Types of ParagraphsAUTHORS

VALENTINA TAVERA ESTUPIÑÁN

LORENA CASTAÑO ALVAREZ

MELISA SOREC FRANCO BORBON

BLADEMIR JAIMES PABON

What is the definition of a 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.● Though not required by the syntax of any language.● Paragraphs are usually an expected part of formal writing, used

to organize longer prose.

The 4 types of paragraphs that you need to know about:

❏ Descriptive paragraph❏ Narrative paragraph❏ Expository paragraph❏ Persuasive paragraph

Descriptive paragraphsType of paragraph describes and shows the reader what a thing or a person is like.

It allows the reader to experience the item, the reader cannot see it, but knows what it looks like.

Once in a long while, four times so far for me, my mother brings out the metal tube that holds her medical diploma. On the tube are gold circles crossed with seven red lines each--"joy" ideographs in abstract. There are also little flowers that look like gears for a gold machine. According to the scraps of labels with Chinese and American addresses, stamps, and postmarks, the family airmailed the can from Hong Kong in 1950. It got crushed in the middle, and whoever tried to peel the labels off stopped because the red and gold paint come off too, leaving silver scratches that rust. Somebody tried to pry the end off before discovering that the tube falls apart. When I open it, the smell of China flies out, a thousand-year-old bat flying heavy-headed out of the Chinese caverns where bats are as white as dust, a smell that comes from long ago, far back in the brain.

(“The Magic Metal Tube” by Maxine Hong Kingston)

Narrative paragraphType of paragraph that tells a story.

There's A sequence of action or there's a clear beginning, middle, and end to the paragraph

Expository paragraphType of paragraph explains sometimes or provides instruction.

It could also refer to a process and move the reader step by step through a method. Its purpose is to help the reader understand.

Persuasive paragraphType of paragraph tries to get the reader to accept a particular point of view or

understand the writer's position.The language can be highly charged; the intent is to get a reaction.

Also there are paragraphs according to the needs of the subject

●According to the location

●According to the content

●According to a logical structure

According to the locationWe can find three of them:

Paragraph of opening

Is the one which introduces the text. In this paragraph the author presents the problem, thesis and attracts reader’s interest. It's convenient to write it at the final part of the text.

Paragraph of transition

Gives a change in the theme to the continuation of the text or to move from one topic to another between texts.

● Paragraph of closing

Summarizes the general idea of the text, leaving the reader a good memory. Sometimes gives conclusions, suggestions or persuade the reader to follow the ideas of the text.

According to the contentArgumentative paragraph

Presents an idea to convince the reader the affirmations or negations of the writer.

Conceptual paragraph

Used to clarify the meaning of a word or to focus on an idea that is going to be used forward. This paragraph is essential in the scientific and technical writings.

Chronological paragraph

Presents temporal successions of an event.

Paragraph of enumeration

With a organizer phrase helps the reader showing the order of the text.

Descriptive paragraph

Describes the object, person, idea or situation that it's going to talk along the text.

Explanatory paragraph

Clarifies and develop most widely the topic that is being treated.

Expository paragraph

Presents information in an organized way.

● Narrative paragraph

Tells acts in a certain order and time

According to a logical structureComparative paragraph

Express similarities or differences between two differents things.

Paragraph of cause-effect

Presents an event and the reasons that caused it or consequences that were derived from that event.

Paragraph of approach and problem resolution

Clearly presents a problem and expose the solution.

Paragraph of process or sequence

Describe a series of events or processes in some order.

Deductive paragraph

Gives a principal idea at the beginning, starting from the general to the specific.

Inductive paragraph

Gives a principal idea at the end, starting with secondary ideas going to a generalization.

Conclusion paragraph

Is used to close a topic or the ideas of a text.

Important Features to Create a Good Paragraph1. Coherence: Ideas must be good organized with a clear

connection, for achieving this is important to use linkers.

Useful Linkers

2. Unity: The paragraph should have main idea which are complemented by secondary ideas.

3. Good Language: It very important to have a clear and good language to express the message correctly with grammatical accuracy.

4. Support: It fundamental supporting ideas with examples, evidence and details.

Steps to Write a Paragraph1. Gather: Identify the important information.

2. Organize: Identify the main and supporting ideas.

3. Draft: Make the first draft.

4. Edit: Revise and improve the draft.

5. Publish: Final version

References•Types of paragraphs.Retrieved Nov 1 of 2015. https://sites.google.com/site/basicslanguagearts/home/components-of-a-paragraph/different-type-of-paragraphs.

•Paragraph writing. http://goo.gl/zO7SB6

•Tipos de parrafo. Carmen Pérez. Retrieved Nov 1 of 2013. http://goo.gl/Jtl7sP

•Types of paragraphs. http://www.learnamericanenglishonline.com/Write_in_English/WL10_types_of_paragraphs.html

•Cervera A. (2007) Saber escribir. Bogotá : Aguilar.