Division deals with one subject only.It divides the subject into its component parts, pieces, or sections for closer examination.An example of this is a movie.A movie can be divided into several books or parts.The movie “The Lord of The Rings” is a trilogy.The story comes in three installments.Another example is a paragraph or an essay which is divided into introduction, body and conclusion.
Writing an effective division shows a subject’s parts, or what a subject is made or composed of.Grade, level, stage, and part are words that indicate division.
Classification, on the other hand, deals with a plural subject.It sorts a group of similar subjects according to some quality or characteristic that they share in common.For example, neighbors can be classified according to their attitudes: friendly, snoopy and aloof.Of course, there are still other ways to classify neighbors.With classification, subjects can be categorized in many ways based on different principles or criteria of classification.
Writing an effective classification should be consistent with the set criteria.In addition, categories should be arranged in logical order, and avoid overlapping of categories.
An example paragraph illustrates a concept in real-world terms and provides readers with an image of a concept that they can relate to.
Examples make general statements specific and more convincing.
Good examples can explain and clarify unfamiliar, abstract, or difficult concepts for the reader.
Use examples that are representatives of the types of situations of your readers.
Clear examples support, clarify, interest and persuade your readers to agree with you.
Sources of Examples:
Personal experiences
Other people’s experiences (friends, relatives, classmates, etc.)
Printed materials like books, magazines, etc.
Media: Radio, TV, and Movies
Environment
Hypothetical situations
Facts, events, statistics, quotations
Kinds of Examples:
Specific – examples that are definite or particular
Typical – examples that show common qualities or characteristics to a group or kind
Hypothetical – examples that present possible events that could happen in the future
Ordering of Details
Emphatic
Spatial
Chronological
Examples:
Nocturnal animals
(emphatic order - from the most familiar to the least familiar )
a.bats
b.owls
c.fox
d.raccoon
e.wombat
People who rose from rags to riches:
(spatial – from local to international)
a.Regine Velasquez (from Bulacan – local, meaning she is from Bulacan and we are from Bulacan)although you can also use her as an example for national)
b.Manny Pacquiao (from the Philippines – national)
c.Yao Ming (international – popular worldwide and comes from another country)
Forms of transportation in the Philippines
(chronological)
a.sleds or karitela
b.bicycles
c.car
Transitional words & phases
for example, for instance, for one thing, as an illustration, to illustrate, illustrated with, as an example, in this case
also, again, as well as, besides, furthermore, in addition, likewise, moreover, similarly
Things to Remember when Writing an Example Paragraph or Essay:
Be sure your examples are relevant.
Be sure that your examples are reasonable and realistic (except for the hypothetical examples)
Be sure that your examples are vivid in details.
Be sure you have enough examples to prove your point.
An Extended Example or Illustration is one that tells a story.
DOs and DON’Ts
1.DO provide enough examples to prove your point.One or two short examples will never satisfy the curiosity of an intelligent reader.
2.DO choose examples that are both specific and relevant.Remember that the quantity of your examples means nothing if the quality of your example is poor.
3.DO understand the purpose of your examples before you write your paragraph.Are you using examples primarily to inform your reader or to persuade your reader—or both?
4.DON’T use a series of slanted examples which may distort the truth.Use unbiased, objective, representative examples.
5.DON’T present a brief example and then move on to the next example without explaining the first.Provide your readers with enough secondary details to make your examples effective.
6.DON’T rely on a single extended example unless that example is comprehensive enough to illustrate your 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…
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
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 otherhand, 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.
Learning how to write a paragraph can be beneficial particularly to students like you. It can always help you in answering essay type exam questions. It can also help you express your thoughts through writing.But how do you know that you are doing the right thing. Knowing the elements of a paragraph can help you organize your thoughts.
Writing a successful paragraph is like creating a sandwich.In making a sandwich, you need all the right ingredients:a bun (the top and the bottom) and a variety of fillings.In writing a paragraph you need the top bun (or loaf bread) which serves as your topic sentence.The topic sentence contains (or introduces) the main idea of the paragraph.The topic sentence helps you to organize/keep your thoughts together.The fillings, on the other hand, adds flavor to your sandwich.In writing, these fillings are the supporting details that provide enough evidence/support to your topic sentence.The fillings make you want to have more of the sandwich while the supporting details in your paragraph make it more interesting for the readers to continue reading your work.The bottom bun (or loaf bread) ensures that your sandwich stays in place.In writing, the bottom bun (or loaf bread) holds all the supporting details together Can you imagine eating your sandwich without the bread? So you see?A delicious sandwich is complete with all the ingredients; likewise, a good paragraph has all the necessary elements it needs to make it a successful one.
