Mr. Wright: Eng1D
The Formal Paragraph
A formal paragraph has 4 important parts.
The Topic Sentence
The Body Sentences
The Concluding Sentence
The Title
THE TOPIC SENTENCE
one and only one per paragraph
tells the main idea, the opinion of the writer
usually the first sentence, which is always indented
about 10 spaces.
(For this class, it will always be the first sentence).
has 2 parts, which can come in any order
topic - general subject
focus (limit or control) -specific idea
The focus cannot be too general (broad) or too specific (narrow).
examples (topic first)
1. Miami has three good restaurants.
2. Bicycle riding is good for one's health.
examples (focus first)
1. There are three good restaurants in Miami.
2. It is good for one's health to ride a bicycle.
extended topic sentence also mentions the three things
that you are going to talk about (the extended focus)
examples
1. Miami has three good restaurants: The Versailles, The Forge, and La
Carreta.
2. Bicycle riding is good for your health for three reasons: cardiovascular
fitness, muscle building, and mental relaxation.
(For this class, we will write extended topic sentences).
BODY SENTENCES
purpose: to support, explain, or prove, the opinion you wrote in the topic
sentence
different types of support; vary them for greater interest
TYPE
REASONS
EXAMPLES
PURPOSE
tell 'why'; usually contain 'because'
paint a picture with words
use adjectives using senses: sight, hearing,
DESCRIPTIVE DETAILS
smell, taste, touch
FACTS
STATISTICS
DEFINITIONS
are statements one can prove
are facts with #s
explain specific characteristics
Supporting sentences can be relevant or irrelevant.
All of the body sentences must be RELEVANT, In other words, they must:
support the topic sentence
relate directly to the focus
DO NOT include IRRELEVANT details, which:
do not support the topic sentence
DO NOT relate directly to the focus
Each new supporting idea should begin with
a transition of enumeration.
examples
First, / Second, / Last,
The first reason is.../ The second reason is... / The third reason is ...
Concluding Sentence
summarizes or ends the paragraph
tells reader that you:
have finished giving new information
are ending your paragraph now
should begin with concluding signal words, such as (notice the punctuation):
In conclusion,
In summary,
As you can see,
To conclude,
To summarize,
usually the last sentence in paragraph
(for this class, you will need a concluding sentence, and it must be last
sentence)
TITLES
purpose: to grab the reader's attention
seen first, written last
location: center of the paper, on first line
skip a line after the title before paragraph
never a complete sentence; therefore, no period
no quotation marks or underlines
all words begin with capital letter (except sometimes prepositions and
determiners), but not every letter of every word is capitalized
SAMPLE PARAGRAPH & OUTLINE
Sample Paragraph
Family Units
There are three main types of family units: the nuclear family, the extended
family, and the polygamous family. The first type is the nuclear, or elementary,
family. It consists of a husband, a wife, and their offspring, whether natural or
adopted. Alternatively, it can consist of one parent and a child, of a brother and
a sister, or of a childless couple. This type of family lives on its own, separate
from other relatives. The nuclear family is based on the husband-wife
relationship. The second type is the extended family. Extended families are
nuclear families that are combined through the parent-child relationship,
through blood ties. In order for these combined nuclear families to be
considered as extended families, they must be related by blood and must all
share a common residence. The extended family has many advantages over the
nuclear family; the most important advantage is that, because it lasts longer
through time, it gives members a sense of belonging and permanence. The third
type is the polygamous, or composite, family. In this type of family, either the
husband or the wife -- or both -- has multiple spouses. In the most common
form, polygamy, the husband has multiple wives. In polyandry, it is the wife
who has multiple spouses. In the least common form, group marriage, several
men are married to several women. To conclude, family units may be classified
by sociologists into one of three different types.
Outline for "Family Units"
I. Title
Title: Family Units
II. Topic Sentence
Topic Sentence: There are three main types of family units: the nuclear family,
the extended family, and the polygamous family.
Topic: family units
Focus: three main types
Extended Focus: nuclear, extended, polygamous
III. Body (Supporting Statements)
Support 1: nuclear, or elementary, family
Detail: husband, a wife, and their offspring, whether natural or adopted
Detail: one parent and a child, of a brother and a sister, or of a childless couple
Detail: lives on its own, separate from other relatives
Detail: based on the husband-wife relationship
Support 2: extended family
Detail: nuclear families combined through the parent-child relationship
Detail: must be related by blood
Detail: must all share a common residence
Detail: the most important advantage: because it lasts longer through time, it
gives members a sense of belonging and permanence
Support 3: polygamous, or composite, family
Detail: either the husband or the wife -- or both -- has multiple spouses
Detail: most common form, polygyny: husband has multiple wives
Detail: polyandry: wife who has multiple spouses
Detail: least common form, group marriage: several men are married to several
women
IV. Concluding Sentence
Concluding Sentence: To conclude, family units may be classified by
sociologists into one of three different types.
Concluding Phrase: To conclude,
Generic Outline for a Formal Paragraph
(Print this and use it to write YOUR paragraph.)
I. Title
Title:
II. Topic Sentence
Topic Sentence
Topic:
Focus:
Extended Focus:
III. Body (Supporting Statements)
Support 1:
Detail:
Detail:
Detail:
Support 2:
Detail:
Detail:
Detail:
Support 3:
Detail:
Detail:
Detail:
IV. Concluding Sentence
Concluding Sentence:
Concluding Phrase: