The Formal Paragraph

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A formal paragraph has 4 important parts. The Topic Sentence The Body Sentences The Concluding Sentence The Title

Sample Paragraph (and outline)

Process of Writing a Paragraph (in this class)

THE TOPIC SENTENCE

one and only one per paragraph

tells the main idea, the opinion of the writer

usually the first sentence, which is always indented

about 10 spaces.

(For this class, it will always be the first sentence).

has 2 parts, which can come in any order

topic - general subject

focus (limit or control) -specific idea

The focus cannot be too general (broad) or too specific (narrow).

examples (topic first)

1. Miami has three good restaurants.

2. Bicycle riding is good for one's health.

examples (focus first)

1. There are three good restaurants in Miami.

2. It is good for one's health to ride a bicycle.

extended topic sentence also mentions the three things

that you are going to talk about (the extended focus)

examples

1. Miami has three good restaurants: The Versailles, The Forge, and La Carreta.

2. Bicycle riding is good for your health for three reasons: cardiovascular fitness, muscle building, and mental relaxation.

(For this class, we will write extended topic sentences).

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BODY SENTENCES

purpose: to support, explain, or prove, the opinion you wrote in the topic sentence

different types of support; vary them for greater interest

TYPE	PURPOSE
REASONS	tell 'why'; usually contain 'because'
EXAMPLES	paint a picture with words
DESCRIPTIVE DETAILS	use adjectives using senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch
FACTS	are statements one can prove
STATISTICS	are facts with #s
DEFINITIONS	explain specific characteristics

Supporting sentences can be relevant or irrelevant.

All of the body sentences must be RELEVANT, In other words, they must:

support the topic sentence

relate directly to the focus

DO NOT include IRRELEVANT details, which:

do not support the topic sentence

DO NOT relate directly to the focus

Each new supporting idea should begin with

a transition of enumeration.

examples

First, / Second, / Last,

The first reason is.../ The second reason is... / The third reason is ...

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Concluding Sentence

summarizes or ends the paragraph

tells reader that you:

have finished giving new information

are ending your paragraph now

should begin with concluding signal words, such as (notice the punctuation):

In conclusion,

In summary,

As you can see,

To conclude,

To summarize,

usually the last sentence in paragraph

(for this class, you will need a concluding sentence, and it must be last sentence)

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TITLES

purpose: to grab the reader's attention

seen first, written last

location: center of the paper, on first line

skip a line after the title before paragraph

never a complete sentence; therefore, no period

no quotation marks or underlines

all words begin with capital letter (except sometimes prepositions and determiners), but not every letter of every word is capitalized

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SAMPLE PARAGRAPH & OUTLINE

Sample Paragraph

There are three main types of family units: the nuclear family, the extended family, and the polygamous family. The first type is the nuclear, or elementary, family. It consists of a husband, a wife, and their offspring, whether natural or adopted. Alternatively, it can consist of one parent and a child, of a brother and a sister, or of a childless couple. This type of family lives on its own, separate from other relatives. The nuclear family is based on the husband-wife relationship. The second type is the extended family. Extended families are nuclear families that are combined through the parent-child relationship, through blood ties. In order for these combined nuclear families to be considered as extended families, they must be related by blood and must all share a common residence. The extended family has many advantages over the nuclear family; the most important advantage is that, because it lasts longer through time, it gives members a sense of belonging and permanence. The third type is the polygamous, or composite, family. In this type of family, either the husband or the wife -- or both -- has multiple spouses. In the most common form, polygyny, the husband has multiple wives. In polyandry, it is the wife who has multiple spouses. In the least common form, group marriage, several men are married to several women. To conclude, family units may be classified by sociologists into one of three different types.

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Outline for "Family Units"

I. Title

Title: Family Units

 

II. Topic Sentence

Topic Sentence: There are three main types of family units: the nuclear family, the extended family, and the polygamous family.

Topic: family units

Focus: three main types

Extended Focus: nuclear, extended, polygamous

 

III. Body (Supporting Statements)

Support 1: nuclear, or elementary, family

Detail: husband, a wife, and their offspring, whether natural or adopted

Detail: one parent and a child, of a brother and a sister, or of a childless couple

Detail: lives on its own, separate from other relatives

Detail: based on the husband-wife relationship

Support 2: extended family

Detail: nuclear families combined through the parent-child relationship

Detail: must be related by blood

Detail: must all share a common residence

Detail: the most important advantage: because it lasts longer through time, it gives members a sense of belonging and permanence

Support 3: polygamous, or composite, family

Detail: either the husband or the wife -- or both -- has multiple spouses

Detail: most common form, polygyny: husband has multiple wives

Detail: polyandry: wife who has multiple spouses

Detail: least common form, group marriage: several men are married to several women

 

IV. Concluding Sentence

Concluding Sentence: To conclude, family units may be classified by sociologists into one of three different types.

Concluding Phrase: To conclude,

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Generic Outline for a Formal Paragraph

I. Title

Title:

II. Topic Sentence

Topic Sentence

Topic:

Focus:

Extended Focus:

III. Body (Supporting Statements)

Support 1:

Detail:

Detail:

Detail:

Support 2:

Detail:

Detail:

Detail:

Support 3:

Detail:

Detail:

Detail:

IV. Concluding Sentence

Concluding Sentence:

Concluding Phrase:

 

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Process of Writing A Paragraph

(in this class)

Get your materials:

pencil only

white, lined 8.5" by 11" paper

dictionary, thesaurus

notes

Set up your paper:

left and right 1" margins

full heading at top of paper

skip lines for first draft

Follow the procedure:

1. Brainstorm & gather all information.

jot down all ideas from your head on topic

gather all information you can find from other sources on topic

 

2. Make An Outline.

make an outline to be sure that you have all info you need

submit outline to professor, if requested

 

3. Write first draft.

 

4. Peer Edit.

Make a copy of your composition.

Exchange it with your writing partner.

Read your partner's Paper carefully.

Underline all mistakes and unclear sections.

Write a suggested correction for each error.

Return your partner's paper next class.

 

5. Rewrite first draft .

On a clean piece of paper, write your complete heading, and then re-write your composition, in pen.

Write the number of words in the top margin.

Staple the new copy on top of first draft, and return both to your professor.

 

6. Your composition grade will be given when your final copy has been received.

 

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©1997 Dr. Sheryl Beller-Kenner
Last revision 01/98