paragraph
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
PARAGRAPH
I got cold. Last winter was mild. That book is new. I exercised every day. I learned how to raise body heat.
Is this a paragraph?
Paragraph
–a composition in miniature -a group of sentences concerned with developing or
expressing a single topic -exhibits a structure and progression of ideas
leading on the topic sentence -a sentence or group of sentences that support one
main idea
Parts of a Paragraph
1. Topic Sentence
2. Support Sentences/
Details
3. Concluding Sentence
1. Topic Sentence
–tells the reader what the main idea of the paragraph is
-basic and important kernel of the paragraph
-contains the thought that holds the paragraph together
-leads to paragraph unity
***A good topic sentence is specific and well focused, guiding the entire paragraph.
1. Topic Sentence
2. Support Sentences/Details
–explain, clarify, and define the topic by using specific details
-develops the main idea
-consistent with the controlling idea
2. Support Sentences/Details
Check Supporting Sentences/ Details
a. Sufficient
b. Support the main point/ main idea
c. details can be examples, statistics, or opinions
d. key word
3. Concluding Sentence
- to reiterate the main point developed by the body sentences
-to signal the reader that this is the end of the paragraph
Passage A
We live in an era of great inventions. Television sets
bring distant scenes into our living rooms. Atomic-
powered submarines travel under the polar ice cap.
Manned space ships orbit the earth, and rockets travel
to the moon. These inventions, products of human
ingenuity, have transformed the character of life in the
present and will determine in large measure the shape
of the future.
Passage B
When a camera flash is used in a low-light environment, the
subject's eyes may appear red in the finished photograph. What is
known as "red-eye" is the result of light from the flash reflecting off
the pupils of the eyes. The phenomenon of red-eye can be lessened
by using the red-eye reduction feature found on many SLR
cameras. This feature activates a lamp which shines a small light
directly into the subject's eyes. When this happens, the diameter of
the pupil is reduced, thus tightening the opening in the iris. Since a
smaller pupil means a smaller host for the reflection, the chances of
red-eye occurring are greatly reduced.
Passage C
People do it every day. They log on to their favorite website and browse
for hours, checking out bargains. They dump every possible wish into
their shopping carts, knowing they can cast each one aside before they
finalize their purchases. On the way, they may enter a sweepstakes in
the hopes of winning a trip to Cabot San Lucas, or maybe even a new
SUV. And then, when they have decided on their purchases, they enter
private information without giving it a thought. With a keystroke, they
release their personal data into what may or may not be a secure zone.
Despite what much of the public believes, internet shopping is not safe.
A basic outline for a stand-alone paragraph looks like this:
Topic sentence
A. Supporting sentence
Detail
Detail
B. Supporting sentence
Detail
Detail
C. Supporting sentence
Detail
Detail
(etc.)
Concluding sentence and final thought
Characteristics of a good paragraph
1. Complete
2. Unified
3. Organized
4. Coherent
1. Complete
-it carries out its purpose
-supporting details
-backs ups the general statement, give a broader and more complete picture of the topic
2. Unified
–all the ideas contribute toward the development of a topic sentence
-singleness of the subject
3. Organized –logical movement or sequence of sentences
in the paragraph
a. Chronological
b. from one space to an adjoining space
c. specific to general (inductive)/ general to specific (deductive)
d. question to answer/ cause to effect or vice versa
4. Coherent –all sentences are closely interrelated
and interdependent
Seatwork:
On a ½ crosswise, develop one of the topics below. Do not forget to specify your intended reader and the goal of your paragraph.
Topics:
a. Civil Engineering
b. Famous Bridge
c. differences between living in a condominium and a house
Format
Title:
Purpose: to persuade/ inform the reader...
Intended Reader:
Paragraph:
SELF EVALUATION
Criteria Yes No
1. My paragraph has a clear topic sentence.
2. The topic sentence is a complete sentence and is
relevant to the prompt.
3. The major and minor supporting details all support
the central idea.
There are no misspelled words.
4. There is sentence variety. (Simple, Compound,
Complex, Compound-Complex)
5. The paragraph is free from grammatical slips.