Entry n°6 Structured Paragraph Writing

Structured Paragraph Writing

Academic writing implies writing well structures paragraphs.

Here, there are some interesting videos which can help us learn 

different steps to write well strucured paragraphs.

Parts of a paragraph: English Academic Writing: Most important issues discussed in this video:

1. TOPIC SENTENCE: Here, we have to make clear what our subject is, what we are going to write about.

2.      BODY: Here, we have to support our topic by providing details and arguments about it. We can order them chronologically (firstly, secondly, finally), or we can order them according to their importance.

3.      CLOSING SENTENCE: It has 2 functions:

·         Remind our audience what we are talking about.

·         Restate the topic but in a different way, by adding something. The aim is to keep people thinking about the topic.

Academic Writing: Most important issues discussed in this video:

Structure of a paragraph:

·         The style: in Academic Writing is formal.

·         The correct punctuation.

·         Paragraphing: expresses organized thoughts( the most important one)

.

What is a paragraph?

·         A distinct section in a piece of writing.

·         A number of related sentences.

·         Only one idea (the most important one).

Elements of the Paragraph:

·         Unit: is a distinct of writing easy to identify.

·         Coherence: must be focused on one main idea, supported by examples or  evidence.

·         Development: the paragraph must be well organized, must be coherent.

Qualities of a successful paragraph:

·         Unity: all the sentences must be focused in the main idea.

·         Coherence: each sentence must be related to the other.

·         Development: the main idea is supported by enough details and examples to make it valid.

Unity

·         Start a paragraph with a topic sentence.

·         Topic sentence: main idea, contains a topic and a controlling idea.

·         Controlling idea: comment about the topic sentence.

·         Other possibilities, wh questions: who, what, where, when, why, how.

Coherence:

·         Create logical bridges from one sentence to another.

·         Use of key words.

·         Use of synonyms.

·         Use of pronouns.

·         Use of transition words.

.

Development: Provides details and evidence to support the topic. Illustrates the point  with examples, to convince the reader that  your writing is valid.

TEE rules:

T: topic, the most powerful sentence.

E: explains why this is the powerful sentence.

E: examples, evidence.

Introductory paragraph (most important paragraph)

·         State main argument.

·         How you intend to answer the question.

Concluding paragraph ( next most important one)

·         Summarize the main points in few sentences

·         State main conclusion..

·         Must satisfy the reader (has the question been answered?).

DO NOT

·         Introduce new material.

·         End with a generalization.

·         End with a quotation.

DO: let your opinion let through.

Sources: 

AlexESLvid, Parts of a Paragraph - English Academic Writing Introduction. Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=cCuExRE6N-4#! Retrieved: May 27, 2013

Massey University, Writing Structured Paragraphs. Available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=w183qB0KDFg Retrieved: May 27, 2013

 

Members of the group: 

Alonso, Ana Lia

Torrecillas, Xoana Soledad

ISFD N°41