Paragraph Writing Discuss the following exhaustively: Define Paragraph A paragraph is a self-contained unit of a discourse in writing dealing with

a particular point or idea. A paragraph consists of one or more sentences. The start of a paragraph is indicated by beginning on a new line. Sometimes the first line is indented. At various times, the beginning of a paragraph has been indicated by the pilcrow: . Components of Paragraphs All paragraphs have a topic sentence and supporting sentences, and some paragraphs also have a concluding sentence. The topic sentence states the main idea of the paragraph. It not only names the topic of the paragraph, but it also limits the topic to one specific area that can be discussed completely in the space of a single paragraph. The part of the topic sentence that announces the specific area to be discussed is called the controlling idea. Notice how the topic sentence of the model states both the topic and the controlling idea: Gold, a precious metal, is prized for two important characteristics. Supporting sentences develop the topic sentence. That is, they explain or prove the topic sentence by giving more information about it. Following are some of the supporting sentences that explain the topic sentence about gold. Gold has a lustrous beauty that is resistant to corrosion. A Macedonian coin remains as untarnished today as the day it was

made 25 centuries ago. Another characteristic of gold is its usefulness to industry and science. The most recent use of gold is in astronauts' suits. The concluding sentence signals the end of the paragraph and leaves the reader with important points to remember: In conclusion, gold is treasured not only for its beauty but also for its utility. Concluding sentences are customary for stand-alone paragraphs. However, paragraphs that are parts of a longer piece of writing usually do not need concluding sentences. Qualities of Paragraphs 1. Unity - is when a paragraph contains one single main idea. 2. Coherence - is when a sentence follow one another in such a way that the writer`s ideas are expressed in a clear logical manner without sudden shifts or gaps of thought. a. be arranging the details in logical order to avoid thought gaps. b. by using transitional devices or signals to link the thought sequence from one idea to the next. 3. Emphasis - is the principle of composition by means of which important ideas are made to stand.

4. Order - the quality that gives the paragraph a specific direction. - it guides the readers mind towards the point the writer wishes to make or directs the direct the reader towards the understanding of that point. Give 2 examples per quality and explain how the quality is achieved. Rhetorical acts of paragraph writing Narration Narration paragraphs are most distinctively used in fiction. As such, they will contain allnecessary components of action development: protagonist, setting, goal, obstacle, climax andresolution. Writing a narration paragraph requires, consequently, sequential order andchronology. There are many descriptive elements included into the body of a narration paragraph but, if composed correctly, the paragraph will feature much more action than depiction. Example of a Narrative Paragraph Larry suddenly woke up from a deep sleep. The sun was dazzling his half-open eyes, and hecouldnt figure out what time it was. The door to his room was closed; the house was immersed in some sort of reckless silence. He slowly got out of his bed and approached the bench right next to the window. For a moment, he thought, he heard a tapping sound coming from the attic.Then again he heard the sound, only this time it seemed to be somewhat closer. He looked outside the window and saw a man going by the left side of the road. On seeing Larry, the manapproached his gardens fence and whistled. At this point, Larry recognized Nick and waved hishand. He quickly got dressed and was

about the get down to open the gate, but he again heard someone murmuring in the other part of the house. Larry decided to go to the attic and see what was causing this, now buzzing, sound. He got to the second floor of his house and looked toward the attic. He quickly opened its door and looked inside. Nothing was found. He was about to turnback and attend to his guest when he, suddenly, slipped on the stairs and fell. He called out to Nick to help him get up. Elements of a Narrative Paragraph Narrative paragraphs contain several regular elements: Protagonist in the above paragraph, the protagonist is Larry who is introduced at thevery beginning of the story; Setting Larrys house is the setting. From the paragraph, reader can learn about his bedroom (where he woke up), it is also clear that its a two-storey house with an attic,and a fenced garden; Goal the goal of the story is Nick visiting Larry; Obstacle what stops Larry from coming down, and earlier on, from concentrating ongetting dressed are repeating bizarre sounds coming from all parts of the house; Climax Larry trying to check what was causing the sound; Resolution Larry falls from the stairs and calls out to Nick to help him get up. Narrative paragraphs dont need to be chronological. Action can use flashbacks and retrospectionin order to move the story forward. Description In a description paragraph, you are writing about what a person, place, or thing is like. Sometimes, you may describe where a place is located.

Examples: Back in 1999 this fearless athlete posed in this football picture. In the far distance below the cloudless sky stands an off-white stadium. Embedded in the center is large, cracked, blue, painted, letters that spell out BISON. Beneath the old stadium are rows of wornout bleachers which are completely empty. Up in front stands the competitor down on one knee. As you observe more, the sport player is wearing a blue Bison jersey sporting the number 60. To the left above the freshly trimmed green grass that engulfs this players figure lays a football. In the center of the picture, you see her pale white face and dark brown eyes. Around these features you can not help but notice the bronzed hair; which appears to be pulled back around this slender face. Her stern look shows how proud she is; nonetheless, all the confidence she carries on her padded up shoulders. This unique woman is not only elegant and brave; she is my sister, Margaret Eva Hoyt. ~ Kayla Marie Anfinson, 2005~ Definition The definition paragraph is a definition sentence which has been expanded into a paragraph. The definition sentence becomes the topic sentence. Each category is expanded into major supporting sentences, and minor supporting sentences are added. Elements of Definition Paragraph Definition paragraphs contain the following elements: Explanation of meaning the fragment above explains why certain celestial objects are called dwarf planets; Account of the origin of things the fragment briefly recounts the history of astronomical scrutiny relating to dwarf planets;

Method the fragment explains how astronomical observations influenced contemporary knowledge of the solar system, and denotes specifically what tools were used in the process; Examples and comparisons in the fragment cited above, the idea of dwarf planets is explained through comparisons with regular planets, as well as other celestial objects. Definition paragraph should, generally, provide information on how not to confuse different ideas; Citing verifiable sources the fragment contain references to encyclopedia; there could be quotations from dictionaries, and other authoritative sources. Example: Cholera is an intestinal infection that can be described according to its cause, symptoms, and treatment. A bacterium, called Vibrio cholera, is the causative agent of cholera. It can be spread through contaminated food, water, or feces. Cholera patients may exhibit different symptoms that can vary from mild to severe. Some symptoms are watery diarrhea and loss of water and salts. Oral or intravenous replacement of fluids and salts as well as specific antibiotics is a possible treatment for cholera. Patients can be treated with an oral rehydration solution or, in severe cases, an intravenous fluid. Explanation In an explanation paragraph, you need to explain how or why something happens. Very often in social studies class, you will be asked to explore causes and effects of certain events. Example: People moved to Canada from Europe during the

nineteenth century because they had poor living conditions in Europe. Example: Since living conditions in Europe were terrible, many people

moved to Canada.

Comparison and Contrast The Comparison paragraph compares two subjects and discusses how they are alike and lists a few examples. In the contrast paragraph, two subjects are discussed as how they are different, again, listing a few examples. There are two ways to write a paragraph, first, there is the point by point paragraph and there is the blocked paragraph. In the point by point, writing back and forth between the two subjects. First, talking about topic A. then talk about topic B., then right back to topic A. and so on. Finally, the block paragraph only discusses one topic and then finishes the paragraph with the other subject that is to be compared or contrasted with the first. Then the conclusion puts what your compairing or contrasting together. Example: Halifax. Example: On the other hand, winter is much colder in Halifax. Cause and Effect A cause makes a thing happen; an effect is what results when that thing happens. If you brush your teeth and your teeth get whiter, then brushing is the cause and whitening is the effect. A cause-and-effect paragraph helps a reader understand why things happen: the weakening of the ozone layer, the war in Vietnam, the spike in teenage obesity. While cause-and-effect paragraphs may be indispensable to writers who explain politics, human behavior, or the hard sciences, they can Spring weather in Vancouver is similar to spring weather in

also be misleading. If a school, for example, has high reading scores, it may have nothing to do with the quality of teaching and everything to do with students the school has recruited. If I happen to be an honest fellow with good study habits and the ability to make friends, it may have nothing to do with how my parents raised me and everything to do with my genes. Nevertheless, a cause-and-effect paragraph can be a valuable tool for explaining outcomes and trends, and an excellent way to predict future trends Example: In New York City, fifty percent of all public school teachers leave the profession within their first five years on the job. While the teachers union and some politicos have charged that the high attrition rate is due to the salary gap between city teachers and their brethren in the suburbs, the real problem is student behavior. There are approximately 1.1 million public school students, and many of them, especially those in poor neighborhoods, have family problems that make it hard for them to sit still for five hours a day. These students may come from homes with no books, where TV sets blare all day, where no parent or older sibling has a college degree, where generations of kids have found the world of academics foreign, frustrating, and fruitless. Because many of these students cannot read a menu or calculate two-digit addition problems, they find long hours in the classroom tortuous. And while classrooms can absorb one or two of these kidsthat is, the teacher can teach with a minimum of disruptionclassrooms with four or more problem students reach a critical mass. The bad kids tip the good kids, and the simplest lesson becomes a test of wills between teacher and student. Only the most patient, most gifted teacher can endure more than a couple of years of

these daily battles. If she wants to keep teaching, she flees for greener pastures schools like Bronx Science, Stuyvesant, Midwoodor a school in Westchester. The result is alarming: perhaps half of the citys 1000 schools have green-horn teachers with only a few years experience. Many of these novices dont know their subjects and dont know how to control a room filled with difficult kids. Many soon find non-teaching jobs. As a result, the teaching profession, at least the way its practiced in New York City, becomes a form of slumming, or something to do until you grow uplike the Peace Corps or the army. Illustration To illustrate is to explain a general statement by means of more specific examples. Detailed and well-chosen examples add interest, liveliness, and power to your writing. Illustration makes what we say more vivid and more exact. A single example may also be a Narrative, a story that illustrates the topic sentence. Writers often use illustration to develop a paragraph. An illustration paragraph usually contains: 1. A topic sentence. 2. The body should have approximately three vivid and exact examples that support the topic sentence. 3. The examples should be put in order of importance and separated by a transitional expression. Examples: "Even the most productive writers are expert dawdlers, doers of unnecessary errands, seekers of interruptions--trials to their wives or husbands, associates, and themselves. They sharpen wellpointed pencils and go out to buy more blank paper, rearrange offices, wander through libraries and bookstores, chop wood, walk, drive, make unnecessary calls, nap, daydream, and try not 'consciously' to think about what they are going to write so they can think

subconsciously about it." Process Analysis A process analysis paragraph describes how a process happens, through a series of actions. The actions are put in a sequence. This type of paragraphs are usually followed by illustration, as they help in understanding the process better Exemplification Often times, this kind of a paragraph is used as a component of other types of writing. Its written in order to clarify or explain problems and phenomena. Writing exposition paragraphs requires strict focus on evidence and objective language. It can contain elements of comparison and contrast, or cause and effect writing as both facilitate accurate exposition of the subject-matter. For the rhetorical acts, provide concrete definition of each act, tips on how to achieve effective paragraphing using each of the acts, give 2 sample effective paragraphs developed through each act and explain how they are achieved.