Composing and Effective Paragraph

• Paragraph

  • A group of sentences about one topic
  • Contains a topic sentence, supporting details and sometimes a concluding sentence
• Topic Sentence


  Usually the first sentence of the paragraph; states the main idea
• Supporting Sentences


  The middle sentences; provides details/evidences such as explanations or examples that expand or support the topic sentences; connected by transition words or phrases
• Concluding Sentence


  Sometimes used in longer paragraphs to sum up the ideas presented; expresses the same idea as the topic sentence but in different words
• PRINCIPLES IN WRITING A PARAGRAPH:

  1. Unity - talks about one central idea
  2. Coherence - the connection of ideas
  3. Development - describes, elaborates, explains, and supports its topic sentence
• A paragraph is considered adequately developed if after reading it, the reader has no questions.
• DIFFERENT PATTERNS OF PARAGRAPH DEVELOPMENT:

  1. Narration
  2. Description
  3. Process
  4. Exemplification
  5. Comparison/Contrast
  6. Definition
  7. Classification
  8. Cause and effect
• Narration


  Tells a story or recounts a series of events
• Description


  Uses more adjectives or vivid sensory description. It creates a mental picture of the topic by describing it
• Process


  Explains a process
• Exemplification


  Uses a series of examples
• Comparison/contrast


  Demonstrates a comparison or contrast or examinees how given subjects are either similar or different

  • COMPARISON - How similar
  • CONTRAST - How different
• Definition


  Gives a complete working definition, it defines boundaries for readers
• Classification


  Classifies the topic into components
• Cause and effect 


  Explains reason and why something happened