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)
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Descriptive Paragraph
Sunday, January 11, 2009
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
Qualities of A Good Paragraph
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:
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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.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Elements of a 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.
Monday, November 24, 2008
What is good writing?
Good writing is an indication that a student has already mastered how to write effectively.
But how does one write effectively? There are several things one can consider to improve his/her writing.
A. Bear in mind to be clear with what you have to say.
B. Remember to use the idea of KISS (Keep it Short and Simple)
C. Use transition words and phrases to connect ideas and to achieve coherence.
D. Have a logical order or arrangement.
E. Maintain your focus.
Prewriting Activities - Generating Topics
Writing is a task most students do not want to accomplish. Students are sometimes faced with difficulties especially when asked to choose their own topics. To solve this problem, there are things which a writer can do to choose a possible topic.
1. Freewriting - writing without stopping for 10 minutes. There is no need to worry about spelling, punctuations or grammar rules. The idea is to write as freely as possible. After ten minutes, you stop. Read what you have written and from there find out a possible topic for discussion. click to see a sample of freewriting
2. Listing - just list down anything you know about the topic.
3. Brainstorming - is an spontaneous sharing of ideas. This can be done alone or in group. Ideas can be either in words, phrases or fragments.
4. Clustering - is a visual representation of ideas which are closely related or connected.
