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Powerpoint Templates

The Paragraph!!

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What is it??

Quite simply…

•A collection of related sentences dealing with a SINGLE topic

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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

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Elements of a paragraph….

1. 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

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2. Coherence

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

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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

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Logical orders to creating coherence…

Chronological order….

• Narrating experiences

• Summarizing steps in a process

• Explaining events and movements

Deductive order…

• Establish a general statement

• Move to more particular details that explain the general statement

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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

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4. Adequate development (detail sentences)

• Sentences that FULLY explain and develop the topic sentence

How do we do that?

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• 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)