Paragraph Structure in writing
structures of writing(英语四级作文结构布局)
What is good writing？
Content: * everything needed included Structure: * Well organized * Smoothly developed * Good beginning and ending Language: * No Chinglish * No Grammatical mistakes * With exactly used words and relatively changed sentence patterns
Samples
English is widely used. If we master English, we can go to any corner of the world to communicate with the people with
So English is important to scientists.
most of the scientists of the world can speak, read and write in English. So when it comes to scientists from all over the world to exchange their work and experiences, the only bridge to mend the language gap is English. As far as China is concerned,
The ancient Egyptians were masters of preserving dead people’s
paragraph structure 2 段落结构
Exercise
1. friends: Marla and Justine (1) Marla a. appearance b. c. (2) Justine
2. Two bosses: Mr. Santo and Ms. Eliot (1) disposition a. Mr. Santo b. Ms. Eliot (2) Knowledge of ____ (3) _____
Paragraph 1 (College Writing p.45)
• Topic sentence: Reading a story is often very different from seeing it as a movie. • Topic A- reading a book – Supporting points 1. 2. • Topic B- ______ – Supporting points 1. 2.
Using comparative structures A And B: The man and the woman are tall. The baby crawls and smiles at his mom. Both A and B: Both my neighbor and I are selling our cars. Neither …nor: Neither Joe nor Steve went to the meeting last night. Either…or….: Either my brother or my sister can do it for me. Not only ….but also
Both….and…
Not only…but also
paragraph_structure段落结构
A. be too specific B.be too broad C.contain phrases like “I think”, “In my opinion”, etc.
School of Translation Studies
Dos and Don’ts of topic sentence. Dos： 1. A good topic sentence includes a topic and a controlling idea.
School of Translation Studies
受汉语分段的习惯影响，中 国学生写英语作文往往分段太 多，把一层意思放在几个段落 里表达。
School of Translation Studies
情感分段（汉语）
逻辑分段 （英语）
School of Translation Studies
2. Structure of a Paragraph
• Go=Topic Sentence • Continue=Supporting Details • Stop=Closing Sentence
Introduction:
Topic sentences
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Hong Kong is famous for its developed
economy, high standards of living, and intercultural atmosphere.
此句包含了过多的信息，主题不明确，这会
使段落缺乏统一性。句子所阐述的三个部分 不相关，不能放在同一个段落内阐述。
School of Translation Studies
初三英语写作技巧实例分析单选题30题
初三英语写作技巧实例分析单选题30题1.She is a very ______ girl. She always helps others.A.kindB.badzyD.strict答案：A。
本题中“She always helps others”表明她是一个乐于助人的人，所以应该选择“kind（善良的）”。
“bad（坏的）”不符合语境；“lazy（（懒惰的）”与乐于助人的形象相悖；“strict（（严格的）”也与题干中的描述不相关。
2.In my opinion, this is a ______ book. It's very interesting.A.boringB.difficultC.goodeless答案：C。
“It's very interesting”说明这本书很有趣，所以应该选“good（（好的）”。
“boring（（无聊的）”与有趣相反；“difficult（（困难的）”题干中未提及难度；“useless（（无用的）”也不符合书很有趣这个描述。
3.He is a ______ student. He studies very hard.A.cleverB.stupidzyD.naughty答案：A。
“He studies very hard”表明他学习很努力，通常努力学习的学生是聪明的，所以选“clever（聪明的）”。
“stupid（愚蠢的）”不符合努力学习的形象；“lazy（（懒惰的）”与努力学习矛盾；“naughty （调皮的）”与学习努力无关。
4.The park is very ______. There are many beautiful flowers.A.uglyB.dirtyC.beautifulD.noisy答案：C。
“There are many beautiful flowers”说明公园有很多美丽的花，所以公园是美丽的，选“beautiful（（美丽的）”。
英语段落写作English Paragraph Writing
Topic sentence 主题句
at the beginning: mostly at the end: sometimes in the middle：rarely
Байду номын сангаас
Please write a topic sentence for the following paragraph.
Some sportsmen use music to help them train and perform better. People listen to music to pass the time while driving through traffic. Couples might use music to create a romantic evening. Some businesses even use music to increase productivity and efficiency.
Direction: decide which is the topic sentence of the paragraph first. Then, arrange the supporting
sentences in logical order.
a. Later on, people began to write on pieces of leather, which were rolled into scrolls.
A topic sentence should
be a complete sentence. (subject + Verb)
control all the supporting ideas. be clear and concise. not too general, and not too specific.
【英语写作技巧】unit 3 paragraph
The three parts of a paragraph
Topic Sentence
Supporting sentence 1
Supporting sentence 2
Supporting sentence 3
Concluding Sentence
An example
There are three reasons why Canada is one of the best countries in the world. First, Canada has an excellent health
lots of space for people to live. As a result, Canada is a desirable place to live.
2.1 Topic sentence
Discussion 2: The sentences below cannot
be used as topic sentences. Can you figure out why they are inappropriate?
First, it is noted for the Wheaton River, which is very wide and beautiful. Also, on the other side of the town is Wheaton Hill, which is unusual because it is very steep. The third amazing feature is the Big Old Tree. This tree stands two hundred feet tall and is probably about six hundred years old.
写作 3 paragraph上课稿
2.2 Supporting Sentences - Four ways to expand the topic sentence
cause and effect
as, as a result, because of, due to, thus, since, as a consequence, lead to , result in, …
2. Basic Paragraph Structure
Discussion 1: Read the following paragraph carefully and analyze its structure. Gold, a precious metal, is prized for two important characteristics. First of all, gold has a lustrous beauty that is resistant to corrosion. Therefore, it is suitable for jewelry, coins, and ornamental purposes. Gold never needs to be polished and will remain beautiful forever.
First, it is noted for the Wheaton River, which is very wide and beautiful. Also, on the other side of the town is Wheaton Hill, which is unusual because it is very steep. The third amazing feature is the Big Old Tree. This tree stands two hundred feet tall and is probably about six hundred years old.
英语写作CHAPTER 1段落写作
CHAPTER 1PARAGRAPH WRITINGIf you look at any printed prose book, you will see that each chapter is divided up into sections, the first line of each being usually indented slightly to the right. These sections are called Paragraphs. Chapters, essays and other prose compositions are broken up into paragraphs, to make the reading of them easier, for the beginning of a new paragraph marks a change of topic, or a step in the development of an argument or of a story. In writing essays or other compositions, it is important to know how to divide them properly into paragraphs; for an essay not so broken up, looks uninteresting and is not easy to read.Definition:- A paragraph is a number of sentences grouped together and relating to one topic; or, a group of related sentences that develop a single point.These definitions show that the paragraphs of a composition are not mere arbitrary divisions. The division of a chapter into paragraphs must be made according to the changes of ideas introduced. There is, therefore, no rule as to the length of paragraphs. They may be short or long according to the necessity of the case. A paragraph may consist of a single sentence, or of many sentences.(Note.-In this respect, the paragraphs of a piece of prose differ from the stanzas or verses of a poem. The stanzas of a poem are usually of the same length and pattern; but paragraphs are long or short according to the amount of matter to be expressed under each head).PRINCIPLES OF PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE1. UNITY:- The first and most important principle to be observed in constructing a paragraph is that of Unity. Just as each sentence deals with one thought, each paragraph must deal with one topic or idea- and with no more than one. In writing an essay, for example, every head, and every sub-head, should have its own paragraph to itself. And every sentence in the paragraph must be closely connected with the main topic of the paragraph. The paragraph and every part of it must be the expression of one theme or topic.(Note:- A good practice is to read a chapter in a book, and give a short heading or title to each paragraph, which will express in a word or brief phrase the subject of the paragraph).The topic, theme or subject of a paragraph is very often expressed in one sentence of the paragraph - generally the first. This sentence is called the topical sentence (because it states the topic), or the key-sentence (because it unlocks or opens the subject to be dealt with in the paragraph).2.ORDER:- The second principle of paragraph construction is Order - that is, logical sequence of thought or development of the subject. Events must be related in the order of their occurrence, and all ideas should be connected with the leading idea and arranged according to their importance or order.(Note:- The two most important sentences in the paragraph are the first and the last. The first, which should as a rule be the topical sentence, should arouse the interest ofthe reader; and the last should satisfy it. The first, or topical, sentence states the topic - a fact, a statement, or a proposition; the last should bring the whole paragraph on this topic to a conclusion, or summing up).3.VARIETY:- A third principle of paragraph construction is Variety; by which is meant that, to avoid monotony, the paragraph of composition should be of different lengths, and not always of the same sentence construction.To sum up:- the essentials of good paragraph construction are - (1) Unity. (2) A good topical sentence. (3) Logical sequence of thought. (4) Variety. (5) A full and rounded final sentence in conclusion.EXAMPLESNow let us examine a few paragraphs by standard authors, in illustration of these principles of paragraph construction.1. “Hence ... it is almost a definition of a gentleman to say he is one who never inflicts pain(强加痛苦给别人). This description is both refined and, as far as it goes, accurate. He is mainly occupied in merely removing the obstacles which hinder the free and unembarrassed action of those about him; and he concurs(同时发生，共同作用) with their movements rather than takes the initiative himself. His benefits may be considered as a parallel to what are called comforts or conveniences in arrangements of a personal nature, like an easy chair or good fire, which do their part in dispelling cold and fatigue, though nature provides both means of rest and animal heat（体温）without them.” - J.E. Newman.This is a paragraph from Cardinal Newman's famous description of a “Gentleman” in his The Idea of a University. Notice that the paragraph is confined to one point in the character of a gentleman, which is clearly stated in the first, or topical sentence, viz.(=namely), that "he is one who never inflicts pain." The rest of the paragraph is simply a development and illustration of the topical sentence. And the concluding sentence drives home the statement of the subject with its similes of the easy chair and the good fire.2. "The Road is one of the great fundamental institutions of mankind. Not only is the Road one of the great human institutions because it is fundamental to social existence, but also because its varied effects appear in every department of the State. It is the Road which determines the sites of many cities and the growth and nourishment of all. It is the Road which controls the development of strategies and fixes the sites of battles. It is the Road that gives framework to all economic development. It is the Road which is the channel of all trades, and, what is more important, of all ideas, In its most humble function it is a necessary guide without which progress from place to place would be a ceaseless experiment; it is a sustenance(食物；营养) without which organized society would be impossible, thus the Road moves and controls all history." - Hilaire Belloc.In this paragraph, the first sentence states the subject. It is the topical sentence. The body of the paragraph consists of examples which prove the statement in the first sentence. The final sentence sums up the whole.3. "Poetry is the language of the imagination and the passions. It relates to whatever gives immediate pleasure or pain to the human mind. It comes home to the bosoms and businesses of men; for nothing but what comes home to them in the most general and intelligible shape can be a subject for poetry. Poetry is the universal language which the heart holds with nature and itself. He who has a contempt for poetry cannot have much respect for himself, or for anything else. Wherever there is a sense of beauty, or power, or harmony, as in the motion of a wave of the sea, in the growth of a flower, there is poetry in its birth." - William Hazlitt.Here again, the first sentence is the topical sentence. The sentences that follow enforce or restate the statement that "poetry is the language of the imagination and the passions"; and the concluding sentence reinforces it by showing that poetry exists wherever men feel a sense of beauty, power or harmony.In all these paragraphs, the principles of Unity and Order are observed, and also the general rules about the place of the topical sentences and the rounding off the whole with a good conclusion.To round off sth with sth’: to end sth by doing sth that provides a clear or satisfactory conclusion to it.THE WRITING OF SINGLE PARAGRAPHSSo far we have been treating of paragraphs which are sections of a more or less lengthy composition, like an essay or the chapter of a book. But students are often asked in examinations to write short separate paragraphs, instead of essays, on subjects of ordinary interest. Such single paragraphs are really miniature essays; but the same principles as we have discussed above (except the principle of variety), must be followed in their construction. Each paragraph must be a unity, treating of one definite subject, and must follow a logical order of thought. In most cases, too, the rules about the topical sentences and the conclusion should be borne in mind.A few examples should make this clear. Suppose, for example, you are asked to write a paragraph on “The Cat.” It is obvious that you cannot treat this subject fully, as you might in a long essay. And yet you must, according to the principle of unity, confine your paragraph to one definite topic. You must, therefore, choose one thing to say about a cat, and stick to it throughout. You might, for example, write of one characteristic of the cat, say, its love of comfort and attachment to its home. In that case, you might write a paragraph something like this:- The CatThere is some truth in the common saying that while dogs become attached to persons, cats are generally attached to places. A dog will follow his master anywhere, but a cat keeps to the house it is used to; and even when the house changes hand, the cat will remain there, so long as it is kindly treated by the new owners. A cat does not seem to be capable of the personal devotion often shown by a dog. It thinks most of its own comfort and its love is only cupboard love.Notice the construction of this paragraph. It begins with the topical sentence, which clearly states the subject. The following sentence explains the statement by expanding it; and the last sentence, by giving a reason for the attachment of a cat to a particular house forms a fitting conclusion. The paragraph is therefore a Unity, treating of one characteristic of cat character: and it follows an orderly plan. The paragraph on the cat is descriptive. Now take an example of a narrative paragraph, in which you are required to tell a story. Suppose the subject is to be a motor-car accident; you might treat it in this way:-A Motor-Car AccidentIt is the mad craze for speed that is responsible for many motor accidents. Only last year I witnessed what might have been a fatal accident on the Kashmir Road. I was motoring down from Srinagar; and as I was nearing Kohala, I came upon the wreckage of two cars on the road. The smash had been caused by a car coming down, which swept round a sharp corner at forty mites an hour and crashed into a car coming up. Happily no one was killed; but several were badly injured, and the two cars were wrecked. To drive at such a speed down a twisting mountain road is simply to court(招致) disaster.In this paragraph, the topical sentence is again first; the narrative that follows is simply an illustration of the statement in the topical sentence that many accidents are caused by a mad craze for speed; and the concluding sentence sums the paragraph up by a restatement of the topical sentence in other words.The following is an example of a reflective paragraph; that is, one that expresses some reflection or thought on an abstract subject:-MercyTo forgive an injury is often considered to be a sign of weakness; it is really a sign of strength. It is easy to allow oneself to be carried away（带走，使着迷）by resentment and hate into an act of vengeance（报仇）; but it takes a strong character to restrain those natural passions. The man who forgives an injury proves himself to be the superior of the man who wronged him, and puts the wrong-doer to shame. Forgiveness may even turn a foe into a friend. So mercy is the noblest form of revenge.The topical sentence of a paragraph is usually the first, or at latest the second; and this is the best place for it. But for the sake of variety it may be placed in a different position. In this paragraph, it comes last - "So mercy is the noblest form of revenge". But the opening sentence is also a good introduction to the subject, and is calculated to arouse interest by stating an apparent paradox.To sum up:- In writing single paragraphs, the principles of Unity and Order must be kept in mind, and also the rules of the topical and concluding sentences. The language should be simple, the style direct, and the sentences short; and, as a paragraph is limited, all diffuseness（冗长累赘）must be avoided.Exercise 1.Write short paragraphs on the following subjects:-1. A Rainy Day.2. A Walk.3. The Cow.17. The Elephant.21. Revenge.。
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Paragraph Structure
Paragraphs
The manner in which you present your material is vital. As you know, an essay (or any academic text) is built up around paragraphs. They help the reader understand the organization of your essay and grasp its main points. A paragraph is a series of sentences that are organized and coherent, and are all related to a single topic. The main rule is:
One paragraph= one new point in your argument
Furthermore, each paragraph typically contains a three-part structure:
1. Introduction: including a topic sentence and transition words
2. Body: discussing the main thesis, using various forms of evidence
3. Conclusion: commenting and drawing connections
Paragraphs principles
∙Each paragraph should contain one new point in your overall thesis
∙Each paragraph should be able to stand on its own and have its own internal structure ∙Each paragraph should state its purpose early on, in the form of a topic sentence
Try extracting the first line from your essay paragraphs and see if you can follow your main line of argument. If you can’t, they your essay is not so easy to follow as you might want it to be. (Of course, not every argument has to be organized this way. But try to look up a few articles in some “serious” newspapers: you will find this str ucture widely used!)
The reason why paragraphs should be “headlined” with reference to the overall argument is to keep that argument in the reader’s mind, thereby making it easier for them to see the relevance of the rest of the paragraph. This way, the re ader doesn’t lose track, and neither do you.
∙Let the thesis decide how your arguments should be organized, not chronology! (Neither with literary texts nor “real” history).
∙Paragraphs should be visually separated by either line shift or indents. Not both.
Connecting paragraphs
Ideally, paragraphs should be well connected to each other. Order your paragraphs so that each one follows logically on from the previous one. To make this logic more obvious, you can use transition words (or “connectors”), so that th e paragraphs flow better and the reader is always kept on track. The easiest way of doing this is by using words like similarly, likewise, by the same token, yet, nevertheless, however, etc. Or, you may use longer phrases such as “It is ironic, therefore, that…….” or “Although less obvious, an equally important point here is the fact that…..”。