Paragraphs & Sentences
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INTRODUCTION
ESSAY STRUCTURE
INTRODUCTION
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General statement
Purpose
Statement of topic areas
State what your essay is about and why the topic is important, in the first part
of the introduction. Then outline the ideas covered in the body of the essay.
You may also define key concepts and indicate the scope of the essay. The
introduction is one paragraph - about 10% of the word count.
PARAGRAPH
MAIN BODY
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Paragraph 1
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Topic sentence
First support sentence
Second support sentence
Concluding sentence
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Topic sentence: Often the main idea of the paragraph is clearly stated in
the first sentence. It says what the paragraph is about. It may provide a
link to the previous paragraph.
Supporting sentences: These explain the topic sentence by giving:
facts, evidence, reasons, evaluation of concepts and theories, examples,
and quotations or paraphrases from relevant reading.
Concluding sentence: This rounds off the discussion of that particular
paragraph. It may provide a link to the next paragraph.
Paragraph 2
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Topic sentence
First support sentence
Second support sentence
Concluding sentence
Paragraph 3
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Topic sentence
First support sentence
Second support sentence
Concluding sentence
CONCLUSION
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Summary of discussion
Final comment
PARAGRAPH
Topic sentence, supporting sentences, concluding sentence, link.
PARAGRAPH
Topic sentence, supporting sentences, concluding sentence, link.
CONCLUSION
This is a summary or review of the main points discussed in the body of the
essay. It may be appropriate to mention what you have gained from
researching the topic and/or future implications. (about 10% of the word count)
What is a sentence?
• A group of words that make sense when used
together
• Expresses a complete thought or idea
• Begins with a capital letter and ends with a full stop
• Must have a subject
• Must have a verb
Everyday sentences
• Write 3 or more sentences on what you learned about
note taking.
• Share with someone and read each other’s sentences.
• Capital letters? Full-stops?
• Complete thoughts or ideas?
• Subjects? Verbs?
• Does the reader get a clear understanding?
Common problems with sentences 1
Sentence Fragments are incomplete sentences:
e.g. Starting again too soon.
e.g. People don’t always climb mountains. Just because they are
there.
(People don’t always climb mountains just because they are
there.)
e.g. The car swerved. When the girl ran on to the road.
(The car swerved when the girl ran on to the road.)
Common problems with sentences 2
Run-on sentences don’t stop soon enough, OR don’t use a
connecting word to make sense of the ideas.
Run-on sentence e.g.: The automatic switch receives its signals
from two sources, they are located behind the screen.
A. The automatic switch receives its signals from two sources.
They are located behind the screen. OR
B. The automatic switch receives its signals from two sources
which are located behind the screen.
Connecting words such as: and, but, because, which… could have been used
Sentence Exercise 1
Sentence fragments, run-ons or full sentences?
1. Children learn through participating, play is a natural yet
unique part of being a child.
2. Growing up to freely observe and take in the elements of
daily life.
3. Research has reported the unprecedented freedom of
identity exploration online.
4. Relationships with people, places, and things.
5. Contributing can be a physical or intellectual activity,
sometimes requires both.
Sentence Exercise 2
Correct the following sentences:
1. Children have an awareness of their surroundings, they are
able to interact and learn through social interactions.
2. In addition noticeable differences in studies and reflections
used in research.
3. Taking an interest when engaging in class discussion and
other subject-centred communication.
4. Learning through play is important in early childhood
education, a child can contribute actively in play, a child can
gain new experiences to grow from.
What is a paragraph?
A paragraph is a piece of writing with several sentences,
that has:
– Unity – is unified around one main idea or topic
– Coherence – the sentences describe or explain the idea in a
clear, logical way
– Completeness – has enough content to support or explain
the main topic and has carefully constructed sentences
A paragraph may stand by itself or be one part of a
longer piece of writing such as an essay
• Sentences should
follow each other in a
logical order. They are
linked as in a chain,
each new link related
to the last and
interlocked with the
next. Coherence
begins with a clear
topic sentence stating
what the paragraph will
be about, and it
continues in an orderly
development of this
sentence. Transitional
words and repeated
key words can help
provide continuity
between sentences.
Completeness
• A paragraph
should be unified
around one main
idea. The topic
sentence states
the main idea
and therefore
provides the
structure and the
focus for a
unified
paragraph; all of
the following
supporting
sentences
proceed from it.
Coherence
Unity
Qualities of a good paragraph
• A welldeveloped
paragraph
contains
enough specific
details and
explanations to
support, extend
and/or prove
the main idea.
It does not
include
unrelated facts
or statements.
Possible paragraph structure
• Topic sentence: Often the main idea of the paragraph is
clearly stated in the first sentence. It says what the paragraph
is about. It may provide a link to the previous paragraph
• Supporting sentences: These explain the topic sentence by
giving: explanations, facts, evidence, reasons, evaluation of
concepts and theories, examples, and quotations or
paraphrases from relevant reading.
• Concluding sentence:This rounds off the discussion of that
particular paragraph. It may provide a link to the next
paragraph with transition words.
Topic Sentences
They name the topic, limit the topic, with a controlling
idea that indicates the limits of the paragraph.
e.g. The new shopping mall has brought many
economic benefits to our community.
e.g. Traffic, noise and litter increased after the new
shopping mall was opened.
e.g.
Topic Sentence Weaknesses
The topic sentence may:
• be too narrow
• be too general
• lack a controlling idea
Poor topic sentence examples:
• I swim laps for thirty minutes every morning.
• The subject of this paragraph is my exercise routine.
• Many people like to exercise.
Better topic sentence example:
• Exercising every morning has several positive effects on
people’s health.
Are these good Topic Sentences?
• Holidays are expensive.
• Learning to write essays can be an exciting challenge
for many students.
• My return trip to Sydney cost $300.
• The annual Balloons over Waikato festival, held in
Hamilton, is a free event that many families enjoy.
• Stress management is the subject of this essay.
• French is a very difficult language to learn.
Topic Sentence Exercise 1
What could be in the paragraph?
1. It is interesting to consider what virtual world networking
represents to marketers.
2. Healthcare Associated Infections (HAI) are one of the most
frequent complications experienced internationally during
hospitalisation and adversely affect patient safety and health
outcomes.
3. There is confirmation that role-playing is essential for a child
to learn to behave as an individual or within a group.
Topic Sentence expanded
It is interesting to consider what virtual world networking
represents to marketers. Is it merely a game or does it offer
very real opportunities? It is important to note that people who
visit virtual worlds are not merely socialising; they may be
collaborating on research, teaching or even meeting new
partners and this presents opportunities for companies to sell
their products. More than 45 multinational companies such as
Dell, General Motors and IBM are beginning to use the medium
for customer service as well as sales and marketing. One study
found that on a typical day, customers can spend $10 on virtual
clothes, cars, houses and other goods for their avatar (Chitty,
Barker and Shrimp, 2008, p. 26).
Topic Sentence
Write a topic sentence for the following:
First is the privacy issue. If users of networking sites don’t put the privacy
settings on high anyone is able to look at their profile. Their information may
be misused in a variety of ways that cause them loss or distress. Secondly
cyber bullying is recognised as a serious problem for young people. They may
become the centre of gossip and rumours making them feel tormented,
depressed and even suicidal. Third, some people allow networking to occupy
a large amount of their time. Therefore, it can become a time waster which
may interfere with more important commitments. Thus there are important
skills to learn to reduce the risks of internet social networking.
Which topic sentences work?
• There are three risks in internet social networking.
• Three disadvantages of internet social networking need to be
understood by users: privacy, bullying and use of time.
• Internet social networking can lead to problems.
• This paragraph is about the disadvantages of internet social
networking.
• Despite internet social networking being a convenient and
enjoyable way to communicate there are several risks that
users need to consider, including privacy, bullying and use of
time.
With Evidence
• Due to globalisation, many countries have experienced a significant
shift in the racial and ethnic composition of their populations. A
prime example of this is in the United States where it is projected
that by the year 2025 about 40 percent of adults and 48 percent of
children in the United States will be from racial and ethnic minority
groups (Department of Health & Human Services, 1999). By the
year 2050, people of colour will represent one in three Americans
(US Census Bureau, 2000). In the New Zealand context, the most
recent Census (2013) identified a significant rise in Middle
Eastern/Latin American/ African, and Asian populations (p. 7). This
shift has impacts on the providers of Internet and smart technology.
Transition Words
• Chronological order
first, secondly, next, later, before, after
• Comparison
similarly, also, as, like, too, the same as
• Cause
due to, the effect of, since, because of
• Order of importance
the primary, the second most, more/most importantly, above all
• Contrast
however, nevertheless, although, but, yet, despite
• Effect
hence, therefore, the reason for, thus, consequently
Paragraph without Transitions
Online social networks make us more satisfied with our social
lives by improving both strong and weak social relationships.
Facebook and Twitter enable people to efficiently participate in
the lives of loved ones, even when they are far away. They help
people sustain valuable acquaintance relationships that would
otherwise disintegrate very quickly. Online social networks make
it easier to befriend people whom we could not otherwise easily
find or approach in the offline world. With time, many online
relationships lead to meaningful offline relationships, which
makes people happier.
Paragraph with Transitions
Another view argues that online social networks make us more
satisfied with our social lives by improving both strong and weak
social relationships. Specifically, social sites such as Facebook
and Twitter enable people to efficiently participate in the lives of
loved ones, even when they are far away. They also help people
sustain valuable acquaintance relationships that would
otherwise disintegrate very quickly. Finally, online social
networks make it easier to befriend people whom we could not
otherwise easily find or approach in the offline world. With
time, many of these new online relationships lead to meaningful
offline relationships, which makes people happier.
Paragraph Summary
Well-developed paragraphs are:
• Unified around one main idea or topic
• Coherent – the sentences deal with the idea logically
• Complete – has enough content to explain the topic
Poorer paragraphs may be:
• Split – drift away from the main idea
• Choppy – content consists of unrelated bits that don’t
clearly expand on the main idea
• Bloated – too wordy, padded with extra words, with no
focus or development of the main idea
• Headless – no sentence introducing the topic and focus,
no controlling idea
• Lacking in flow – no clear idea transitions
Draft a paragraph
on one main point for your essay
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Brainstorm: knowledge, thoughts
Research: from handouts
Select / organise from your brainstorm and research
Draft possible topic sentences for the paragraph
Draft sentences for the paragraph; decide what to
say and which order to put the information
• Reference material from the handout
• Work on the order and structure of sentences to
make your meaning clear