LESSON 5

• Paragraph


  A group of interrelated sentences that talk about one main idea
• Essay


  A group of paragraphs that talk about one central idea
• Differences between paragraph and essay


  • Paragraph is organized around a topic sentence, essay is organized around a thesis
  • Paragraph contains introductory sentence, essay contains introductory paragraph
  • Paragraph uses sentences to explain major points, essay uses paragraphs to explain major points
  • Paragraph may use a concluding sentence, essay always uses a concluding paragraph
• Three major parts of a paragraph


  • Topic Sentence
  • Body
  • Closing Sentence
• Topic Sentence


  The central idea of the paragraph, can be a stand or a comment, an objective statement or a question
• Body


  Consists of supporting details or sentences that clarify and prove the main idea
• Cohesive devices


  Transitional devices, pronouns, or repetition of ideas used in order for all of the sentences to be linked properly
• Closing Sentence


  Concludes the details that have been presented
• Three general parts of an essay


  • Introduction
  • Body
  • Conclusion
• Lead or Attention-getter


  The first statement in the essay which aims to hook the readers
• Transitional Statement


  The sentence which links the lead to the thesis statement, provides background on the topic, includes statement of the case and arguments to be refuted in an argumentative essay
• Thesis Statement


  States the main idea or argument of the essay
• Transitional paragraph


  A paragraph that does not directly provide support to a thesis statement in an essay, its major function is to bridge one paragraph to another
• Body


  The meat of the essay, discusses the thesis statement in detail through its paragraphs, where the topic is developed and arguments are laid out and discussed
• Restatement of the Thesis Statement


  The concluding paragraph begins with this using a different structure and wording to uphold the language style
• Transitional Statement


  Part of the conclusion that talks about the recommendations, benefits of ideas presented, or purpose of writing the essay
• Closing Statement


  Used to wrap up the essay, can link to the attention-getter in the introduction
• Unity


  • Achieved when a composition contains one focused idea, all supporting ideas are relevant to the main thought
• Coherence


  • Ideas are logically, clearly, and smoothly linked to one another at the conceptual or idea level, seen through well-defended arguments and organized points
• Cohesion


  • Connection of ideas at the sentence level, seen through smooth flow of sentences and connection of ideas, achieved through pronouns, transitional devices, and repetition of keywords
• Organization


  • Ideas are logically and accurately arranged, sentences within a paragraph are organized logically
• Language Use


  • Enables the writer to effectively communicate ideas without confusing the reader, includes using clear and concise sentences, avoiding redundancies, wordiness, clichés, and high falutin language, avoiding excessive use of "there" and "it" structures, using precise vocabulary, being consistent with pronoun point of view, avoiding sexist language, using appropriate level of formality
• Mechanics


  • Technical aspect of writing, characterized as a set of conventions on how to spell, abbreviate, punctuate, and capitalize a composition