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GA2.3: Read about PARAGRAPHS in your English Handbook. Then, post a reply to this post that includes: 1/ One paragraph about what you have learned about paragraphs. 2/ Two to three outstanding questions about paragraphs.
EXTRA CREDIT: Reply to my Week 1: Keywords Blog Post by contributing your own definitions of one or more words on the list! While you can cite part of a dictionary definition in your definition, please make sure the definition you post is mostly your own and based on your understanding of the term.
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In the reading about paragraphs, I have learned that a paragraph is a set of sentences dealing with a specific topic. And if we give a good topic sentence we’ll persuade the reader. The introductory paragraph is a paragraph that we’re going to write of what the topic is about. The body paragraph will contain an argument and each new idea will become a new paragraph. The concluding paragraph would only say what was discussed in the body paragraphs. In our paragraphs, we must ask our self if we have explained and give enough supporting evidence to the topic. Also I have to look through paragraphs if I’m repeating words that could give a boring context. Or if at some point I’m making my ideas confusing to the audience. At last, I have to make sure that my topic is clear so the audience will understand my making point.
1. How many sentences my introduction and conclusion should have?
2. Can I write my introduction and conclusion the same but paraphrasing words to make it somehow different?
Maricel,
This is a great paragraph about paragraphs! Regarding your first question, most paragraphs–including introductory and concluding paragraphs–will be five to seven sentences. Regarding your second question, I strongly discourage you from modeling your conclusion on your introduction. An introductory paragraph has a distinct rhetorical purpose, as does a concluding paragraph. I hope we have discussed introductions sufficiently for your to be fairly familiar with what the rhetorical purposes are for a good introduction. (And, if this is NOT the case, please come talk to me!). We have not yet talked very much about the rhetorical purpose of conclusions, but as far as I am concerned, a good conclusion synthesizes all of the points of your essay. In most genres of writing, a conclusion is a reflection and thinking through of what you have written, not a summing up. That said, in exam writing, it is a good idea to use the conclusion to reiterate to your reader the points you have made.
GA2.3: Paragraphs
In the reading about paragraphs, I learned that it is just a collection of sentences based on a single topic. When writing paragraphs, there was one basic rule to go by, ” keep one idea to one paragraph”. In that one idea, there are many supporting details that backs it up. Also, there are four elements that helps construct effective paragraphs. The for elements are unity, coherence, a topic sentence and adequate development. Lastly, besides those four elements, there are two other very important elements called signposts and transitions.
1. They say intros and conclusions should be a little similar to each other . Is that always true?
2. How many sentences should a paragraph really have ?
Tishima,
This is a great paragraph about paragraphs. However, I’m curious to know who “they” is in your question #1. What source(s) did you use to lean more about paragraphs? Regarding your question #2, the “technical” answer is “five to seven sentences.” Of course, depending on the length of your sentences, this could mean your paragraph is either fairly short or very long. A good “rule of thumb” is to make sure that paragraphs are about half a page. Paragraphs can be longer than that, but the point of a paragraph is to help you and your reader stay focused and I find that writers and reader tend to lose focus after about a half page.
A paragraph is a group of sentences that discuss a single theme. In the English Handbook, I learned what a paragraph is and how to structure it. A paragraph starts off with a topic sentence that states the main idea of the whole paragraph. You back up your topic sentence with explanations, facts, examples, or reasoning’s that prove what you’re trying to say. The final sentence wraps up your whole paragraph. We use transitions to link paragraphs such as furthermore, in addition to, or finally. For the concluding sentence you do not repeat your topic sentence but you build on it. The concluding sentence only states what was said in your body paragraphs.
1. Can you switch from past to present tense when writing a paragraph?
2. Can you write about different ideas or topics within one paragraph or does each idea need to be separated in their own paragraph?
Thanks, Allison. This is a really excellent working definition of and guide to writing paragraphs. Regarding your first question, I’m tempted to answer, simply, “no,” but I’m sure I could think of an exception. In general, it is always a good idea to be consistent with your tenses. If you are writing in the past tense, try to stay in the past tense. If you are writing in the present tense, try to stay in the present tense. However, when writing about texts, the convention is generally to use the present tense. Therefore, you could be writing about your past experiences in the past tense and then want to say something about a text you have read, e.g., Alexie’s essay, in which case you would then write about Alexie’s essay in the present tense. I know this sounds confusing, but in practice you will get used to it. Most writers have a pretty good sense of which tense to use. The bigger issue is making sure they stick with the same tense in a sentence or between sentences. With respect to your second question, every paragraph needs to be about one idea. However, that idea could be a comparison of two ideas or a discussion of the relationship between two ideas. In those cases, you want to make sure that your topic sentence makes it clear that you will be talking about two ideas in relation to one another. Personally, I find it useful to think about paragraphs as presenting one point or claim each, as opposed to one “idea” each since a point or claim could be made up of several ideas in relation to one another.
A paragraph is a collection of ideas related to one topic. The topic is typically introduced in the introductory paragraph which is usually 5-7 senttences. Each body paragraph should address a different idea or point originally stated in the intro. The paragrapgh is organized by a topic sentence that sets what will be stated in the body. The body paragrapgh is the back bone of the essay it contains your argument, facts, opinions etc.
1. Depending on the style of writing how much can the intro differ from the sandard?(Ive seen one sentence introductions)
2. What is the best way to organize paragraphs to write an argument essay
Uriah,
These are both very interesting questions. The first is very easy to answer: it depends on the genre and rhetorical context of what you are writing. The second is quite difficult to answer, but there are certainly strategies that you can study to think about and better understand effective structures for persuasive essays. Every essay has an “argument,” regardless of whether its purpose is to inform, persuade, describe, or narrate. However, by an “argument essay,” I’m assuming you mean an argumentative, or persuasive, essay. If not, let me know. I’ll look forward to talking to you more about essay structures and the structures of arguments.