Types and elements of formatting a paragraph
- 1. Types of paragraph? There are five types of paragraph as follows: 1- Descriptive Paragraph. 2- Example Paragraph. 3- Process Paragraph. 4- Opinion Paragraph. 5- Narrative Paragraph.
- 2. No Kinds of paragraph Definition 1 Descriptive Paragraph is a paragraph in which the writer describes a person, place or a thing. 2 Example paragraph is a paragraph in which the writer explains a topic by giving examples. 3 Process paragraph is a paragraph in which the writer explains how to do something step by step. 4 Opinion paragraph is a paragraph in which the writer expresses his or her feelings , ideas , and opinion about a topic. 5 Narrative paragraph is a paragraph in which the writer tells a story.
- 3. The elements of formatting a paragraph 1- Margins : a paragraph must have a margin on the right and a margin on the left. This means that the paragraph begins 1 inch or 1 ¼ inches from the edge of the paper. 2- Spacing : A paragraph should be double-spaced. 3-Indenting : The first sentence of a paragraph must be indented. This means that it begins five spaces from the left margin. 4-Connected sentences: the sentence in a paragraph should follow each other. It is not a paragraph if every sentence begins on a new line. A well-supported paragraph has at least 5 sentences and often more. 5- Title: A paragraph by itself has a title. This is one word or a group of words that tells what the topic is.
- 4. A typical paragraph must have three elements as follows: 1- The topic sentence. 2- The supporting sentences. 3- The concluding sentence.
- 5. 1-What is a topic a sentence ? It is a sentence that introduces the topic and tells what the writer will say about the topic.
- 6. 2-What are the supporting sentences? These are the sentences that follow further explain and support the topic sentences.
- 7. 3- what is the concluding sentence? It is the sentence that often repeats the information in the topic sentence in a different way and concludes the topic of the paragraph.
- 8. What are the characteristics of the topic sentences? An effective topic sentence should have the following characteristics: (i) The topic sentence is usually the first or second sentence in a paragraph. (ii) It introduces a new idea. (iii) It presents the topic and explains what the writer will say about the topic. This explanation is called the controlling idea. (iv) It must not be a simple fact. (v) It must not be a specific detail. (vi) It must be clear. (vii) It must be short . (viii) It must give strong idea.
- 9. What are characteristics of the controlling idea? 1-The controlling idea must say something about the topic . 2-The controlling idea must not be too general. Examples: 1. My friend is an honest man. 2. John is a lazy student.
- 10. The functions of the supporting sentences 1- The supporting sentences add information about the topic and the controlling idea. 2- The supporting sentences can include definitions, explanations, and examples.
- 11. * What are the functions of the concluding sentence ? The concluding or final sentence has the following functions: 1- It usually reminds the reader of the topic and controlling idea of the paragraph. 2- The concluding sentence restates the main idea. 3- It may warn the reader. 4- It may make a prediction. 5- It may give an opinion about the topic.
- 12. •Sometimes writers signal the concluding sentence by using the phrase in conclusion •Reference : •Effective Academic Writing 1, Alice Savage & Masoud Shafiei, Oxford Univ. Press
- 13. Prepared by Dr.Fawzi Eltayeb Yousuf Ahmed Associate professor in the Department of English Language, College of Science & Arts in Tanumah, King Khalid University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia feltayb12@gmail.com