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Paragraph Writing Youssef TAMER Associate Professor, Department of English Studies Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences Ibn Zohr University, Agadir, Morocco WWW.ENGLISHSTUDIESINFO.BLOGSPOT.COM
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Do not rely on simply reading the materials available for learning composition or consulting the answers keys. Successful completion of this module requires that you do lots of writing.
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The Paragraph WWW.ENGLISHSTUDIESINFO.BLOGSPOT.COM
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T H E P A R A G R A P H
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In other modules of this semester, you learn how to use words and sentences. Single words and single sentences are acceptable in conversations If you want to write your ideas, you need to know how to put groups of sentences together into these larger units, called paragraph This module deals with an even larger unit of communication called the paragraph. Readers expect written messages to follow certain rules of structure, and, as a result, the success of your communication depends on following these conventions. WWW.ENGLISHSTUDIESINFO.BLOGSPOT.COM
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T H E P A R A G R A P H
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Read this paragraph about a student’s first job. What is the topic? A. Working my first job C. What my first job taught me B. Getting my first job C. What my first job taught me
Learning Responsibility 1. My first job was a sales clerk in a small clothing shop. 2. It wasn’t a difficult job and it wasn’t really a very interesting job. 3. My best friend had a more exciting job. 4. Every weekend I had to open the store at 10:00 a.m. 5. I couldn’t be late. 6. now on weekends I like to sleep late. 7. I helped customers find clothes, and I kept the store neat and clean. 8. My parents’ house was very clean, too. 9. I used the cash register and handled credit cards, so I had to be very careful. 10. These things all taught me responsibility. 11. Now I work in a research laboratory. 12. I don’t work with clothing anymore, but I still use that important skill I learned in my first job. WWW.ENGLISHSTUDIESINFO.BLOGSPOT.COM
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T 1- Cross out the sentences that are not connected to the topic H E Learning Responsibility P A R A G R A P H
1. My first job was a sales clerk in a small clothing shop. 2. It wasn’t a difficult job and it wasn’t really a very interesting job. 3. My best friend had a more exciting job. 4. Every weeken I had to open the store at 10:00 a.m. 5. I couldn’t be late. 6. now on weekends I like to sleep late. 7. I helped customers find clothes, and I kept the store neat and clean. 8. My parents’ house was very clean, too. 9. I used the cash register and handled credit cards, so I had to be very careful. 10. These things all taught me responsibility. 11. Now I work in a research laboratory. 12. I don’t work with clothing anymore, but I still use that important skill I learned in my first job. WWW.ENGLISHSTUDIESINFO.BLOGSPOT.COM
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T 1- Cross out the sentences that are not connected to the topic H E P A R A G R A P H
Sentences that are not related to the topic: • My best friend had a more exciting job. • Now on weekends I like to sleep late. •My parents’ house was very clean, too.
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T 2- Which additional sentences could be connected to H the paragraph? Write C (connected) or U E (unconnected) • P • A • R •
C ……. I answered the phone and opened the mail. U ……. On weekdays I did my homework for school. U ……. I once worked delovering pizza, too. C ……. I learned how to choose and order new clothing. A C Dressing neatly and professionally was an G • ……. important part of the job R U • ……. A lab assistant is a good job for me. A U • ……. In the future, I would like to take some P business trips.
H
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T H E P A R A G R A P H WWW.ENGLISHSTUDIESINFO.BLOGSPOT.COM
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T H E P A R A G R A P H
• • • •
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Unconnected Sentences: I was the youngest person in my high school class. I took a business class in college that was very good. College tuition in the U.S is more expensive than in many other countries. Some colleges help their graduates find jobs after graduation.
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T H E P A R A G R A P H WWW.ENGLISHSTUDIESINFO.BLOGSPOT.COM
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T H E P A R A G R A P H
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Suggested answer: !
Part-time Jobs are Good for Students Having a part-time job is a valuable experience for high school students. They can learn many things that are not usually taught in a classroom. For example, they can learn how to work with the business world. Having a part-time job gives students a sense of independence. They can also earn money to use for college. Education is more than just school subjects. Learning about the real world is also important. WWW.ENGLISHSTUDIESINFO.BLOGSPOT.COM
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T H E P A R A G R A P H
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The Paragraph The paragraph is a series of sentences developing
one topic.
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T H Paragraphs are a form of written communication which E contains a minimum of five sentences. Each sentence in a paragraph "talks about" or develops P one single main idea. A R If your paragraph does this, it is said to have unity. A In addition, each sentence in a paragraph must be tied G to the one before and after it, like links in a chain, by R using special words called transitions. A If your paragraph contains these links, it is said to have P coherence. H WWW.ENGLISHSTUDIESINFO.BLOGSPOT.COM
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T H E P A R A G R A P H
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Unity in the Paragraph Every sentence in a paragraph should support the main idea expressed in the topic sentence.
main idea sent
ence
nce e t n se
senten s
nce e t en
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T H E P A R A G R A P H
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Connecting Sentences Within the Paragraph Transition words Chronological order first meanwhile later afterwards finally
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Objects in relation to one another next to in front of beside between behind
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In order of importance however furthermore as a result in fact yet
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T H E P A R A G R A P H
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Coherence in a Paragraph • Stick to the point: The ideas have a clear and logical relation to each other.
• Put details or examples or incidents in logical order. Chronological In relation to each other In order of importance WWW.ENGLISHSTUDIESINFO.BLOGSPOT.COM
4 3 2 1
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T H EXERCISE E Read the paragraph below and then answer the questions that follow.
P A R A G R A P H
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Riding a bike can give you lots of good exercise everyday. I use my bike to get to work every day. I take my bike to get groceries. When somebody stole my bike, I was heartbroken, but the police found it two days later. I often ride my bike out to the country on week-ends just for a change of scene. Without my bike, I wouldn’t get any exercise at all. WWW.ENGLISHSTUDIESINFO.BLOGSPOT.COM
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Paragraph Writing Youssef TAMER Associate Professor, Department of English Studies Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences Ibn Zohr University, Agadir, Morocco WWW.ENGLISHSTUDIESINFO.BLOGSPOT.COM
Paragraph Structure
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P A R A G R A P H
! S T R U C T U R E
Of course, every good paragraph has to have unity and coherence, but it must also have structure. • an interesting beginning......called an introduction • a middle with specific details.........called the body • a satisfying ending.........called the conclusion If you write a paragraph that contains these three sections, you have written a paragraph with good structure.
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The Topic Sentence ! !
• The topic of a paragraph is stated in one sentence. This is called the topic sentence.
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T O P I C S E N T E N C E
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The introduction (one or two sentences) mentions the topic or main idea. In other words, the writer will tell the reader !
what he/she is about to be told. !
• German shepherds are good pets.
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T O P I C S E N T E N C E
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The introduction, sometimes called the topic sentence, must also catch the reader's attention so that he/she will want to finish reading the whole thing. The sentence above states the topic clearly, but it could be reworded. • German shepherd dogs make an ideal family pet. • If you are looking for a great family pet, consider a German shepherd dog. • Topic: German shepherds • Main idea: They are good pets. WWW.ENGLISHSTUDIESINFO.BLOGSPOT.COM
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T O P I C
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As a reader, do you know what the paragraph is going to be about? Do you know the writer's opinion? The answer to these questions is "yes".
This is a good introduction to a paragraph that will S try to persuade you, the reader, that German E shepherds make good pets. N ! T EXERCISE: E N • What is the topic in the paragraph about bikes? C • What is the writer’s opinion? E WWW.ENGLISHSTUDIESINFO.BLOGSPOT.COM
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T O P I C
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Riding a bike can give you lots of good exercise everyday. I use my bike to get to work every day. I take my bike to get groceries. When somebody stole my bike, I S was heartbroken, but the police found it E two days later. I often ride my bike out to N the country on week-ends just for a change T E of scene. Without my bike, I wouldn’t get N any exercise at all. C E
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T O Riding you lots lots of of good good Riding a bike can give you P exercise everyday. everyday. I use my bike to get to exercise I C work every day. I take my bike to get
groceries. When somebody stole my bike, I S was heartbroken, but the police found it E two days later. I often ride my bike out to N the country on week-ends just for a change T of scene. Without my bike, I wouldn’t get E N any exercise at all. C E
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T O P I C S E N T E N C E
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The rest of the paragraph consists of sentences that develop or explain the main idea.
Main idea
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•
Developing sentences
Concl u senten ding ce
Through the centuries rats have managed to survive all our efforts to destroy them. We have poisoned them and trapped them. We have fumigated, flooded, and burned them. We have tried germ warfare. Some rats even survived atomic bomb tests conducted on Entwetok atoll in the Pacific after World War II. In spite of all our efforts, these enemies of ours continue to prove that they are the most indestructible of pests.
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D E V E L O P I N G S E N T E N C E S
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Developing a Paragraph A topic sentence may be develop ed by givin g example s.
e c n e t n e s c i p o t A • d e p o l e v e may be d etails. d g n i v i g by WWW.ENGLISHSTUDIESINFO.BLOGSPOT.COM
ic p y o a t m A e c n e sent eloped v e d e b g n i l l b y te an t n e d i inc
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D E V E L O P I N G S E N T E N C E S
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It’s here, in the body of the paragraph, that the writer can explain in detail all his/her reasons for preferring German shepherds as pets. !
In other words, now the writer will tell the reader: What he/she really wants to tell. !
First, German shepherds are intelligent. In addition, they are dedicated to their owners. Finally, they are usually suspicious of all strangers. WWW.ENGLISHSTUDIESINFO.BLOGSPOT.COM
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D E V E L O P I N G
First, German shepherds are intelligent. In addition, they are dedicated to their owners. Finally, they are usually suspicious of all strangers.
S E N T E N C E S
Each support is placed in a separate sentence.
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The body of this paragraph contains three reasons to support the writer’s opinion that German shepherds make good pets.
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D E V E L O P I N G S E N T E N C E S
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The body of the paragraph has unity because each sentence deals with the topic, and it contains transitions which gives it coherence. Transitions are an essential part of good paragraph structure: first, in addition, and finally These three transitions show the reader that they are part of a list of supports the writer is presenting. First,… Second,... Third,.... Firstly,... Secondly,... Finally,… Another reason,... A final reason,….Most importantly.... WWW.ENGLISHSTUDIESINFO.BLOGSPOT.COM
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D E V E L O P I N G S E N T E N C E S
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The paragraph on German shepherds has unity and coherence, but it needs to be more persuasive. To make this paragraph more convincing, the writer needs to add more details and examples.
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D E V E L O P I N G S E N T E N C E S
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First, I have never met a German shepherd whose intelligence wasn’t above average. They can learn how to turn door knobs, follow a trail, or identify illegal substances. In addition, German shepherds are dedicated to their owners. My dog Max waits patiently at the end of the driveway every night until I come home. Not even a juicy bone will tempt him to move. Finally, he is usually suspicious of all strangers, so he barks or growls when anything or anyone unknown is near his family. WWW.ENGLISHSTUDIESINFO.BLOGSPOT.COM
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D E V E L O P I N G S E N T E N C E S
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The concluding or clincher sentence • Restates the topic sentence in different words. !
• A clincher sentence or concluding sentence clinches the point made in the paragraph. !
• It summarizes the paragraph.
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D E V E L O P I N G S E N T E N C E S
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The easiest way to write an acceptable conclusion is to reword the introductory sentence. Look at your introduction and then say it again using other words. In the conclusion, the writer tells the reader What he/she has just been told. Here is a possible conclusion for the paragraph on German shepherds. German shepherd dogs make a great addition to any family. WWW.ENGLISHSTUDIESINFO.BLOGSPOT.COM
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D E V E L O P I N G S E N T E N C E S
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What is the general topic of this paragraph? What is the main idea? (the writer’s opinion) What are the three things that support the writer’s opinion? What examples strengthen these supports? How does the writer link the supports together? Be specific. What is the conclusion? Make a list of other words in the paragraph that relate to stress and relaxation.
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D E V E L O P I N G S E N T E N C E S
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Canoeing is the best way to relax and relieve your stress. Gliding across a still lake on a summer day, nothing but silence and bird songs will break the quiet and interrupt your thoughts. In addition, the slow rhythmic strokes of the paddle can help you unwind so that all your troubles will fade into the background. Canoeing has its most soothing effect when you can lie back in the middle of a deserted lake and stare up at nothing more complicated than a bright cloudless sky. Canoeing always makes you feel comfortable with your life. WWW.ENGLISHSTUDIESINFO.BLOGSPOT.COM
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D Paragraph Writing By Dorothy E Zemach & Carlos Islam E V E L O P I N G S E N T E N C E S
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D Paragraph Writing By Dorothy E Zemach & Carlos Islam E V E L O P I N G S E N T E N C E S
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D Paragraph Writing By Dorothy E Zemach & Carlos Islam E V E L O P I N G S E N T E N C E S
2- There2notoo main idea or opinion 2-isIt’s It’s too broad broad 1-isIt’s It’s toothan narrow 2- There1more too broad one main idea WWW.ENGLISHSTUDIESINFO.BLOGSPOT.COM
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D Paragraph Writing By Dorothy E Zemach & Carlos Islam E V E L O P I N G S E N T E N C E S
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Paragraph Writing Youssef TAMER Associate Professor, Department of English Studies Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences Ibn Zohr University, Agadir, Morocco WWW.ENGLISHSTUDIESINFO.BLOGSPOT.COM
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CREATING A PARAGRAPH WWW.ENGLISHSTUDIESINFO.BLOGSPOT.COM
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P R O C E S S W R I T I N G
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“Process Writing” means: • Writing in English • Writing with a word processor • Writing in several stages “steps” • Writing in several stages “steps” Before you begin to write, you should: • Finish the homework for your other classes • Get some ideas • Ask your friends for help • Get some ideas WWW.ENGLISHSTUDIESINFO.BLOGSPOT.COM
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P R O C E S S W R I T I N G
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Your teacher may ask you to read a classmate’s paper and answer some questions about it. This is because: • You can learn a lot by reading your classmate’s assignment • Your teacher is too busy to read all the students’ papers • You are a better writer than your classmates • You can learn a lot by reading your classmate’s assignment WWW.ENGLISHSTUDIESINFO.BLOGSPOT.COM
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P R O C E S S W R I T I N G
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Your teacher may ask you to write another draft. This is because: • Your teacher can’t think of any new assignements. • The first time, your paper was bad. • You can make your paper better by making some changes. • You can make your paper better by making some changes. WWW.ENGLISHSTUDIESINFO.BLOGSPOT.COM
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P R O C E S S W R I T I N G
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Before you hand in your paper for a grade, you should: • Ask your teacher to give you a good grade. • Check it carefully. • Put some pretty stickers on it. • Check it carefully.
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C R E A T I N G
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Now that you have had the chance to examine the structure of some good paragraphs, it's time to start thinking about doing some writing of your own.
A
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! P A R A G R A P H
One of the biggest problems most new writers have is deciding what to write about.
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C R E A T I N G
! A
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Getting Started !
The first rule of writing is to choose a topic that you know something about. In addition, the topic should be something that you feel strongly about, either positively or negatively. The enthusiasm you bring to the topic is reflected in your writing and thus to the reader.
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C R E A T I N G
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When asked to write in the classroom, you may create your own topic or pick from a list supplied by the instructor.
A
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Let's assume that you have been given the following list of general topics for a oneparagraph essay.
P A R A G R A P H
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C R E A T I N G
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Read the list below. Which topic appeals to you? • Children • Vehicles • Animals • Sports • Vacations
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C R E A T I N G
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The topic is much too broad. !
There is so much to say that you don't really know where to start.
A
!
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As a result, every sentence you write seems to go round in circles and gets nowhere.
P A R A G R A P H
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When the topic is too broad, writing is impossible.
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C R E A T I N G
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After all, think about the topic, Animals. !
How many animals are there in the world? !
!
How many different kinds are there?
A
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The books on the broad general topic of animals would fill all the shelves in a large library‌ !
And all you've been asked to do is write a single paragraph. WWW.ENGLISHSTUDIESINFO.BLOGSPOT.COM
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C R E A T I N G
! A
! P A R A G R A P H
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The solution to the problem is quite simple. !
You need to narrow the topic. !
This means that you choose a tiny specific area of the topic that contains only enough information to fill one paragraph. !
How do you do this thing called narrowing?
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C R E A T I N G
!
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You begin by asking yourself a few questions. Take the general topic Animals for example. !
Ask yourself What kind of animals? Your answer..... House pets.
A
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But there are many different kinds of house pets, all the way from boa constrictors to hamsters to canaries to cheetahs.
P A R A G R A P H
!
So you ask yourself the same question again. What kind of house pets? Your answer.....House pets with four legs. WWW.ENGLISHSTUDIESINFO.BLOGSPOT.COM
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C R E A T I N G
! A
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But there are many kinds of four legged house pets: dogs, cats, hamsters. !
Your topic is still obviously too broad for the length of the composition you have to write.
!
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P A R A G R A P H
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Think about your last trip to the library. How many books were there on pets like those mentioned above? You will have to ask yourself the question again. What kind of four legged house pets? Your answer....Cats. WWW.ENGLISHSTUDIESINFO.BLOGSPOT.COM
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C R E A T I N G
! A
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At this point you probably think that you have reached a suitable topic for writing. !
This is the place in the narrowing process where many writers get into trouble. !
Take a minute to ask yourself, !
"How many books would there be in a library on the topic of cats?" WWW.ENGLISHSTUDIESINFO.BLOGSPOT.COM
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C R E A T I N G
! A
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Even in a small library, there would be several whole books on cat, but you will be writing something very short, a paragraph. !
It would be impossible to say everything about cats in a single paragraph. !
You can clearly see that you need to narrow your topic even further‌ !
So continue asking the question, "What kind of...?" WWW.ENGLISHSTUDIESINFO.BLOGSPOT.COM
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C R E A T I N G
- Short haired cats !
- Tabby !
A P A R A G R A P H
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Your thought process may follow this track:
! !
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- Tabby kittens 

- My Tabby kittens !
Now you are closer to a good topic. My Tabby kittens WWW.ENGLISHSTUDIESINFO.BLOGSPOT.COM
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C R E A T I N G
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Finding Something to Say !
Now that you have found a narrowed topic, !
The next thing to think about is something to say about it. !
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Take My Tabby kittens, for an example.
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Ask yourself this question. "So, what about my Tabby kittens?" !
By answering this question, you will come up with an opinion about your topic. Perhaps your answer leads you to this opinion. "My Tabby kittens are fun to watch." WWW.ENGLISHSTUDIESINFO.BLOGSPOT.COM
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Exercise: Use the narrowing process you have just read about to turn each of the general topics below into ones that can be handled in a one paragraph essay. Be sure to record the various stages of the narrowing process in your notebook. The first one is done for you. 1) Vehicles.... What kind of vehicles? ...trucks What kind of trucks? .....transport trucks What kind of transports?...eighteen wheelers 2) Children 3) Sports 4) Insects 5) Vacations 6) Education 7) Summer 8) Television 9) Nature 10) Health WWW.ENGLISHSTUDIESINFO.BLOGSPOT.COM
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To come up with an opinion, you can also use a formula that looks like this. TOPIC Triple cheese pizza My noisy neighbours Returning to school Spring trout fishing Extended cargo vans Making speeches
LINKING VERB is are was is are doesn’t have to be
JUDGEMENT delicious. annoying. scary. relaxing. better than trucks. difficult.
EXERCISE: Create an opinion about the topic you have narrowed Turn your opinions into interesting introductory sentences. (You will have a total of ten introductory sentences.) WWW.ENGLISHSTUDIESINFO.BLOGSPOT.COM
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Brainstorming: Generating ideas
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Brainstorming: Generating ideas
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Creating Supports for Your Opinion !
Expressing an opinion is fine, !
And brainstorming for ideas will give you something to say, !
But to be effective the writer needs to support the opinion with proof.
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For example, if someone states that the Acme car dealership is the best place to buy a used car, you are likely to need to hear their reasons before you decide to give Acme a try. !
Similarly, if you read that ice cream is bad for your health, you will probably want to see some proof before you agree with the statement and never eat ice cream again. !
Convincing proof could come in the form of: !
• (1) examples of people who became sick after eating ice cream !
• (2) observations which are made from experience WWW.ENGLISHSTUDIESINFO.BLOGSPOT.COM
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Let's apply these ideas to the topic of Tabby kittens. !
You have formulated the opinion, !
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"My Tabby kittens are fun to watch."
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Next, you need to come up with a minimum of three supports for your opinion: 

Ask yourself the question, "What do Tabby kittens do that makes them so funny?" WWW.ENGLISHSTUDIESINFO.BLOGSPOT.COM
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Pick three funny things from the list of ideas you brainstormed. • play fighting • chasing a catnip mouse • climbing the curtains For each support, include some specific details. • play fighting...rolling and somersaults…falling off things • playing with a catnip mouse...jumping and twisting • climbing Mom's best curtains...can't figure out how to get down...whimpering meow Now you have created a plan for your one-paragraph essay, just by making a list of the ideas you will use to support your opinion. WWW.ENGLISHSTUDIESINFO.BLOGSPOT.COM
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Creating a Satisfying Ending !
The only thing missing from the picture now is the conclusion. !
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Look at the introduction and try to say the same thing in different words.
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In other words, create a concluding sentence by rewording the introduction. !
Perhaps you might write, !
No matter what they do, I am always entertained when I watch my two Tabby kittens. WWW.ENGLISHSTUDIESINFO.BLOGSPOT.COM
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EXERCISE:
Using the topics you narrowed in Exercise 4, brainstorm a list of ideas for each opinion that you might include in a paragraph to persuade someone to agree with you.
 For each list, put an asterisk beside the three points that will best support your opinion.
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The paragraph has all but written itself at this point. !
All you have do is string your ideas together by creating grammatically correct sentences that present each of three supports and examples recorded above. !
Don't forget to include transitions between each of the supports.
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Types of Paragraphs • The narrative paragraph • tells a story
• The persuasive paragraph. • tries to convince the audience
• The descriptive paragraph • describes something
• The expository or explanatory paragraph • gives information or explains something
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REFERENCES
Writing Paragraphs & The Writing Process. New Brunswick Community College Paragraph Writing By Dorothy E Zemach & Carlos Islam
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