Faculty of Al-Alsun & Applied Languages
English Translation & Simultaneous I
English 2 ENG 111
How to write a paragraph?
In this presentation, you will learn how to:
Identify the parts of a paragraph
Construct an appropriate topic sentence
Support the topic sentence with details and examples
Distinguish facts from opinion
Use concluding sentence to complete a paragraph
What is a paragraph?
• A paragraph is a group of related sentences that discusses one main idea.
• The paragraph should be long enough to develop the main idea clearly.
Parts of a paragraph
A paragraph generally includes three parts:
1. Topic sentence
2. Supporting sentences
3. Concluding sentence.
The Topic Sentence
• A topic sentence is the most important sentence in a paragraph
• It is usually the first sentence in a paragraph
• It briefly indicates what the paragraph is going to discuss.
• It is a helpful guide to both the writer and reader to understand the main idea.
• A topic sentence is a complete sentence, that is, it contains at least one subject and one
verb.
Wrong sentences *communicating with colleagues
* how to improve online social networks.
The topic sentence (cont.)
• A topic sentence contains two parts: a topic and a controlling idea.
• It names the topic and then limits the topic to a specific area to be
discussed in the space of a single paragraph
Ex.:
• Communication with colleagues (topic) requires sensitivity and
understanding (controlling idea) .
• Improving online social networks (topic) can help professionals
communicate (controlling idea).
Topic sentence gives only topic and the controlling idea. It does not give any
specific details.
Ex.:
The Arabic origin of many English words is not always obvious.
Parts of a paragraph
• A paragraph generally includes three parts:
1. Topic sentence
2. Supporting sentences
3. Concluding sentence.
Supporting sentences
• Supporting sentences are sentences that explain or prove the topic sentence.
• There are different ways to support the topic sentences; like:
Facts/ Opinion
Statistics
Giving more examples
Quotation
Supporting sentences (cont.)
• Facts vs Opinion
When supporting your idea, you have to distinguish between facts and opinion.
Facts are objective statements of truths
Opinions are subjective statements based on personal beliefs or attitudes.
Examples:
Cigarettes are addictive.
water boils at 100 degree.
Women are better communicator than men.
English is an easy language to learn.
Supporting sentences (cont.)
• Either you use opinion or facts, you have to use specific supporting details by
examples, statistics, or quotations.
Examples:
Fashion models are extremely thin. (fact)
The average model weights 23 percent less than the average women of the
same height. (specific supporting detail)
• Using examples as support.
• Using examples is the easiest way to support your idea because you can give
examples from your own experience or knowledge.
• You can use words like: for instance, for example, as, like, such as to
introduce your examples.
Concluding sentence
• A concluding sentence serves two purposes:
It signals the end of the paragraph. So, you can use words like: To sum up, in
conclusion, to conclude, finally, etc. (see page 14)
It reminds the reader of the main topic by summarizing the main points of the
paragraph or by rewrite the topic sentence in other words
Unity
• A unified paragraph is focused on one main idea.
For example:
• If you write a paragraph about the advantages of some pain medications
(topic).
• So you can narrow down this topic to (the advantages of taking aspirin)
Then start to narrow down again by talking about one advantage of aspirin
to heart health. (controlling idea)
Coherence
• Each sentence should shift smoothly to the next.
• Here are four ways to achieve coherence
Repeat key nouns (synonyms)
Use consistent pronouns (be sure that the pronoun refer to the correct
noun)
Use transition signals to link ideas (p.33, pp.297-298)
Arrange your idea in logical sequence
