Paragraphs

By the end of this sequence you will

know what paragraphs are, why they
are used, as well as how to use them.
$o why do we use paragraphs?
n sentences and within sentences, one idea goes to
another, then another, and so on, until we have a whole
page of writing (called text). To divide the page into
random chunks of writing, all more or less the same size,
shows that the point of using paragraphs is not
understood. Paragraphs have nothing to do with the
amount of writing, or how many sentences have been
written; because paragraphs are like boxes for ideas.
Which is the most important sentence in this paragraph?
Can you explain why?
Characteristics of paragraphs 1
1) Paragraphs are made up of sentences.
2) $entences contain one fact or piece of
information, e.g. 'The Tsunami struck the
nuclear station and the water cooling system
was damaged.'
The subject of the sentence is what?
The conjunction and, joins the two halves of
the sentence, and in theory we could replace it
with a full stop, but we would have to add
another phrase because we would want to know
'water cooling system' of what?
$entence development
'The Tsunami struck the nuclear station and
the water cooling system was damaged,
causing overheating of the nuclear fuel.'
Further information either about the main subject
which is?, or the secondary subject which is?
The structure of the sentence is a model of how a
paragraph works.
evelopment
One can add more sentences increasing
the information given about either the
damage to the cooling system or to the
nuclear station itself; or even provide
additional information by considering the
consequences of damage to either. oing
the latter would produce a simple
paragraph containing information about an
event and the consequences.
Options for paragraph 2
Option A is to provide information about the
nuclear station itself, where it is, how many
reactors it has, etc.
Option B is to take the Tsunami itself, and
provide information about how it was caused,
why it was so damaging etc.
Whether you choose option A or option B,
paragraph 1 must end with a linking subject that
tells the reader what the main subject of the
second paragraph is.
Write the linking sentences for options A and B.
Characteristics of paragraphs. 2
1) A paragraph should contain no more
than two points.
2) There must always be a linking sentence
connecting the end of one paragraph to the
subject of the next paragraph.
3) A visual marker for a paragraph is not only the
space between them which allows the reader
to briefly stop reading and take in what they
have just read, but also that the first sentence is
indented an extra space between the first word
and the margin.
ewspaper Reports
The opening paragraph usually answers the
questions: What?, Where?, and When?,
although a map may be used to answer the
Where?
Further paragraphs would then deal with
answers to How?, Why?, and Who? questions.
What would also take place would be that
opinions about How? And Why? Might try to
provide answers directly, or indirectly, i.e.
witnesses, interviews etc.
Argument writing
f you had to answer the question: 'Exams
can do more harm than good' iscuss,
then clearly there are two sides: agree
side, and disagree side. This would be two
paragraphs. The 'discussion' would also
need and introduction, and some kind of
summing up why not a conclusion?
Argument writing development
The simplest plan to answer the question:
'Exams can do more harm than good' iscuss, would be
four paragraphs. f you agreed, the agree points would
be in the third paragraph why?
However, it is helpful to think of what an opponent would
say about points made, which could lead to linking
paragraphs using connective phrases like; On the other
hand, $ome however might say.The trick is not to
answer with main points but fresh points, and it makes
following the argument much more interesting because
there are more than two simple opposing points of view.
Paragraph length 1.
f sentence variety, mixing simple
sentences with the complex, short with the
long, makes reading for the reader much
more interesting; so too does variety in
paragraph length. t also visually makes it
appear more readible.
Paragraph length 2
Persuasive writing is one example where variety
of paragraph length is very important, because it
enables emphasis to be given points in the
argument: argument always being a feature of
persuasive writing, does not have to be explicit
it can be implied, in an advertisement for
example.
One classic example would be the use of
Rhetorical questions. To isolate one gives it
emphasis. For example the kind that directly
addresses the reader like:
You would like to be like that, would you?
The dialogue convention.
This was really established when books began
to be printed. f two people/characters are
having a flowing conversation, it is normal to
treat what each new speaker says, as a new
paragraph. Visually, we can see it is a
conversation between two people : hence a new
paragraph for each (new) speaker.
What this helps reduce is the s/he said, detail
which can become very mechanical and
therefore boring. You only have to mention
names once, for the reader to be able to follow
the conversation.
%48:2:5
Paragraphs help the writer organise their thought,
because of this paragraphing is also key writing
assessment criteria.
Paragraphs help the reader to follow the writer's thoughts:
being able to follow a writer's thoughts is reading
assessment criteria.
Using a variety of paragraphs and following conventions,
such as the one for dialogue,
make both writing and reading easier.
Over view