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PARAGRAPH WRITING AND PARAGRAPH DEVELOPMENT
The paragraph is a discourse unit made up of a block of sentences conveying the writer’s thought units and thought flow. The paragraph contains a well-develoved central thought marked off by indentation at the beginning.
A paragraph, therefore, constitutes the building blocks of essay and forms the continuous writing.
Each new paragraph marks a new stage in development of the writer’s thought as well as reader’s understanding. Effective essay are made only with good and well-thought out paragraphs. The paragraph, thus , has both a physical form, and an internal form.
The internal form enhances a logical arrangement of thought and related ideas.
Elements of Paragraph Structure
Topic Sentence: the topic sentence states the main point of paragraph. It is usually explicit and though often appears at the beginning, it could also be at the middle or end of paragraph.
Every other sentence in the paragraph relates to, and indeed supports the topic sentence either in a list form or in a chain structure.
• Unity: Unity is enhanced in a paragraph when the sequence that make up the paragraph clearly relates to a specific and fully developed central idea.
This central idea is often referred to as the Topic Sentence, i.e the main points of the paragraph. There are two important ways unity can be achieved in a paragraph.
A). Through a list structure – here the paragraph opens with a topic sentence and followed by a lot of sentence, all referring to and supporting the topic sentence.
B). Through a chain of structure – this is where each sentence suggests or generates the next sentence.
• Emphasis: this is achieved through the prominence given to certain words, ideas and sentence in a paragraph. It makes certain expressions or ideas stand out as very important while pushing others to the background.
You can repeat ideas, words or sentence as a way of keeping the reader’s attention on them and indicating that these repeated ideas are important.
Similarly, the way the sentence is arranged can also point to their relative importance within the paragraph.
Some sentences or words can be placed at the beginning in order to leave an impression in the mind of the reader at the onset or it may be placed at the end to set the reader thinking after reading.
• Coherence: this is the verbal thread that ties each new sentence in a paragraph to one before it. It shows the logical sequence of facts presented in a paragraph. Coherence can be achieved through:
i. Time – previously, eventually, earlier, meanwhile etc.
ii. Complement point – in addition, besides, moreover, furthermore etc.
iii. Comparison – likewise, similarly
iv. Contrast – nevertheless, however, on the other hand
V. Cause/effect – consequently, hence, accordingly
Vii. Numerical order – first, to begin with, finally
Functions of Paragraph
Paragraphs have an organizing role in continuous writing.
Different paragraphs performing different functions, which include the Introductory, Transition, and Concluding paragraphs.
Introductory Paragraph
An introductory paragraph contains the intention or purpose of the piece of writing. It tells the reader what to expect in the write-up.
The introductory paragraph contains the thesis statement which is to declare the aim of the write-up or the topic.
The language style and strategy adopted in the opening paragraph will be determined by the tone of writing, e.g letters, narrative, descriptive, expository or argumentative essay, report etc ., and the subject matter.
An introductory paragraph can therefore be in form of definitions, comparison and contrast, quotations or a direct statement of the main idea.
Transition Paragraph
The next task after an organized opening is organizing the essay into a logical order showing the shifts and changes in thought pattern and bringing out vividly the relationships between the ideas in different paragraphs.
Apart from making a shift in point of view, transition paragraphs also show major divisions of thought and prepare the readers for new information that will follow.
Transition paragraphs can be achieved through the following:
A). The use of transitional words or phrases of sequence like furthermore, in addition, also, more importantly, etc .
B). When you start a new paragraph by answering one or more questions raised in the preceding paragraph.
C). When you start a new paragraph by echoing a key idea from the one before.
Concluding Paragraph
Every good writing is rounded off with a concluding paragraph, which derives from the topic discussed. In other words, this paragraph provides a summary or restatement of the most important points in the piece of writing.
This is done just to emphasize these ideas and not just to repeat them. To achieve this, the writer should employ:
A). The straightforward conclusion – this announces that the writer has come to the end of the write-up.
B). A summary of the impressions or opinions conveyed in the body of the essay can be provided.
C). A proactive ending which raises some questions expected to be answered by the readers.
Brief Exercise
Visit this given below posts and pages to answer questions attached to it.
1. Visit Our About Us Page Now. So, read the story content that begins the About Us page and stop at Explore further resources (Survival Guide). – Use this content to answer the immediate questions below.
A). Thesis StatementÂ
B). Unity
C). Topic
D). CoherenceÂ
E). Completeness
F). Emphasis
G). The language Style and Strategy Adopted in the opening paragraphÂ
Note: clearly express these points and do this for all that apply in the given post – Page content.
Section B
Write on this go topic: Youth Unemployment: The Possible Remedy
Use the paragraph writing, paragraph development, introductory paragraph and all learnt in this Day three (3) lesson to write a standout blog post; assuming it’s to be published on CCN’s blog site and of course, it can be, provided it’s up to standard for the publication requirement.
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