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Qualities of An Effective Paragraph
Qualities of An Effective Paragraph
Effective Paragraph
Presented by:
Hope Charmaine D. Vera
Unity in the Paragraph
• Oneness of idea
• when all the sentences develop
the main idea.
• Achieved by the use of:
1) A topic sentence with its controlling
idea
2) Supporting details
3) A clinching sentence
1. Unity Through the Use
of the Topic Sentence
Topic sentence
• States the central idea
to be developed.
• May be expressed or
implied
Controlling Idea
• Consists of the keyword/s in the
topic sentence
• May be part or parts of the topic
sentence or it may be the whole
sentence
• Limits the scope of the topic and
helps the writer to focus on it
2. Unity through the Use
of Supporting Details
Supporting ideas
• Sentences that help develop or
expand the main idea in the topic
sentence
• May be in the form of a description,
an example, a comparison or
contrast, a classification, etc.
3. Unity through the Use of
the Clinching Sentence
Clinching Sentence
• Helps achieve unity
• May be:
1) a restatement of the topic sentence
2) a summary
3) A conclusion based on the
supporting details
COHERENCE IN THE
PARAGRAPH
Coherence
• “cohere” literally means “to hold
together”
• Sentences should be arranged in an
orderly sequence linked to one
another
• Ensure a smooth progression of
ideas from one sentence to another
I. ORDERLY MOVEMENT
A. Chronological Order
• Time order or sequence in which
the events occurred
• Follows the natural order in which
something happens
• Purposes:
1. To give instructions
2. To explain how something works
3. To show how something happened
• Events are arranged on the basis of
time
1. From the past to the present
2. From the earliest to the latest
3. From the first stage to the last stage
B. Space Order
• Used when describing concrete
objects
• Details are arranged by adopting
one or a combination of or reverse
of the ff.:
1. From near to far
2. From left to right
3. From inside to outside
4. From top to bottom
C. Logical Order
• Any progression of thought in the
paragraph
1. Inductive order
2. Deductive order
3. From cause to effect
4. From the most important to the
least important
Emphasis in the
Paragraph
• Unity – WHAT ideas to include
• Coherence – HOW ideas
should be arranged and linked
• Emphasis – HOW important
ideas can be made prominent
A. Emphasis through
Position
• Important ideas are given
prominence by placing
them at the beginning &
end.
B. Emphasis through
Parallel Grammatical
Structures
• Grammatical structure
– A unit of thought, such as a word,
phrase, a clause, or a sentence
• Parallel grammatical structure
– Similar grammar patterns to
express ideas in a series
Compare the ff:
• Bethany • Bethany
enjoys enjoys baking
baking cakes,
cookies, and
cakes,
to make
cookies, and
brownies.
brownies.
Compare the ff:
• She doesn’t • She doesn’t
like washing like washing
dishes, dishes,
ironing, or ironing
mopping the clothes, or
floor. mopping the
floor.
Compare the ff:
• The British • The British
Museum is a Museum is a
wonderful place to wonderful place
see ancient where you can
Egyptian art, you find ancient
can explore Egyptian art,
African artifacts, explore African
and beautiful find artifacts, and
textiles from discover beautiful
around the world. textiles from
around the world.
Compare the ff:
• Peggotty's • Peggotty's
toys were an toys were an
old shoe, a old shoe, a
bear that was stuffed bear,
stuffed, and and a
she had chewed-up
chewed up an blanket.
old blanket.
C. Emphasis through
Climactic Order
• The series of ideas are
arranged in an ascending
degree of importance or
interest
Cheating on your homework can have
serious consequences. You might copy
from somebody who doesn't know
anything, and get the answer wrong.
You might get caught and flunk the
assignment. You never learn how to do
the assignment for yourself, so you will
miss all those questions on your next
test. You might get kicked out of school.
Compare the ff. paragraphs:
The automobile accident resulted in serious
damage. The passenger in the VW was
hurled through the windshield; her throat
was slashed and she bled to death before
the paramedics arrived. The VW driver had
both his legs broken. The driver of the
Mercedes showed us his black and blue ribs
from when his air bag deployed. My sister,
who was sleeping on the back seat of the
Mercedes, bumped her face and had a
swollen lip. The front of the VW bug was
crushed, and the Mercedes had scratches on
its front bumper and grill.
Although the Mercedes had only scratches
on its front bumper and grill, the accident
resulted in serious damage. The front of the
VW bug was crushed. My sister, who was
sleeping on the back seat of the Mercedes,
bumped her face and had a swollen lip. The
driver of the Mercedes showed us his black
and blue ribs from when his air bag
deployed. The VW driver had both his legs
broken. The passenger in the VW was hurled
through the window; her throat was slashed
and she bled to death before the paramedics
arrived.
QUIZ
FOR MONDAY
• Form a group composed of 3
members.
• Bring the ff:
– 1 magazine or newspaper.
– Manila paper
– Permanent marker (Pentel pen)
Activity Instructions:
• Copy and write on your manila
paper 1 paragraph example for
each:
– Chronological order
– Space order
– Logical order
• I will be checking 3 paragraphs all in
all.