Paragraph Support, Unity, & Coherence
By Jalesa Campbell
Take a minute to read the paragraph below...
A positive leader is someone who leads by example, is willing to assist others, and is merciful to others. I believe that my store manager, Rick, is a positive leader. He exhibits each of these qualities on the job.
What did you guys think of that paragraph?
What was the topic that the writer was writing on?
Was anything missing or lacking about the paragraph?
Supporting your paragraphs
- Without beams to support a bridge, it's going down - and a lot of people are likely to be in trouble
- You must provide reasoning or support for the topic that you are writing on
- Otherwise, your reader may say, "So what?" and may lose interest in reading further
Types of Support
- Provide support through examples - these help to bring your main point to life through illustration
Types of Examples You Can Use
- Short Examples (usually listed as items in a series)
- Sentence-Length Examples
- Extended Examples
Short Examples
Provide several brief illustrations (usually in a list)
Compulsive shoppers can curb their bad spending habits by replacing the habit of shopping with another hobby, creating & sticking to a budget, and using a list instead of perusing stores.
Sentence Length Examples
When providing more than a list is appropriate for your topic.
Eric was one of the best players on our team, though several of our teammates teased him. He made several touchdowns last season and turned the game over when we were on the verge of losing.
Extended Examples
When you want to illustrate in more detail and your example takes up the majority of the paragraph
*See pg. 90 (textbook) for an example or the example used in the “Structure of a Paragraph” PowerPoint
Another quick read, take a minute to read the paragraph below...
If a leader doesn't keep his word, why should others trust him? Some leaders, like my manager, are willing to help when they can. If an associate makes a mistake, then a manager or supervisor should be willing to give him or her a second chance.
To help make sure your ideas are unified, here are some tips...
- Ideas must be presented in a logical manner (that's why prewriting first is important)
- Use transitioning words and phrases to help guide your reader along as you move from 1 idea to the next
Transitioning Words & Phrases
Time:
- First
- Next
- After
- Before
- Often
Contrast:
- Although
- Even though
- However
- On the other hand
- Instead
A Few Words of Caution
- Avoid using transitioning words mechanically (like "First, Second, and Third")
- Instead, switch them up (like "First, Additionally, and Lastly")
- Don't pepper transitioning words throughout your paper because it looks good --- it might not be so palatable to your reader because they may throw off the flow of your paragraph
Any Questions?
Credits:
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