PARAGRAPH

I got cold. Last winter was mild. That book is new. I exercised every day. I learned how to raise body heat.

Is this a paragraph?

Paragraph

–a composition in miniature -a group of sentences concerned with developing or

expressing a single topic -exhibits a structure and progression of ideas

leading on the topic sentence -a sentence or group of sentences that support one

main idea

Parts of a Paragraph

1. Topic Sentence

2. Support Sentences/

Details

3. Concluding Sentence

1. Topic Sentence

–tells the reader what the main idea of the paragraph is

-basic and important kernel of the paragraph

-contains the thought that holds the paragraph together

-leads to paragraph unity

***A good topic sentence is specific and well focused, guiding the entire paragraph.

1. Topic Sentence

2. Support Sentences/Details

–explain, clarify, and define the topic by using specific details

-develops the main idea

-consistent with the controlling idea

2. Support Sentences/Details

Check Supporting Sentences/ Details

a. Sufficient

b. Support the main point/ main idea

c. details can be examples, statistics, or opinions

d. key word

3. Concluding Sentence

- to reiterate the main point developed by the body sentences

-to signal the reader that this is the end of the paragraph

Passage A

We live in an era of great inventions. Television sets

bring distant scenes into our living rooms. Atomic-

powered submarines travel under the polar ice cap.

Manned space ships orbit the earth, and rockets travel

to the moon. These inventions, products of human

ingenuity, have transformed the character of life in the

present and will determine in large measure the shape

of the future.

Passage B

When a camera flash is used in a low-light environment, the

subject's eyes may appear red in the finished photograph. What is

known as "red-eye" is the result of light from the flash reflecting off

the pupils of the eyes. The phenomenon of red-eye can be lessened

by using the red-eye reduction feature found on many SLR

cameras. This feature activates a lamp which shines a small light

directly into the subject's eyes. When this happens, the diameter of

the pupil is reduced, thus tightening the opening in the iris. Since a

smaller pupil means a smaller host for the reflection, the chances of

red-eye occurring are greatly reduced.

Passage C

People do it every day. They log on to their favorite website and browse

for hours, checking out bargains. They dump every possible wish into

their shopping carts, knowing they can cast each one aside before they

finalize their purchases. On the way, they may enter a sweepstakes in

the hopes of winning a trip to Cabot San Lucas, or maybe even a new

SUV. And then, when they have decided on their purchases, they enter

private information without giving it a thought. With a keystroke, they

release their personal data into what may or may not be a secure zone.

Despite what much of the public believes, internet shopping is not safe.

A basic outline for a stand-alone paragraph looks like this:

Topic sentence

A. Supporting sentence

Detail

Detail

B. Supporting sentence

Detail

Detail

C. Supporting sentence

Detail

Detail

(etc.)

Concluding sentence and final thought

Characteristics of a good paragraph

1. Complete

2. Unified

3. Organized

4. Coherent

1. Complete

-it carries out its purpose

-supporting details

-backs ups the general statement, give a broader and more complete picture of the topic

2. Unified

–all the ideas contribute toward the development of a topic sentence

-singleness of the subject

3. Organized –logical movement or sequence of sentences

in the paragraph

a. Chronological

b. from one space to an adjoining space

c. specific to general (inductive)/ general to specific (deductive)

d. question to answer/ cause to effect or vice versa

4. Coherent –all sentences are closely interrelated

and interdependent

Seatwork:

On a ½ crosswise, develop one of the topics below. Do not forget to specify your intended reader and the goal of your paragraph.

Topics:

a. Civil Engineering

b. Famous Bridge

c. differences between living in a condominium and a house

Format

Title:

Purpose: to persuade/ inform the reader...

Intended Reader:

Paragraph:

SELF EVALUATION

Criteria Yes No

1. My paragraph has a clear topic sentence.

2. The topic sentence is a complete sentence and is

relevant to the prompt.

3. The major and minor supporting details all support

the central idea.

There are no misspelled words.

4. There is sentence variety. (Simple, Compound,

Complex, Compound-Complex)

5. The paragraph is free from grammatical slips.