:

Parents can help their children be successful in

school by encouraging them.The topic of the sentence is how parents canhelp children succeed in school; the controllingidea is encouraging. The reader might ask thefollowing questions and expect the paragraphto answer them:

How can parents encourage their children?

What specific things should parents do toencourage their children?

How will this encouragement lead to success?


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Support

The supportin a paragraphexplains or develops the topic

sentence. The supporting part canbe narratives, details, facts,examples, explanation, or

statistics. All of the support relatesto the main idea stated in thetopic sentence and shows why the

topic sentence is true.


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Here is a brief list of the support

Topic Sentence:Parents can help their children be successful inschool by encouraging them.

Support:1. Parents can encourage children by reminding

them to do their homework.

2. Parents can encourage children by buyingthem books and tapes to help them learn.

3. Parents can encourage children by rewardingthem.


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Conclusion

The conclusion of a paragraphsummarizes or comments on themain idea. In a one-paragraph

composition, the conclusion is one ortwo sentences. Often, the concludingsentences close the paragraph by

returning to the main idea of the

paragraph. They do this by repeatinga key word or phrase from the topicsentence


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Reminder

Sometimes in the concluding sentences, the writer does

not use the exact key words from the topic sentence

but rephrases them, using other words that mean the

same thing. This gives some variety to the paragraph.Notice how the key words in the topic sentence above

could be rephrased:

Concluding Sentence:Parents who want their children to do their best in schoolmust support and pay attention to them.In this concluding sentence, do their bestmeans thesame as succeedand supportmeans the same asencourage.


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The paragraph is a series of

sentences developing onetopic.


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The Topic Sentence

The topic of aparagraph is stated in

one sentence. This iscalled thetopic sentence.


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The rest of the paragraph consists of

sentences that develop or explain the

main idea.

Through the centuriesrats have managed to

survive all our efforts todestroy them. We have

poisonedthem andtrappedthem. We havefumigated, flooded,andburnedthem. Wehave triedgermwarfare. Some rats

even survived atomicbombtests conductedon Entwetok atoll in thePacific after World War II.In spite of all our efforts,these enemies of ours

continue to prove thatthey are the most


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Developing a Paragraph


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Unity in the Paragraph

Every sentence in a paragraph should support the main

idea expressed in the topic sentence.

Th l di


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The concludingor

clinchersentence

Restate the topic sentence in differentwords.

A clincher sentence or concludingsentenceclinches the point made in

the paragraph.

Itsummarizes the paragraph.


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Coherence in a Paragraph

Stick to the point: The ideas have aclear and logical relation to each other.

Put details or examples or incidents inlogical order.

4

3

2

1chronological

in relation to each other

in order of importance


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Connecting SentencesWithin the Paragraph

chronological

order

first

meanwhile

later

afterwards

finally

objects in relation to

one another

next to

in front of

beside

between

behind

in order of

importance

however

furthermore

as a result

in fact

yet

Transition words


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Types of Paragraphs

The narrative paragraph tells a story

The persuasive paragraph. tries to convince the audience

The descriptive paragraph describes something

The expository or explanatoryparagraph

gives information or explains something


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The End

The this presentation was created by Hai Jim,

an English teacher from HEC-VN006, HNU,

who gives us permission to use this material.

Hai Nguyen majored in English at the Universityof Sydney.

unit 5.1 paragraph

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