WRITING
STRUCTURED PARAGRAPHS
Elements
for succed in Academic Writing:
Formal style
Correct punctuation
Paragraphing
Paragraph:
Definition: A distinct section in a
piece of writing indicated by a new line
Types: Explanatory, descriptive,
persuasive and narrative
Elements:
·
Each
paragraph must start in a new line
·
It
is focused on one main idea
·
It
must be well organized
Qualities for a successful
paragraph:
·
Unity:
o
Topic
sentence: Main idea of the paragraph
+ Parts:
I.
Topic:
Subject of the paragraph
II.
Controlling
idea: Specific comments about the main idea
+ Position:
I.
At the beginning of the paragraph
II.
Elsewhere
in the paragraph
III.
At
the end of the paragraph
·
Coherence:
o
How
sentences are related to each other
o
A
paragraph is coherence if the details make it easy to read
o
It
is achievable
I.
If
bridges are created from one sentence to an other
II.
By
repeating key words
III.
By
using pronouns
IV.
By
using synonyms
V.
By
using transition words
·
Development:
Details on evidence to support the topic sentence and illustrate points with
examples
TEE RULE: T (TOPIC SENTECE)
E (EXPLANATION
OF THE TOPIC SENTENCE)
E (EXAMPLES OR
EVIDENCE)
Types of paragraph:
·
Introductory
paragraph:
o
States
topic of assignment and comments on its importance
o
States
main argument
·
Concluding
paragraph:
o
Summary
of what it has been said before
o
The
most important paragraph
o
Summarizes
the main points in very few sentences
o
States
main conclusions
o
Satisfies
the readers
o
DO
NOT:
I.
Introduce
new material
II.
End
with a generalization
III.
End
with a quotation
PARTS OF A
PARAGRAPH: ENGLISH ACADEMIC WRITING
Paragraph:
v Topic sentence:
o
The
subject of the writing
o
Interesting
topic with our opinion on it.
v Body:
o
Heart
of the paragraph
o
Gives
more information about the topic
o
Supporting
arguments
o
Details:
Order by importance and chronology
v Closing sentence:
o
Remains
the audience about what they have been reading
o
Keeps
the audience thinking about the topic
o
Restates
the topic sentence but in a different way
o
Summarizes
the ideas of the paragraph
o
Final
comment of the topic
Sources
Massey University, Writing Structured
Paragraphs. Retrieved from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w183qB0KDFg&feature=player_embedded. Accessed on May 29, 2013.
AlexESLvid, Parts
of a Paragraph - English Academic Writing Introduction. Retrieved from: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCuExRE6N-4&feature=player_embedded Accessed on May 29, 2013.
STUDENTS:
GRIECO, MAYRA ROCIO
PEREZ, MARIANELA
