Business Writing

Firefly Electric and Lighting Corp. Training and Organizational Development

Human Resources Department

Module 4

Crafting Paragraphs

Module Four: Crafting Paragraphs

Carefully written words and well constructed sentences make up the building blocks of writing. In this module, we will discuss how you can put these blocks together for best results. We will discuss the basic parts of paragraphs, examine some examples and learn some tips on organizing your paragraphs.

Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts. -William Strunk Jr.

Crafting Paragraphs

Module 4

Lesson 3

Making an Outline

Paragraph Outline

Definition: Paragraph outline is a general sketch or rough draft indicating only the main or essential features to be included in a paragraph, divided into headings or subheadings to distinguish main points from secondary points.

Topic sentence

Supporting sentence # 1

Supporting sentence # 2

Supporting sentence # 3

Conclusion or Clincher sentence

T Topic Sentence

Making an Outline Two Types of Outlines:

• Topic outline – consists of key phrases arranged to indicate the primary method of development of a paragraph. It is generally used with emails, letters, short reports, etc.

• Sentence outline – consists of sentences, each of which summarizes an idea that may serve as the topic sentence for each paragraph. It is usually used for longer documents such as a five or more paragraph essay, term papers, thesis, etc.

Parts of an Outline

Thesis

Main Headings

Subordinate

Headings

• Controlling idea

• Use Roman numerals

• Indented: A,1,a.i

• Parallel

Making an Outline Common Format of an Outline:

I. Main Topic or Topic sentence

A. Subtopic of I

1. Subtopic of A

a. Subtopic of 1

i. Subtopic of a

ii. Subtopic of a

b. Subtopic of 1

i. Subtopic of b

ii. Subtopic of b

2. Subtopic of A a. Subtopic of 2 i. Subtopic of a ii. Subtopic of a b. Subtopic of 2 II. Main Topic or Topic sentence – will have the same, more or less, subdivisions as Main Topic I. Subdivisions should at least have two subheadings or none at all.

Making an Outline

Making an Outline • Subtopics are indented and parallel to each other. Example: I. Benefits of reading often A. Increases understanding of self and other people B. Exposes reader to new information and ideas C. Improves overall reading comprehension

Making an Outline D. Improves vocabulary E. Increase reading speed. II. Conclusion: of great benefit to a person This outline is intended for a stand alone paragraph. If another sentence is used to support any of the subdivisions, it can just be added in the paragraph without it being included in the outline. If two or more sentences support one of the subdivisions, then it will be tagged 1,2, or 3.

Making an Outline

Example of Topic outline: I. Benefits of reading often A. Increases understanding of self and other people 1. offers vicarious experience 2. promotes deeper self-knowledge 3. gains insight of other people’s behavior

Making an Outline Example of Sentence outline:

I. Reading more often offers a reader many benefits

A. It increases a person’s understanding of himself and of other people.

B. It exposes the reader to new information and ideas.

C. It improves the reader’s overall reading comprehension

Making an Outline

D. It improves one’s vocabulary

E. It increases a person’s speed in reading.

II. Frequent reading offers a person a lot of benefits. (Conclusion)

The sentence outline can already be used in writing the paragraph. To make the ideas flow smoothly, the writer can add transition words.

Making an Outline The paragraph: Reading more often offers a person a lot of benefits. For one thing, it increases a person’s understanding of himself and of other people. Furthermore, it exposes the reader to new information and ideas. It also improves the reader’s overall reading comprehension. At the same

Making an Outline time, it improves one’s vocabulary. Finally,

It increases a person’s speed in reading.

Clearly, frequent reading offers a person a

lot of benefits.

Making an Outline

Making an Outline Choose from the given choices the appropriate answer: 1. The common format of outlining follows this pattern: a) I, A, a, 1, i c) A, I, a,1,i b) I,A,1,a,I d) A, I, I, a,1 2. In an outline, which of these should NOT be indented? a) paragraph c) subdivisions b) main topic d) subtopics

Making an Outline

3. Subordinate headings should be: a) parallel and synonymous b) parallel and indented c) indented and synonymous d) indented with similar letters 4. To make ideas flow smoothly in writing a paragraph, the writer uses: a) capital letters c) transition words b) punctuation marks d) indention

Making an Outline 5. Topic outline is a draft used in writing : a) Emails c) Letters b) Memos d) All of the above 6. Which of these is NOT included in a paragraph outline? a) Thesis statement b) Extraneous details c) Essential features d) subtopics

Making an Outline

.

Making an Outline 1. Which of the samples below is the proper format of a topic outline? a) I. My Idol A. The most important person in my life 1. gifted me with my life 2. nurtured me in my growing years 3. loved me unconditionally B. Lessons I have learned from her 1. to be true to my faith 2. to be hardworking and humble 3. to be just and fair in my treatment of my fellowmen

Making an Outline b) I. My idol A. The most important person in my life 1. gifted me with my life 2. nurtured me in my growing years 3. loved me unconditionally B. Lessons I have learned from her 1. to be true to my faith 2. to be hardworking and humble 3. to be just and fair in my treatment of my fellowmen

Making an Outline

c) I. My idol A. The most important person in my life a. gifted me with my life b. nurtured me in my growing years c. loved me unconditionally B. Lessons I have learned from her a. to be true to my faith b. to be hardworking and humble c. to be just and fair in my treatment of my fellowmen

Making an Outline

d) I. My Idol A. The most important person in my life 1. gifted me with my life 2. nurtured me in my growing years 3. loved me unconditionally B. Lessons I have learned from her 1. to be true to my faith 2. to be hardworking and humble 3. to be just and fair in my treatment of my fellowmen

Making an Outline 2. Which of the samples below is the proper format of a

sentence outline? a) I. The person I look up to and is my idol is my mother. A. My mother is the most important person in my life. 1. She gifted me with my life. 2. She nurtured me in my growing years. 3. She loved me unconditionally. B. I have learned valuable lessons in life from her. 1. I must be true to my faith. 2. I should be hardworking and humble. 3. I should be just and fair in my treatment of my fellowmen.

Making an Outline b) I. The person I look up to and is my idol is my mother.

A. My mother is the most important person in my life. 1. She gifted me with my life. 2. She nurtured me in my growing years. 3. She loved me unconditionally. B. I have learned valuable lessons in life from her. 1. I must be true to my faith. 2. I should be hardworking and humble. 3. I should be just and fair in my treatment of my fellowmen.

Making an Outline c) I. The person I look up to and is my idol is my mother.

A. My mother is the most important person in my life. a. She gifted me with my life. b. She nurtured me in my growing years. c. She loved me unconditionally. B. I have learned valuable lessons in life from her. a. I must be true to my faith. b. I should be hardworking and humble. c. I should be just and fair in my treatment of my fellowmen.

Making an Outline d) I. The person I look up to and is my idol is my mother.

A. My mother is the most important person in my life. 1. She gifted me with my life. 2. She nurtured me in my growing years. 3. She loved me unconditionally. B. I have learned valuable lessons in life from her. 1. I must be true to my faith. 2. I should be hardworking and humble. 3. I should be just and fair in my treatment of my fellowmen.

Making an Outline 3. Arrange the following sentences to form a unified and

coherent sentence outline. See outline after the list.

a) Various diseases have been linked to smoking. b) One common type of lung cancer is known as “black death.

c) Pregnant women who smoke have high risk of giving birth to stillborns.

d) Passive smokers are almost at the same risks as active smokers.

e) Other diseases caused by smoking include chronic bronchitis, emphysema, COPD, cancer of the mouth, throat, liver etc.

Making an Outline f) Newly born babies are the most vulnerable to diseases caused by smoking. g) ”Black cancer” results from accumulation of solid particles from smoke in the air sacs of the lungs. h) Lung cancer is the primary disease resulting from smoking. i) Pregnant women who smoke have 90% risk of giving birth to flawed babies or babies with organ defects.. j) These dregs from smoke hinder the air sacs from contracting and expanding affecting breathing.

Making an Outline The Risks of Smoking

I.

A.

1.

2.

3.

B.

II.

III

A.

B.

Making an Outline

Fill –in the skeleton outline above with the sentences found in #3.

Making an Outline

If you got a score of 6 or less in the practice exercise, please review the notes on Making an Outline before taking the quiz.

Please look over the uploaded Powerpoint notes in Quia and check whether there are other facts you need to include in your Cheat Sheet.

Making an Outline Choose from the given choices the appropriate answer: 1. The common format of outlining follows this pattern: a) I, A, a, 1, i c) A, I, a,1,i b) I,A,1,a,I d) A, I, I, a,1 2. In an outline, which of these should NOT be indented? a) paragraph c) subdivisions b) main topic d) subtopics

Making an Outline

3. Subordinate headings should be: a) parallel and synonymous b) parallel and indented c) indented and synonymous d) indented with similar letters 4. To make ideas flow smoothly in writing a paragraph, the writer uses: a) capital letters c) transition words b) punctuation marks d) indention

Making an Outline 5. Topic outline is a draft used in writing : a) Emails c) Letters b) Memos d) All of the above 6. Which of these is NOT included in a paragraph outline? a) Thesis statement b) Extraneous details c) Essential features d) subtopics

Making an Outline 1. Which of the samples below is the proper format of a topic outline? a) I. My Idol A. The most important person in my life 1. gifted me with my life 2. nurtured me in my growing years 3. loved me unconditionally B. Lessons I have learned from her 1. to be true to my faith 2. to be hardworking and humble 3. to be just and fair in my treatment of my fellowmen

Making an Outline b) I. My idol A. The most important person in my life 1. gifted me with my life 2. nurtured me in my growing years 3. loved me unconditionally B. Lessons I have learned from her 1. to be true to my faith 2. to be hardworking and humble 3. to be just and fair in my treatment of my fellowmen

Making an Outline

c) I. My idol A. The most important person in my life a. gifted me with my life b. nurtured me in my growing years c. loved me unconditionally B. Lessons I have learned from her a. to be true to my faith b. to be hardworking and humble c. to be just and fair in my treatment of my fellowmen

Making an Outline

d) I. My Idol A. The most important person in my life 1. gifted me with my life 2. nurtured me in my growing years 3. loved me unconditionally B. Lessons I have learned from her 1. to be true to my faith 2. to be hardworking and humble 3. to be just and fair in my treatment of my fellowmen

Making an Outline 2. Which of the samples below is the proper format of a

sentence outline? a) I. The person I look up to and is my idol is my mother. A. My mother is the most important person in my life. 1. She gifted me with my life. 2. She nurtured me in my growing years. 3. She loved me unconditionally. B. I have learned valuable lessons in life from her. 1. I must be true to my faith. 2. I should be hardworking and humble. 3. I should be just and fair in my treatment of my fellowmen.

Making an Outline b) I. The person I look up to and is my idol is my mother.

A. My mother is the most important person in my life. 1. She gifted me with my life. 2. She nurtured me in my growing years. 3. She loved me unconditionally. B. I have learned valuable lessons in life from her. 1. I must be true to my faith. 2. I should be hardworking and humble. 3. I should be just and fair in my treatment of my fellowmen.

Making an Outline c) I. The person I look up to and is my idol is my mother.

A. My mother is the most important person in my life. a. She gifted me with my life. b. She nurtured me in my growing years. c. She loved me unconditionally. B. I have learned valuable lessons in life from her. a. I must be true to my faith. b. I should be hardworking and humble. c. I should be just and fair in my treatment of my fellowmen.

Making an Outline d) I. The person I look up to and is my idol is my mother.

A. My mother is the most important person in my life. 1. She gifted me with my life. 2. She nurtured me in my growing years. 3. She loved me unconditionally. B. I have learned valuable lessons in life from her. 1. I must be true to my faith. 2. I should be hardworking and humble. 3. I should be just and fair in my treatment of my fellowmen.

Making an Outline 3. Arrange the following sentences to form a unified and

coherent sentence outline. See outline after the list.

a) Various diseases have been linked to smoking. b) One common type of lung cancer is known as “black death.

c) Pregnant mothers who smoke have high risk of giving birth to stillborns.

d) Passive smokers are almost at the same risks as active smokers.

e) Other diseases caused by smoking include chronic bronchitis, emphysema, COPD, cancer of the mouth, throat, liver etc.

Making an Outline f) Newly born babies are the most vulnerable to diseases caused by smoking. g) ”Black cancer” results from accumulation of solid particles from smoke in the air sacs of the lungs. h) Lung cancer is the primary disease resulting from smoking. i) Pregnant women who smoke have 90% risk of giving birth to flawed babies or babies with organ defects. j) These dregs from smoke hinder the air sacs from contracting and expanding affecting breathing.

Making an Outline The Risks of Smoking

I. Various diseases have been linked to smoking

A. Lung cancer is the primary disease resulting from smoking

1. One common type of lung cancer is known as “black death.

2. ”Black cancer” results from accumulation of solid particles from smoke in the air sacs of the lungs.

3. These dregs from smoke hinder the air sacs from contracting and expanding affecting breathing.

Making an Outline B. Other diseases caused by smoking include chronic

bronchitis, emphysema, COPD, cancer of the mouth, throat, liver etc.

II Passive smokers are almost at the same risks as active smokers.

III Pregnant women who smoke have 90% risk of giving birth to flawed babies or babies with organ defects.

A. Pregnant mothers who smoke have high risk of giving birth to stillborns

B. Newly born babies are the most vulnerable to diseases caused by smoking.

End of Lesson