March 13 th 2012 Today Paragraphs What is a paragraph A group of sentences that discuss one main idea there is no required number of sentences however a paragraph should be long enough to develop the main idea ID: 324122
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Slide1
Academic writing i
March 13
th
2012Slide2
Today: ParagraphsSlide3
What is a paragraph?
A group of sentences that discuss one main idea.
- there is no required number of sentences; however, a paragraph should be long enough to develop the main idea. Slide4
Topic sentence
Tells the reader what the sentence is about.
Helps keep your writing under control
.
In a single paragraph, don’t include information not related to the topic sentence.Slide5
Topic sentence
Clearly states the topic and the controlling idea of the paragraph.
Gives only main ideas. No specific details.
Must contain at least one subject and one verb
.
Is often the first sentence in a paragraph (but not necessarily).Slide6
Topic sentence
Topic names the subject of the sentence
.
Controlling idea limits or controls the topic to a specific area.
Convenience foods
are
easy to prepare
.
There are
several advantages
to
growing up in a big city
.
Driving on the highway
requires strong nerves and aggressiveness
.Slide7
Topic sentence
Don’t include too many ideas.
Independent films are characterized by experimental techniques, low production costs, and provocative themes.
VS.
Independent films are characterized by experimental techniques.Slide8
Examples
English has been influenced by other languages.
The slang expression
so long
(meaning “good bye”) is probably a corruption of the Arabic
salaam
.
The Arabic origins of many English words
are
not always obvious.
t
oo general
t
oo specific
Just right
Slide9
Remember:
A paragraph only needs ONE topic sentence.Slide10
Supporting sentences
These supporting details explain or prove the topic sentence.
Several types:
examples, statistics, and quotations.Slide11
Supporting sentences
IMPORTANT
Many students do not support their ideas well enough.
Supporting details can be the difference between “a paragraph” and a “good paragraph”.Slide12
Supporting sentence
Although
some people think that red-light running is a minor traffic violation that is no worse than jaywalking, it can, in fact, become a deadly crime. Red-light runners cause accidents all the time. Sometimes people are seriously injured and even killed. It is especially a problem in rush hour traffic. Everyone is in a hurry to get home, so drivers run red lights everywhere. The police do not do much about it because they are too busy. The only time they pay attention is when there is an accident, and then it is too late. In conclusion, running a red light is a serious offence.Slide13
Supporting sentence
Although
some people think that red-light running is a minor traffic violation that is no worse than jaywalking, it can, in fact, become a deadly crime. Red-light runners cause hundreds of accidents, including deaths and injuries as well as millions of dollars of damages. Each year more than 900 people die, and nearly 200,000 are injured in crashes that involve red-light running (Department of Highways, 2008). Motorists run red lights all the time. For example, in Fairfax, Virginia, a five-month-long survey at five busy intersections revealed that a motorist ran a red light every 20 minutes (Simmons, 2011). Red-light runners are seldom caught. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), “Communities don’t have the resources to allow police to patrol intersections as often as would be needed to ticket all motorists who run red lights” (IIHS, 2010).Slide14
Supporting sentences
Usually, examples are the easiest kind of supporting evidence to use.
They are often taken from our own experience or knowledge.
However
, depending on the type of writing, examples are not always the best kind of supporting evidence.Slide15
Concluding sentence
Signals the end of the paragraph.
Should remind readers what the paragraph is about.
Leave readers with the most important ideas to remember.Slide16
Concluding sentence
NOTE: Not all paragraphs require a concluding sentence.
In a single, stand-alone paragraph = necessary.
In a long paragraph in a multi-paragraph essay = sometimes necessary.
In a short paragraph in a multi-paragraph essay = not usually necessary.Slide17
Concluding sentence
Summarize the main points of the paragraph.
OR
Repeat the topic sentence in different words.Slide18
Concluding sentence
Some writers begin the concluding sentence with a “signal”.Slide19
Concluding sentence signals
Followed by a comma
:
Finally, Lastly,
In brief, Therefore,
In conclusion,
Thus,
Indeed, So sum up,
In short,
In summary, Slide20
Concluding sentence signals
NOT followed by a comma
:
The evidence suggests that…
There can be no doubt that…
These examples show that…
We see that…Slide21
Concluding sentence
Although
some people think that red-light running is a minor traffic violation that is no worse than jaywalking, it can, in fact, become a deadly crime. Red-light runners cause hundreds of accidents, including deaths and injuries as well as millions of dollars of damages. Each year more than 900 people die, and nearly 200,000 are injured in crashes that involve red-light running (Department of Highways, 2008). Motorists run red lights all the time. For example, in Fairfax, Virginia, a five-month-long survey at five busy intersections revealed that a motorist ran a red light every 20 minutes (Simmons, 2011). Red-light runners are seldom caught. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), “Communities don’t have the resources to allow police to patrol intersections as often as would be needed to ticket all motorists who run red lights” (IIHS, 2010
).
The evidence suggests
that red-light running is more than just a minor traffic violation.Slide22
Unity and coherence
A good paragraph also needs these two elements.Slide23
Unity
Means that you discuss only
ONE
main idea in a paragraph.
Main idea stated in topic sentence.
Each supporting sentence develops that idea
.
A strong paragraph will eliminate sentences that are not related to the main idea.Slide24
Unity: Editing tip
When checking your work, ask yourself:
A. Does every detail I have used support the main idea?
B. Are the supporting details organized in the most logical way?
C. Are there any sentences that are unnecessary because they only restate the main point without adding new information?
D. Are the relationship between ideas clear?Slide25
Unity
Example:
If your paragraph discusses two physical characteristics of gold, discuss only those.
Do not discuss other ideas (e.g., price of gold, gold mining).Slide26
Unity
Although some people think that red-light running is a minor traffic violation that is no worse than jaywalking, it can, in fact, become a deadly crime
. Red-light runners cause hundreds of accidents, including deaths and injuries as well as millions of dollars of damages. Each year more than 900 people die, and nearly 200,000 are injured in crashes that involve red-light running (Department of Highways, 2008). Motorists run red lights all the time. For example, in Fairfax, Virginia, a five-month-long survey at five busy intersections revealed that a motorist ran a red light every 20 minutes (Simmons, 2011). Red-light runners are seldom caught. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), “Communities don’t have the resources to allow police to patrol intersections as often as would be needed to ticket all motorists who run red lights” (IIHS, 2010).
The evidence suggests
that red-light running is more than just a minor traffic violation.Slide27
Unity
Although some people think that red-light running is a minor traffic violation that is no worse than jaywalking, it can, in fact, become a deadly crime. Red-light runners cause accidents all the time. Sometimes people are seriously injured and even killed
. People are also killed or injured in speeding accidents.
It is especially a problem in rush hour traffic. Everyone is in a hurry to get home, so drivers run red lights everywhere. The police do not do much about it because they are too busy
. The
only time they pay attention is when there is an accident, and then it is too late
. When police arrive at accident scenes, they usually interview witnesses.
In conclusion, running a red light is a serious offence.Slide28
Coherence
Means that the paragraph is easy to read and understand
.
Each part of the writing appears to be “connected” and working towards a single conclusion or goal.
Logical order of supporting sentences.
Ideas are connected with appropriate
transition signals
.
(e.g., “for example”, “and”, “however”)Slide29
Coherence
Limited investment in the housing sector makes it practically
impossible to
allocate sufficient resources for urban dwellers' housing needs. A high
rate of
urban population growth has increased the country's needs for housing.
A small
group of city officials has laid out a new plan to combat the crisis.
A solution
to the housing-shortage problem is a vital policy issue here.
The housing
problem has grown in the last twenty years.Slide30
Coherence
Limited investment in the housing sector makes it practically
impossible to
allocate sufficient resources for urban dwellers' housing needs.
In fact
, the problem has grown in the last twenty years.
Because
a high rate of urban population growth has
increased the
country's needs for housing
,
a solution to
the housing-shortage
problem is a vital policy issue here. A small group of
city officials
has laid out a new plan to combat the crisis.Slide31
Coherence
Good coherence usually requires effective editing and feedback (something we will look at later!).Slide32
Homework
Read the new reading in the “Files” section (about paragraph writing).
Download the “paragraph worksheet” from the “Homework” section.Slide33
Journal
After doing the reading, and considering what we have done today, write another draft of your journal entry.
Submit it
on Thursday.