PARAGRAPH
STRUCTURE
DRA MERYATI, MM
THREE PARTS
OF A
PARAGRAPH
A paragraph has three parts:
a topic sentence, several
supporting sentences and a
concluding sentence.
• The topic sentence tells what topic
the paragraph is going to discuss.
• The supporting sentences give
details about the topics.
• The concluding sentence
summarizes the main points or
restates the topic sentence in
different words.
MODEL
THREE PARTS OF PARAGRAPH
 A Hawaiian Wedding

The mix of cultures in Hawaii makes weddings there very special
occasions. Certainly, Hawaiian clothing, music, and other Hawaiian
customs play a big role. For example, the bride often wears a long white
holoku (wedding dress), and the groom wears a long-sleeved white
shirt and pants with a red sash around his waist. Both the bride and
the groom wear leis. The bride’s lei is traditionally made of white
flowers such as pikake (jasmine), and the groom’s is made of green
maile leaves. Another Hawaiian custom is the blowing of a conch shell
three times to begin the ceremony. Hawaiian music is played both
during the ceremony and during the luau afterward.
MODEL
CONTINUED
 Other customs included in the festivities depend on
the ethnic backgrounds of the couple. For instance,
there may be noisy firecrackers, a Chinese way of
keeping bad spirits away. There may be a display of
Japanese origami, or there may be a pandango, a
Filipino custom. During a pandango, the wedding
guests tape money together and wrap it around the
couple during their first dance together as husband
and wife. All in all, a Hawaiian wedding is truly a
magical, multicultural event.
Look at the title. What is the
topic of the paragraph?
QUESTIONS ON
THE MODEL
Look at the first sentence.
What does it say about the
topic?
Now look at the last sentence.
What idea from the first
sentence is repeated here?
The topic sentence is the most important sentence in
a paragraph.
It has two parts: a topic and a controlling idea.
THE TOPIC
SENTENCE
The topic names the subject of the paragraph. In our
model, the topic is Hawaiian weddings.
The controlling idea tells what the paragraph will say
about the topic. It is called the controlling idea
because it controls or limits the topic to a very
specific point or points.
EXAMPLES OF
TOPIC
SENTENCES
Some
marriages are a
union of two
families.
Some
marriages are a
union of two
individuals.
Some weddings
are very
elaborate.
Some weddings
are very simple.
Some weddings
take place in
unsual locations.
POSITION OF THE TOPIC SENTENCE
The topic sentence is usually the first sentence in a
paragraph.
Experienced writer sometimes put topic sentences
at the end, but the best place is usually right at the
beginning.
A topic sentence at the beginning of a paragraph
gives readers an idea of what they will read. This
helps them understand the paragraph more easily.
 Example:
NOT TOO
GENERAL,
NOT TOO
SPECIFIC
a)
Marriage is an event in a person’s life. (This is too
general because there is no specific controlling idea)
b) The average age for people in the United States to marry
in the year 2000 was 25 for a woman and 27 for a man. (
This is much too specific).
c) The average age of people in the United States to marry
Put a check ( v ) next to good topic
sentences Are they too specific or too
general? Write Too Specific or Too
general on the line.
PRACTICE 1
TOPIC
SENTENCES
• Too general : It is estimated that 20 percent of
Japanese marriages are arranged.
• ------v-------- : In Japan, there are two types of
marriage.
• --------------- : Digital cameras have several
advantages over film cameras.
• ---------------: Digital photos are composed of small
squares. Just like a tiled kitchen floor or bathroom
wall.
• ------------- : PC,PDA, GPS, and Wifi are
abbreviations.
• ------------- : Consider these four factors when
choosing a college.
SUPPORTING SENTENCES
 Supporting sentences explain the topic by
giving more information about it.
 Supporting point sentences list the main points
of the paragraph.
 Examples:
a. Certainly, Hawaiian clothing, music, and other
Hawaiian customs play a big role.
b. Other customs included in the festivities depend
on the ethnic backgrounds of the couple.
c. Some people skip breakfast because they think it
will help them lose weight.
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA
d. Third, they should at least have spent at least one
year practice- teaching.
 Read each topic sentence. Then fill in the blanks with
additional supporting sentences. Add as many
supporting sentences as you can, but you don’t have to
fill in all of the blanks.
1. Owning a small car has several advantages.
a) A small car is easier to park.
b) --------------------------------------------------------------------c) --------------------------------------------------------------------d) --------------------------------------------------------------------2. To keep your teeth healthy and your smile bright, do the
following things.
a) Don’t eat sugary foods.
b) ---------------------------------------------------------------------
c) --------------------------------------------------------------------d) ----------------------------------------------------------------------
PRACTICE 2
Writing
Supporting
Sentences
PRACTICE 2 CONTINUED
3. Consider
these three/four/five factors when
planning a family vacation.
a) Consider the interest of everyone.
b) ---------------------------------------------------------------c) ---------------------------------------------------------------d) ---------------------------------------------------------------4.A good friend has two/three/four qualities
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a)
He/she can keep secrets.
b)
--------------------------------------------------------------
c)
-------------------------------------------------------------
d)
--------------------------------------------------------------
THE CONCLUDING SENTENCE
A concluding sentence signals
the end of the paragraph.
It reminds the reader of the
main idea.
Here are three tips to help you
write a good concluding
sentence:
Begin with a concluding
signal. Most conclusions
signals have commas after
them; others do not.
Remind your reader of the
main idea by one of the
following methods :a) Repeat
the idea in the topic sentence
in different words. Do not just
copy the topic sentence, b)
Summarize the main point or
points of the paragraph.
NEVER end a paragraph by
introducing a new idea.
Followed by a Comma
No Comma
All in all,
In Summary,
2. It is clear that …
In brief,
To conclude,
These examples show
that…
In conclusion, To
summarize,
CONCLUSION
SIGNALS
In short,
You can see that …
To sum up,
1. To summarize, Japanese
food is both beautiful to
look at and delicious to eat.
3. Indeed, many U.S. cities
and regions have special
food for everyone to enjoy.
2. It is clear that fad diets
don’t work and may even
damage a dieter’s health
 On the line at the end of each paragraph, write a concluding sentence. Be sure to begin with a
concluding signal.
1) The college cafetaria is an inexpensive place to eat. For
Practice 3
Concluding
Sentences
example you can get a cheeseburger, French fries, and a
soda for only $3.00. A slice of pizza is only $1.50, and a
cup of coffee is only 50 c/.There is daily special for about
$2.50. It includes an entrée, rice or potatoes, and
vegetable. The salad bar is the best deal of all. You get all
you can eat for $2.00___________________________
__________________________________________________
2) Watching children’s programs on television is a good way
to learn a foreign language. First, the actors speak slowly
and repeat often. Also, the vocabulary is not difficult.
Finally, there is always a lot of action, so you know what is
happening even if you don’t understand the words. In
brief, it is a good thing for children to watch children program
that educated the children.
Add an Apostrophe
(‘)+ S
Rule
Singular Nouns
Plural Nouns
1. To singular nouns and Child’s toy, boss’s Children’s game,
to plural nouns that
office, Mr.and Mrs men’s shirts,
don’t end in s
Smith’s house
women’s dresses
Rules for
Forming
Possessives
2. To indefinite
pronouns
Someone’s jacket,
nobody’s fault
3. To abbreviations
NAFTA’s success
The UN’s
members
Add an Apostrophe
alone
To plural nouns ending
in s
Engineering
students’ club
Actresses’
performance
The Smiths’ house
Practice 4
Apostrophes

A.Change each item into a possessive phrase containing an apostrophe
or an apostrophe + s
1.
The roommate of Joanna > Joanna’s roommate.
2.
The roommate of Carlos > ___________________
3.
The flag of my country > _____________________
4.
The feet of dancers > ________________________
5.
The school of my child >______________________
6.
The secretary of the boss > ____________________
7.
The shoes of ladies > _________________________
8.
The sweater of the men > _____________________
9.
The president of the EU >_____________________
10.
The films of George Lucas > __________________
Practice 5
Use an of the phrase
 Make a possessive phrase from the two parts of each item. Use an of phrase, an apostrophe, or an
apostrophe +s
1.
The heart + problem
2.
The color + her dress > ____________________________
3.
The desk + teacher > _____________________________
4.
The laughter + children > __________________________
5.
The mouths + babies > ____________________________
6.
The mouth + river> _______________________________
7.
The suitcases + passengers > ______________________
8.
The heart + Lance Armstrong > ____________________
>the heart of the problem
The Writing Process
The best way to organize a
paragraph is to make an
outline before you begin to
write.
An ouline is like an
architect’s plan for a house.
Imagine building a house
without a plan. The kitchen
might be far away from the
dining room, or the house
might have no windows.
Having a plan not only helps
you, the writer, to organize
your thoughts but it also
ensures that you don’t leave
out anything important.
Simple Outline
TOPIC SENTENCE
• Supporting point
• Supporting point
• Supporting point
Concluding sentence
Topic sentence
A. Supporting point
1. Details
2. Details
3. Details
B. Supporting point
Detailed
Outline
1. Details
2. Details
3. Details
C. Supporting point
1. Details
2. Details
3. Details
Concluding sentence
Music Styles and Fashion
A. Punk fashion
1. Spiked hair
2. theatrical makeup
3. Safety-pin jewelry
4. Body piercing
B. Hip-Hop fashion
Example of Detailed
Outline
1. Baggy jeans, worn low
2. Hooded sweaters
3. Big, floppy hats
4. Do-rags (scarves) around head
C. Grunge fashion
1. Stonewashed jeans
2. Plaid flannel shirts
3. Baseball caps worn backward
4. Long, straight hair
5. Heavy boots
“STRIFE FOR
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PROGRESS
NOT
PERFECTION
UNKNOWN