PARAGRAPH STRUCTUREPARAGRAPH STRUCTURE

Paragraph

It refers to a group of related sentences on a particular topic usually beginning with an indentation of a new line.

Paragraph is made up of a topic sentence, a series of a supporting sentences and a concluding sentence.

Paragraph is an expansion of idea.

MAIN IDEA

(LIKE AN ICE CREAM CONE)

EXAMPLE

All life depends on light. Without light, plants cannot make their food. Since animals live on plants or on other animals that eat plants, animals cannot live without light.

Topic Sentence:

All life depends on light.

MAIN IDEA

(LIKE A PYRAMID)

Example:In warm waters, a ship often leaves a trail behind

at night. Fish and breaking waves also produce a faint glow The glow is usually caused by a kind plankton ,microscopic plants and animals called noctiluca. Some species of jellyfish also cause a trail of light They produce a faint blue light when disturbed .Many fish ,particularly deep sea fish, have organs that can produce light, too..This light results from the slow oxidation by some substance after the stimulus has been removed and is called phosphorescence.

Topic Sentence:

• This light results from the slow oxidation by some substance after the stimulus has been removed and is called phosphorescence.

MAIN IDEA (Diamond Style)

EXAMPLE:Plankton consists of small plants and

animals that drift in the ocean. Planktomic animals can swim, but only weakly. Plankton is one of the three main groups of marine life. The other groups are the benthos, which are plants and animals living on the sea bed, and the nektons, which are free swimming animals. Some Planktons are plants (phytoplankton) and some are animals (zooplankton)

Topic Sentence:

• Plankton is one of the three main groups of marine life.

HOUR GLASS

HOUR GLASS

EXAMPLEThe personal essay is varied and elastic. In

fact, it has no outward signs or pattern by which it can be recognized like the drama or the short story. Nor has it any wiser quality that can always be looked for and identified with like the story element in narrative poem. Each essay reflects its writer’s mood and voices his feelings. Thus, like a lyric poem, a personal essay is said to be indefinite.

Topic Sentence:

• The personal essay is varied and elastic. Personal essay is said to be indefinite.

MAIN IDEA(Implied Structure)

EXAMPLE:A flatfish looks just like any other fish when

it is born. But as it grows, the eyes move to one side of the body, which becomes flattened. The fish normally lies almost invisible on the sea bed, so that other animals looking for food cannot easily see it. Many flatfish are found on the continental shelf or on the sand banks in the shallower parts of the sea. Some flatfish, however, live in the deep abyss of the ocean.

Topic Sentence:A flatfish looks just like any other fish when it

is born. But as it grows, the eyes move to one side of the body, which becomes flattened. The fish normally lies almost invisible on the sea bed, so that other animals looking for food cannot easily see it. Many flatfish are found on the continental shelf or on the sand banks in the shallower parts of the sea. Some flatfish, however, live in the deep abyss of the ocean.

END