Paragraphing

Development

  All supporting sentences in a paragraph need to be subordinate to the topic sentence. In relationship to  ach other, supporting sentences can be coordinate, subordinate, or both.

Coordination:

1.    We write to leave a record of ourselves.
   2.    Your name was probably the first word you learned to write, and you were probably very proud of yourself when you recorded who you were on a sheet of paper.
   2.    Now, some of you love to put your names on desks or bathroom walls.
   2.    Some of you keep diaries or write poems to express your secret thoughts and feelings.
   2.    Some of you write emotional letters to friends, recording in writing what you cannot express orally.

Subordination:

1.    The process of learning is essential to our lives.
   2.    All higher animals seek it deliberately.
      3.    They are inquisitive and they experiment.
         4.    An experiment is a sort of harmless trial run of some action which we shall have to make in the real world; and this so, whether it is made in the laboratory by scientists or by fox cubs outside their earth den.
           5.    The scientist experiments and the cub plays; both are learning to correct their errors of judgment in a setting in which errors are not fatal.
             6.    Perhaps this is what gives them both their air of happiness and freedom in these activities.

Mixed:

1.    Why are low-calorie diets dangerous?
    2.    Basically, they prevent us from getting all the nutrients we need.
       3.    When we reduce our intake of food, we also cut back on essential vitamins and minerals needed to stay healthy.
          4.    One recent survey of a dozen popular diets found all of them deficient in the U.S. Recommended Daily Allowances for thirteen vitamins and minerals.
        3.    Even though vitamin supplements may correct some nutritional deficiencies, dieters may not notice that they are also getting less fiber and water than they were before.

Coordinate  Relationships                     Additional  Linking  Words
and-relationship                                   furthermore, also, too, again, similarly, in addition
but-relationship                                    yet, however, still, on the other hand, nevertheless
or-relationship                                     nor

Subordinate Relationships                    Additional Linking Words
because-relationships                           for, as a result, consequently
so-relationships                                    therefore, thus, for this reason
colon-relationships                               first, second, third;  who, which, that;  for example,                                                                   to illustrate

Shaping

In this third handout on paragraphs, we’ll examine the various “shapes” paragraphs can take. You can think of these shapes — inverted and regular triangles, diamonds, and hourglasses — as representing the ways of “stacking” sentences that relate to one another. These shapes more or less correspond to the “level” system we’ve already explored.

Inverted  Triangle:  begins  with  the  topic  sentence  with  subordinate  sentences  following.

1.  Typhoon Chris hit with full fury today on the central coast of Japan.

        2.  High waves carried many homes into the sea.

        2.  Heavy rain from the storm flooded the area.

                3. People now fear that the heavy rain may have caused mud slides in the central part of

                 the country.

                        4. The number of victims buried under the mud may climb past the 200 mark by

                         Saturday.

Typhoon Chris hit with full fury today on the central coast

of Japan. High waves carried many homes into the sea.

Heavy rain from the storm flooded the area. People

now fear that the heavy rain may have caused

mud slides in the central part of the

country. The number of victims

buried under the mud may

climb past the 200

mark by Saturday.

Regular Triangle: The topic sentence comes last and subordinate sentences lead up to it.

        2. If the wind becomes gusty suddenly after being calm, you may need to start looking for shelter.

        2. If you see clouds becoming darker, you may need shelter right away.

        2. Naturally, you know that thunder and lightning mean a storm is coming.

                3. Keep in mind that bright lightning doesn’t mean a storm is coming.

                3. The number of lightning flashes is important, though.

            4. The more lightning flashes, the worse the storm is likely to be.

1. The signs of a thunderstorm are many, and being able to understand them can be important.

If the wind becomes

gusty suddenly after being

calm, you may need to start looking

for shelter. If you see clouds becoming

darker, you may need shelter right away.

Naturally, you know that thunder and lightning mean

a storm is coming. Keep in mind that bright lightning

doesn’t mean a storm is coming. The number of lightning

flashes is important, though. The more lightning flashes, the

worse the storm is likely to be. The signs of a thunderstorm

are many, and being able to understand them can be important.

Diamond-shaped: the topic sentence appears near the middle and the subordinate sentences lead up to and then away from it.

    2. Dark green, leafy vegetables such as kale and spinach are good sources of vitamin C

    and iron.

    2. Carrots, squash, and sweet potatoes are good sources of carotene, which the body

    changes to vitamin A.

1. All vegetables are good for us because they provide important vitamins and minerals that build cells and keep us healthy.

    2. Vitamin C, for example, builds strong teeth and helps us resist infections.

    2. Vitamin A keeps skin healthy and protects our eyes.

    2. Iron, also an important part of vegetables, builds red blood cells.

Dark green, leafy

vegetables such as kale and

spinach are good sources of vitamin C

and iron. Carrots, squash, and sweet potatoes are

good sources of carotene, which the body changes to vitamin A.

All vegetables are good for us because they provide important

vitamins and minerals that build cells and keep us healthy.

Vitamin C, for example, builds strong teeth and helps

us resist infections. Vitamin A keeps skin

healthy and protects our eyes. Iron, also

an important part of vegetables,

builds red blood cells.

Hourglass: topic sentence at the beginning and restated at the end with the supporting material in between.

1. Houdini, the famous magician, began his career with a traveling circus at the age of nine.

    2. His first trick was to pick up needles with his eyelids while he was hanging by his

    heels, head downward.

        3. He slowly perfected this trick in secret in the family woodshed.

     2. He was world famous for his escapes—from handcuffs, straitjackets, prison cells,

    and sealed chambers.

        3. He even escaped from a grave six feet in the ground.

1. When he died on October 31, 1926, he had been a public performer for forty-three years.

Houdini, the famous magician, began his career with a traveling

circus at the age of nine. His first trick was to pick up

needles with his eyelids while he was hanging by

his heels, head downward. He slowly

perfected this trick in secret

in the family woodshed.

He was world famous for his

escapes—from handcuffs, straitjackets,

prison cells, and sealed chambers. He even escaped from

a grave six feet in the ground. When he died on October 31,

1926, he had been a public performer for forty-three years.