Revising Paragraphs Shaping for Readers’ Access

Revising Paragraphs Essay readers expect to see in an essay: ◦ An Introduction (with a thesis) ◦ A body section (with topic sentences), and ◦ A conclusion

Essay Structure Introductory Paragraph & Thesis Support Paragraphs with Topic Statements Concluding Paragraph

Revising Paragraphs Readers need to see that the paragraphs within the body of the essay – the support paragraphs – have their own similar shapes

Paragraph Structure Topic Sentence Supporting Details Transition to Next Idea

The Topic Statement The Topic Statement as Readers’ Framework ◦ Tells the readers what to look for  I hate Goonville summers because of the chiggers, ticks, scorpions, and rattlesnakes ◦ The Topic Statement as Writers’ Framework  Always take a definite stand; assert something significant  Abortion laws in our state discriminate against the poor.  How Audience and Purpose Determine a Topic Statement’s Focus

Paragraph Unity Each paragraph in an essay requires both external and internal unity ◦ External: when it belongs with all of the other paragraphs in the essay ◦ Internal: every sentence directly supports the topic statement

Signal Term A signal term is a key word or phrase that announces the viewpoint See Application 6.1, p. 110 ◦ The pressures of the sexual revolution are everywhere.  Signal term = everywhere

Signal Term (cont’d) High voltage from utility transmission lines can cause bizarre human and animal behavior. ◦ Signal term = behavior

Signal Term (cont’d) Nuclear power plants need stricter supervision

Signal Term (cont’d) Producers of television commercials have created a loathsome gallery of men and women, presumably, on Mr. and Mrs. America. ◦ Signal term = commercials

Signal Term (cont’d) From the very beginning of school, we make books and reading a constant source of possible humiliation. ◦ Signal term = reading

Signal Term (cont’d) High interest rates cripple the auto and housing industries. ◦ Signal term = high interest rates

Paragraph Coherence Every sentence follows a connected line of thought, like links in a chain, from the beginning of the paragraph to the end.

Paragraph Coherence Ordering for Coherence ◦ General-to-specific order ◦ Specific-to-general order ◦ Emphatic order ◦ Chronological order

Paragraph Coherence Parallelism & Repetition ◦ Similar grammatical structures and word order for similar items or for items of equal importance.  What is the shape of my life? The shape of my life today starts with a family. I have a husband, five children, and home just beyond the suburbs of New York, I have also a draft, writing, and therefore work I want to pursue. The shape of my life is, of course, determined by many other things – my background and childhood, my mind and its education, my conscience and its pressures, my heart and its desires. I want to give and take from my children and husband, to share with friends and community, to carry out my obligations to [humanity] and to the work, as a woman, as an artist, as a citizen.  - Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Paragraph Coherence Using Transitions for Coherence TRANSITIONRELATION X; meanwhile,Y X and Y are occurring at the same time X; however, Y Y is in contrast or exception to X X; moreover, Y Y is in addition to X X; consequently, Y Y is a result of X

Guidelines for Shaping Your Support Paragraphs Think of each support paragraph as a mini- essay (introduction, body, conclusion) Build each paragraph around a clear topic statement that supports your thesis and tells readers what to expect Focus the paragraph on one limited aspect of the thesis. Revise your topic statement as needed. Make the paragraph unified. Make the paragraph coherent.