INSTRUCTOR’S NOTE: Modify due dates and grading info as needed.
ENG 1020
Using the General to Particular Pattern in Writing Effective Paragraphs
T. Trimble
Introduction/Rationale
In this assignment, you will practice writing effective paragraphs using the
general to particular pattern or organization. This pattern is a common
organizational feature of academic writing and you’ll need it for both your
rhetorical analysis essay and the other types of writing you’ll do in this course
and your other college courses.
The general to particular pattern can be used to organize sentences, paragraphs,
sections, and entire texts. As an example, consider the following paragraph I
wrote in support of the argument that racecar driving should be considered a
sport.
It is hard to deny that racecar driving involves the kind of physical exertion
associated with other activities commonly regarded as sports. NASCAR drivers
regularly experience gravity forces of four G’s or more when turning, which
requires exceptional physical strength throughout the driver’s arms, legs, and
central core. Driver Jeff Gordon, for example, weight trains with weights in
excess of 250 pounds as a way of preparing for the extreme physical demands of
racing.
Apart from the fact that I made up the stuff about Jeff Gordon (I have NO idea
what he presses), I use this example as a way of showing how the structural
movement of the paragraph from general to particular can work to build an
argument. I open with a general statement about the physical demands of racing
and then follow that statement up with specific details to flesh out my premise.
Notice too, other bits of language in the paragraph that I use to “boost” my
description (e.g., “it is hard to deny”).
Here’s another example of the general-to-particular pattern that comes from a
piece of writing about Pluto. As you may now, Pluto’s status as a planet in our
solar system has been hotly debated. This excerpt comes from a 2012 article
from the blog UniverseToday.com called “Why Pluto is No Longer a Planet.”
Is Pluto a planet? Does it qualify? For an object to be a planet, it needs to
meet these three requirements defined by the IAU:


It needs to be in orbit around the Sun – Yes, so maybe Pluto is a planet.
It needs to have enough gravity to pull itself into a spherical shape –
Pluto…check

It needs to have “cleared the neighborhood” of its orbit – Uh oh. Here’s the
rule breaker. According to this, Pluto is not a planet.
What does “cleared its neighborhood” mean? As planets form, they become the
dominant gravitational body in their orbit in the Solar System. As they interact
with other, smaller objects, they either consume them, or sling them away with
their gravity. Pluto is only 0.07 times the mass of the other objects in its orbit. The
Earth, in comparison, has 1.7 million times the mass of the other objects in its
orbit.
Notice the general-to-particular pattern here. The paragraph starts with the
International Astronomical Union’s definition of a planet and then goes on to
define the phrase “cleared its neighborhood” and to explain how Pluto fails to
meet that criteria. The text moves from general observations to particular details
as way of building a case for defining Pluto in a particular way.
Assignment Prompt
Review the rhetorical analysis assignment description. If you have not done so
already, identify the type of argument being used in the article you have been
assigned to study (e.g., definition, evaluation, proposal, etc.). Using the general
to particular pattern of organization, write a 5-7-sentence paragraph that supports
your identification of the type of argument being used. If you get stuck, start your
paragraph by adapting the following sentence for the article you’re studying for
your rhetorical analysis essay:
“In “Article Title,” Author’sLastName uses a _______________ (ID argument
type) argument to suggest that ___________________ (fill in a short description
of the author’s main point). (Next, write a series of sentences that describe the
particular features of the article being studied that helped you identify the type of
argument being used).
Learning Objectives
-practice writing effective paragraphs
Minimum Requirements
-150-300 words
-typed
Due Date
-upload to Blackboard by XXX of Week 2.
Grading
-this short assignment is worth 5 points and 1% of your final grade.