Descriptive Paragraph

DESCRIPTION



 draws a picture of an object

 uses facts and senses to support the point

 captures a person, a place, an emotion (or experience)—in words so others can imagine it or see it in their mind’s eyes

 a good description allows the reader to be a part of your world, to clearly imagine the scene, to feel the sensations, the smells and the tastes of the subject you are writing about



REASONS FOR USING DESCRIPTION



 to please

 to inform

 to promote a dominant impression

 to support the other methods of paragraph development or

 to reinforce the main points



TYPES



1. Objective – uses factual information about the qualities of the subject answering the questions: who, what, when, where, and why

2. Subjective – uses statements about the writer’s impression of the subject in language which appeals to the senses of touch, taste, sight, hearing, and smell; affected by emotions or opinions about the subject



ORDER



 Space order (Spatial) – uses transitions that indicate space and follow a logical progression such as beginning from a particular point of view: top to bottom, nearest to farthest, left to right, inside going outside, etc…



(descriptive paragraph - person)

(descriptive paragraph - place)

(description of a house)

(descriptive paragraph - experience)

Writing a Narrative Paragraph or Essay

NARRATIVE PARAGRAPH

WHAT is a narrative paragraph?

Ø It tells or describes an event, feeling or experience in story form

Ø It is a series or events arranged in time order

WHY do you tell stories?

Ø to share a lesson you have learned

Ø to share a new realization over something old and familiar

Ø to convince or persuade people that something can be done or that something is possible

Ø to entertain people

WHOSE stories do you tell?

Ø YOUR story

Ø Stories of people you know: family, relatives, special someone, friends, classmates, acquaintances. . .

Ø stories of famous or popular personalities: your favorite movie star, a controversial politician, an extraordinary athlete . . .

WHAT KIND of stories do you tell?

Ø fictional (made-up stories)

Ø non-fiction (real and true stories)

HOW do you tell the stories?

Guidelines:

Ø include adequate details: setting, character, series of action (beginning-middle-ending), moral lesson

Ø use a logical order

Ø use transitions

Ø include dialogues when necessary

(click here to read an example of a narrative paragraph)

Qualities of A Good Paragraph

A good paragraph is like a miniature essay. it has a clear beginning, middle, and ending. Strong paragraphs combine focus and attention to detail to develop a single idea thoroughly, and they help the reader transition from one idea to the next.

Consider the following when writing a paragraph:

1. UNITY - singleness or "oneness" of purpose. All the detail sentences clearly point to or support the topic sentence.

2. COHERENCE - all the sentences and ideas in the paragraph flow smoothly together to make clear and logical points about the topic. Coherence can be achieved through the use of:

A. A natural or easily recognized order:

> Time Order (Chronological) - arranging details or sentences as they happen according to time; usually used in writing narratives

> Space / Direction Order (Spatial) - arranging evidence in relation to space, direction or location

> Importance Order (Emphatic) - arranging details in order of importance or emphasis

> Step-by-Step (Sequential or Procedural) - arranging information according to numbers.

B. Transition Words and Phrases - used to show the connection from one sentence to another, or to signal a new train of thoughts

> Some common transitions:

a. For continuing a common line of reasoning: consequently, clearly, then, furthermore, additionally, and, in addition, because, besides that, in the same way, also, in the light of...
b. To change the line of reasoning: however, on the other hand, but, yet, nevertheless, on the contrary
c. For the final points of a paragraph or essay: finally, lastly
d. Transitional chains, to use in separating sections of a paragraph which is arranged chronologically:
- first, second, third...
- generally, furthermore, finally
- in the first place, also, lastly/finally
- in the first place, just in the same way, finally
- basically, similarly, as well as
e. To signal conclusion: therefore, this, hence, in conclusion, indeed
f. To restate a point within a paragraph in another way or in a more exacting way: after, afterwards, as soon as, at first, at last, before, before long, finally, in the first place, in the meantime, later, meanwhile, next, soon, then

C. Repetition of Key Words - important words or phrases (and their synonyms) may be repeated throughout a paragraph to connect the thoughts into a coherent statement.

D. Substitution of Pronouns for Key Nouns - use a key noun in one sentence and then use a pronoun in its place in the following sentences. When using pronouns consider the nouns to be replace by checking the nouns: 1. number - is the noun to be substituted singular of plural, 2. function in the sentence - is the noun to be replaced use as a possessive, a subject, or object, 3. gender - is the noun to be replaced a male, a female, a common noun or a neutre, 4. Person - is the noun to be replaced in the first, second, or third person.

E. Parallelism - use of the same grammatical structure in several sentences to establish coherence. The use of similar phrasing helps tie ideas and sentences together.

3. PARAGRAPH DEVELOPMENT -->- Support and evidence provided by the writer can be explained in different ways, These details can be provided by giving or using:

a. narration – telling a story

b. description – painting something or someone by use of words

c. comparison – showing how two subjects are similar

d. contrast – pointing out how two subjects are different from each other

e. example – providing illustrations or representatives of an idea or topic

f. classification – organizing or grouping together subjects with the same

qualities or characteristics

g. division – taking out a part from the whole to fully discuss or emphasize

how the part is integral to the whole

h. definition – giving the meaning of a term, idea, or concept

i. process analysis – telling how something is achieved or came to be; or

telling how to do something

j. cause and effect – showing reasons/results of a phenomena/process

-->

Terms to Remember - Parts of a Paragraph

PARAGRAPH – a group of related sentences developing a single idea.

TOPIC SENTENCE – It is the sentence or sentences that contain the main idea of the paragraph. It shows the writer’s attitude or feeling toward the subject. It is usually placed at the beginning of a paragraph.

A topic sentence without enough details is a claim which remains unproved.

A topic sentence = a limited topic + a specific feeling or thought or assertion about that topic

Example – Writing a paragraph can be made easier in three simple steps.

SUPPORTING DETAILS – specific pieces of information or evidences used to explain and support the idea expressed in the topic sentence. These details are used to make the general ideas clearer and more understandable to the reader.

Without the topic sentence, the paragraph is merely a collection of facts; without the supporting details; on the other hand, we have merely an unproved sentence.

CLINCHER SENTENCE (CONCLUSION) – the sentence that wraps up the composition. It can be done in two ways: 1. restate the topic sentence; 2. sum up the main points made in the paragraph.