1. The Paragraph!!
Powerpoint Templates

2. What is it?? Quite simply…
A collection of related sentences dealing with a SINGLE topic

3. Rule of paragraph writing…
Quite simply…
Keep ONE IDEA to ONE PARAGRAPH!!
You can have several points SUPPORTING or ELABORATING or EXPANDING on your idea in one paragraph

4. Elements of a paragraph….
Unity
The entire paragraph should concern itself with a SINGLE FOCUS
Leaves the reader feeling the writer is in control of their argument
Leads the reader to a clear and satisfying conclusion

5. Coherence
Coherence is the trait that makes the paragraph easily understandable to a reader – how the points are linked together

6. How do we “link”? “Logical Bridges”
Same idea from the topic is carried over from sentence to sentence
Successive sentences can be constructed in parallel form
“Verbal Bridges”
Key words can be repeated in several sentences
Synonymous words can be repeated in several sentences\
Pronouns can refer to nouns in previous sentences
Transition words can be used to link ideas from different sentences

7. Logical orders to creating coherence…
Chronological order….
Deductive order…
Narrating experiences
Summarizing steps in a process
Explaining events and movements
Establish a general statement
Move to more particular details that explain the general statement

8. 3. The Topic Sentence
A topic sentence is a sentence that indicates in a general way what idea or thesis the paragraph is going to deal with
Usually found at the beginning of the paragraph

9. Adequate development (detail sentences)
Sentences that FULLY explain and develop the topic sentence
How do we do that?

10. Use examples and illustrations
Cite data (facts, statistics, evidence, details, and others)
Examine testimony (what other people say such as quotes and paraphrases)
Use an anecdote or story
Define terms in the paragraph
Compare and contrast
Evaluate causes and reasons
Examine effects and consequences
Analyze the topic
Describe the topic
Offer a chronology of an event (time segments)