PARAGRAPH WRITING

1. Introduction
A paragraph is a which a basic unit organization in writing

in which a group of related sentences develops one main

idea.
A paragraph can be use short as one sentence or as long as
ten sentences.
The number of sentence is unimportant; however the
paragraph should be long enough to develop the main idea
clearly.
A paragraph has three major structural parts : a topic
sentences, supporting sentences, and a concluding
sentence, as you will see in this section.
Your main task in most paragraphs will be develop a main
idea or topic. A paragraph is a which a basic unit
organization in writing in which a group of related

2. Specific Instructional Objectives

Students will be able to :

1. Identify and describe a topic sentence, a

supporting sentence, and a concluding sentence.
2. Develop a paragraph, and write a reason
paragraph.
3. Write a short composition or essay.

3. The Topic Sentence

A topic sentence shows what the paragraph is
about. A good topic sentence controls the
paragraph in that it does not only clarify what the
paragraph is about, but also points out what the
paragraph is not about.
For example, if you are writing about fish
cultivation at the beginning of the paragraph, you
should not suddenly switch the subject to
horticulture cultivation will support your ideas about
fish cultivation.
A topic sentence is placed at the beginning of a
paragraph. Its is often the first sentence in the
paragraph. An advance writers sometimes state the
topic sentence at the end, and others do not state it
but rather suggest with other parts of the

A topic sentence (TS) has two requirements :

1. A paragraph must have a subject (S); that is,
what you are talking about (subject not mean the
grammatical subject of a sentence).
2. A paragraph must have controlling idea (CI), that
is, what you say about the subject (often with an
opinion).
Examples :
Sun-drying of a wet paddy is cheaper
S
CI
The hand-tractor is easy to operate
S
CI
Paddy is dried by using the method of sundrying
S
CI

4. The Outline Sentence

After making the topic sentence of your paragraph, the
next step is to make an outline.
In the outline, you simply write down ideas is a list
which will give solid support to your controlling idea.
Then write the concluding sentence (CS), which restates
the topic sentence in different words.
Outline :
Example I :
(TS) : Irrigation system help farmers in rural areas.
S
CI
List of ideas :

Opening employment opportunities.

Farmers utilization of land to its maximum capacity.
Two to three harvests a year.
Not dependent on seasons.
Simultaneous planting to tight insects.

5. Conclusion Sentence
Therefore, irrigation is indent, beneficial to farmers.
Outline :
Example II :
(TS) :

A crop can be protected from parasite by several methods.

S
CI

List of ideas :

By plant quarantine.

Use of clean seed.

Rotating annual crops.

Destroying the source of infection, slash and burn.

Chemical attack on the parasite.

Conclusion :
As you can see, these methods have worked well to
protect the crops.

FORM AND ORGANIZATION

In the precious chapters, you have been
explained how to make a topic sentence on
outline. In the outline, you simply write down a
list of ideas that will developed to support the
topic sentence.
Thus, a paragraph has three parts :
First
: a topic sentence or an introduction.
Second : the discussion which contains the
development of the controlling idea
to support the topic sentence, and
Third : a conclusion which is a restatement
of the topic sentence in different
words.

6. Paragraph Development
A paragraph has three main divisions :

A topic sentence (introduction)

The discussion (controlling idea)
The concluding statement (conclusion).

The discussion of the paragraph which supports the topic

sentence can be develop in several ways; namely, by using
:

Details, examples and illustrations,

Definitions,
Reasons,
Comparison and contrast,
Narrations,
Arguments.

However, our focus in this chapter, will be on the first

three types of paragraph development since these are the
types most commonly used in technical textbooks, scientific
reports,
and
papers.
The topic sentence indicates the controlling idea of a
paragraph. A topic sentence should clear and specific. It
should not be too broad. However, no matter how carefully
you create and limit your topic sentences, they are will
relatively general statements in relation to the content of the
paragraph; therefore, they should be narrowed down but
adequately
supported.
First lesson in paragraph development will be about
detail, examples and illustrations.

Paragraph development :

Using Details, Examples and Illustrations.

Observe that in the example bellow the paragraph provides
details, examples, and illustration on the subject of food
production for example, your statement of opinion is the
cultivation of golden snails (keong emas) in Indonesia
should be cautiously controlled.
To support this opinion, you should give a number of
reasons why you think that the cultivation of golden snails
should be carefully controlled.

7. The Thesis Sentence

The sentence has another function; that is, to express a thesis in

an essay which essentially comprises several paragraphs
combined together to form a piece of writing.
The thesis sentence governs the content and structure of a whole
composition which may consist two or more paragraph.
A thesis sentence also indicates the purpose of the composition
and conveys the central or main idea contained in the article.
Ideally, it is one sentence summary of the whole essay.
The difference between a topic sentence and a thesis sentence are
as follow :
1. The topic sentence governs the controlling idea, whereas the
thesis sentence governs the whole essay connecting of several
paragraph.
2. The thesis sentence should be written in the first paragraph of
an essay.
Example on the Thesis Sentence :
The role of veterinarians is crucial because they safeguard
the public health.

The thesis sentence above can be divided into two parts :

a. The role of the veterinarians is crucial.
b. They safeguard the public health.

8. Writing A Short Composition or Essay

1. A thesis sentence serves as a guide to the content and

organization of a composition.
2. A thesis sentence maybe the only sentence in the
introductory paragraph of an essay, or it may follow a
sentence or two and then lead to the climax (thesis
sentence) of the first paragraph of the article.
3. A thesis sentence maybe divided into two or more
parts or support, and each support should be treated
in the same order as it appears in the thesis sentence.

9. Exercises

Task 1. Write your own paragraph relating to

the aspect of agriculture.

Tropical climates.
Animal husbandry
Forestry.
Indonesian rural development.
Animal diseases.
Plant diseases.

Task 2. Indicate the topic sentence, the controlling

idea and the conclusion in the sentence above
conclusion.
Task 3. Write a paragraph of reasons one of the
following topics :
Agricultural Mechanization.
Seed Production.
Plant Protection.

References

Oshima Alies, Haque Ann, 1981. Writing

Academic. English Published Wesley
Publishy Company.
Joy M. Reid, 1982. The Process of
Composition. Colorado State
University.
Loban Walter, Freeman Donald, Reising
Roberth W. Laurence Ptricia, Stotsky,
1983. Grammar and Writing.
Published by Macmillan Publishing,
New York,