Comm - 02. Paragraph Development Flashcards
When everything relates to a single or controlling idea. When all sentences support the topic sentence.
Paragraph Unity
Addressing only one idea per paragraph.
One Horse, One Rider
Summarize the paragraph, introduce the main idea of the paragraph, and set the mood and catch the reader’s interest. Can occur anywhere in the paragraph but usually found at the beginning.
Topic Sentences
Usually prompt a question when you read them.
Topic Sentences
Clarify, describe, prove, or explain the topic sentence. They advance the thought of the topic sentence and should be logically sequenced.
Supporting Sentences
Types of Supporting Sentences
Major and Minor
Should define, explain, or add proof to the topic sentence - they directly support the topic sentence.
Major Supporting Sentence
Should define, explain, or add proof to the major sentence - it supports the major support sentence. Not always part of a paragraph, but usually.
Minor Supporting Sentence
Rephrase the topic sentence, summarize the material in the paragraph, and transition to the next paragraph.
Closing Sentence
Review Question on Slide 14
Review Question on Slide 14
Allows your reader to see relationships between sentences.
Coherence
Ways to Achieve Paragraph Coherence
- Using pronouns
- Repeating key terms and ideas
- Connecting words and phrases
- Maintaining consistency in verbs, pronouns, and voice
Can be very effective transitional devices. Words like he, she, it, those, and this can be used to refer to ideas in previous sentences or paragraphs, maintaining continuity in your writing.
Pronouns
Help your reader move smoothly from sentence to sentence without losing the key idea.
Repeating Key Words and Ideas
A transitional device that shows relationships between the ideas in your sentences and paragraphs. Ex: first, next, also, therefore
Connectives
Words that can be used to connect thoughts. Ex: and, then, also, besides, furthermore, likewise, additionally, moreover, first, second, next, both, etc.
Additions
Words that can be used to introduce or connect ideas that conflict or contrast with the information that proceeds them. Ex: but, still, however,, yet, nevertheless, etc.
Contrasts
To introduce or connect an ____________, you may want to use words that indicate choice. Ex: either… or, neither… nor, or, otherwise
Alternative Possibilities
These words connect a ______ or consequence to the preceding statement. Ex: accordingly, hence, therefore, consequently, etc.
Results
Pronouns that indicate the writer, the audience, or the thing written about.
Person
The person writing. Ex: I or We
1st Person
The person written to. Ex: You
2nd Person
The person or thing written about. Ex: Him, her, them, it, he, she, they
3rd Person
Verbs change form to show the time of their actions, or the time of the ideas they express.
Verb Tense
The property of a verb that shows whether the subject acts is or acted upon.
Voice
Sentences that are grammatically correct but can be more effective if written actively. Usually expresses an action performed upon the subject or expresses that the subject receives or is the result of the action. Usually some form of the verb “to be”.
Passive Voice
Expresses an action performed by its subject.
Active Voice
Passive vs. Active Voice: The dog was seen by John.
Passive Voice
Passive vs. Active Voice: John saw the dog.
Active Voice
Passive vs. Active Voice: The book was read by me.
Passive Voice
Passive vs. Active Voice: I read the book.
Active Voice
The key to avoiding problems in ____________ is to identify the subject of a sentence and determine whether it is plural or single. If the verb ends in an “s”, it’s singular. If it doesn’t, it’s plural.
Subject-Verb Agreement
Singular Words Needing Singular Verbs
each, either, neither, one, no one, everyone, anyone, someone, anybody, somebody, everybody
Plural Words Needing Plural Verbs
several, many, few, both
Either Plural or Singular
depending on the meaning of the sentence: some, any, none, all, most
The word of phrase to which the pronoun refers
Antecedent
Problems occur when the antecedent and pronoun disagree. Both antecedent and pronoun must be singular or plural.
Pronoun Reference
Careless use of pronouns can lead to confusion as to what they are referring. Ex: The boys wore hats to their classes which the principal disapproved of. Did the principal disapprove of the hats or the classes?
Ambiguous Pronoun Reference
Occurs when everything in the paragraph sticks to one idea - the idea in the topic sentence.
Paragraph Unity
Allows the idea to flow smoothly from beginning to end by using transitions and maintaining a consistent point of view.
Coherence
Review Questions on Slide 36 and 37.
Review Questions on Slide 36 and 37.
_____ and phrases such as first, next, also, and therefore show the relationship of one sentence to another and help the reader know when you are moving to a new point or idea.
Connecting Words
