STUDY NOTES EPISODE 4: CLOUDS
PARAGRAPH WRITING
STUDY TIPS
Formal academic writing is the kind of
writing required for the IELTS academic When writing remember the
test, whether it is the task 2 essay or, the whole paragraph needs to focus
task 1 report, process description or on the main idea stated in your
object description. Irrespective of the topic sentence.
task, all pieces of academic writing
require you to organise your writing into The remaining sentences in the
cohesive and coherent paragraphs. paragraph support and develop
the idea with examples,
The paragraph, itself, being the basic explanations, clarifications,
underlying unit for your writing, needs to illustrations or other points.
be cohesive and coherent. It should
also be structured and contain a topic The supporting and developing
sentence and, supporting and sentences need to be logically
developing sentences. ordered. Together this would
form a well-written paragraph.
What is a paragraph?
A paragraph is a group of related sentences, which develop or discuss a topic
or main idea. Structurally, a paragraph consists of three parts, including a
topic sentence, supporting and developing sentences. In addition, a good
paragraph is coherent, which means that the sentences are logically ordered
and connected.
Consider the following sample paragraph.
Environmental pollution is having a devastating effect on mankind. Firstly,
water pollution reduces valuable supplies of fresh, clean water needed for
daily consumption. Most of the pollutants, which enter the water come from
industry, sewage systems, and agriculture. These include chemicals and
harmful wastes from animals and plants. Another devastating effect is
brought about by air pollution, which turns fresh, clean air into smoggy,
unpleasant smelling air. The result of air pollutants is the harm it has on
human health. For example, the gases, which are released into the
atmosphere can cause such diseases as emphysema and cancer.
Structural parts of a paragraph
Topic sentence (TS)
The topic sentence provides the main idea or subject of the paragraph, and
further identifies a controlling idea restricting the topic area of discussion. It
is the first sentence in the paragraph.
Look at the topic sentence in the sample paragraph:
Environmental pollution is having a devastating effect on mankind.
topic controlling idea
The topic of the paragraph is environmental pollution, but this topic is further
limited to a discussion of the devastating effects on mankind.
Supporting sentences (SS)
Supporting sentences (as the word ‘support’ indicates) support the topic by
providing points, which develop the idea with an explanation, illustration,
reason etc. The two supporting sentences, which explain the topic sentence
about environmental pollution are:
• Firstly, water pollution reduces valuable supplies of fresh, clean water
needed for daily consumption.
• Another devastating effect is brought about by air pollution, which turns
fresh, clean air into smoggy, unpleasant smelling air.
Developing sentences (DS)
Developing sentences further develop the points in the supporting sentences
by providing more information or an example, a reason, a clarification etc. For
example, the point about water pollution is further developed in the following
two developing sentences:
• Most of the pollutants, which enter the water come from industry,
sewage systems, and agriculture.
• These include chemicals and harmful wastes from animals and plants.
The point about air pollution is further developed in the following sentences:
• The result of air pollutants is the harm it has on human health.
• For example, the gases, which are released into the atmosphere can
cause such diseases as emphysema and cancer.
Thus the paragraph on environmental pollution has the following structure.
TS Environmental pollution is having a devastating effect
on mankind. SS1 Firstly, water pollution reduces valuable
supplies of fresh, clean water needed for daily consumption.
DS1.1 Most of the pollutants, which enter the water come
from industry, sewage systems, and agriculture. DS1.2
These include chemicals and harmful wastes from animals
and plants. SS2 Another devastating effect is brought
about by air pollution, which turns fresh, clean air into
smoggy, unpleasant smelling air. DS2.1 The result of air
pollutants is the harm it has on human health. DS2.2 For
example, the gases, which are released into the atmosphere
can cause such diseases as emphysema and cancer.
A paragraph can have a variety of different structures. Other good paragraph
structures include:
TS
SS1 + DS1.1
SS2 + DS2.1
TS
SS1 + DS1.1
SS2 + DS2.1
SS3 + DS3.1
TS
SS1 + DS1.1 + DS1.2
SS2 + DS2.1 + DS2.2
TS
SS1 + DS1.1 + DS1.2
Paragraph Length
The length of a paragraph will depend on how clearly the main idea
or subject is developed. A paragraph can be anywhere from 3-4
sentences or as long as 9 or 10 sentences.
Paragraph Cohesion and Coherence
Two other important features of a good paragraph are cohesion and
coherence.
Cohesion
Cohesion is the agreement between the different parts of a sentence. This
may include: subject-verb agreement, and the use of correct articles and
pronouns to track participants in the paragraph etc. Cohesion also means that
all the supporting and developing sentences must relate directly to the main
point stated in the topic sentence. Discussing recycling in the paragraph on
environmental pollution, for example, would be irrelevant to the topic and,
therefore, disrupt the unity of the paragraph.
Coherence
A paragraph is coherent when the reader can easily understand and follow the
information/message conveyed in the text. Coherence can be achieved in
several different ways:
• arranging ideas logically
• using transition signals
Arranging ideas logically
Depending on the topic and purpose of the paragraph, ideas and sentences
can be organised in different ways, for example, chronologically, spatially or
according to some logical order of ideas.
When a paragraph is organised chronologically, the sentences would be
connected using time expressions such as: ‘after that’, ‘then’, ‘as soon as’,
‘while’, ‘before’, ‘in 2005’ and others.
When a paragraph is organised spatially, the sentences would be connected
using spatial order words such as: ‘to the left’, ‘on the right’, ‘above’, ‘below’,
‘behind’ ‘at the centre’, ‘between’ and others.
When a paragraph is organised according to some logical order of ideas,
sentences discussing a specific idea are grouped together. In the sample
paragraph on environmental pollution, water pollution is presented as one of
the devastating effects.
The group of sentences discussing the specific idea of water pollution begins
with the transition word ‘first’. This is further supported by two developing
sentences, which in turn directly relate back to the main idea of environmental
pollution. The order of ideas grouped together can be illustrated as follows:
environmental pollution
devastating effect on mankind
water pollution
pollutants from industry, sewage & agriculture
chemicals & harmful waste
first group of related sentences
Firstly, water pollution reduces valuable supplies of fresh,
clean water needed for daily consumption. Most of the
pollutants, which enter the water come from industry,
sewage systems, and agriculture. These include chemicals
and harmful wastes from animals and plants.
The second devastating effect, which is discussed is air pollution. The group
of sentences relating to this specific idea is introduced using the transition
word ‘another’. This is followed by two developing sentences, which directly
relate back to the main idea of environmental pollution. The relationship of
sentences in this group is illustrated as follows:
environmental pollution
devastating effect on mankind
air pollution
harm of pollutants on human health
gases released cause disease
second group of related sentences
Another devastating effect is brought about by air pollution,
which turns fresh, clean air into smoggy, unpleasant smelling
air. The result of air pollutants is the harm it has on human
health. For example, the gases, which are released into the
atmosphere can cause such diseases as emphysema and
cancer.
Using transition signals
Transition signals connect one idea to the next, guiding the reader through the
paragraph. To indicate an opposite idea is being presented in your paragraph
the transition signal ‘however’ is used, for example. If another idea is being
presented, ‘furthermore’ can be used to introduce it.
There is a variety of different transition signals. Here is a list of some of the
more common sentence and clause connectors which function as transition
signals.
Transition Signals
Meaning Sentence Connectors Clause Connectors
Coordinating Subordinating
Conjunctions Conjunctions
giving more in addition, and
information furthermore,
moreover, also
introducing a in contrast, however, but, yet although,
contrasting idea on the other hand, though,
nevertheless whereas, while
describing a as a result, so
result/consequence consequently, as a
consequence,
accordingly, therefore
giving an example for example, for
instance
listing ideas first, firstly, second,
secondly, finally, last,
last of all
Notice the transition signals used in the paragraph on environmental pollution.
Environmental pollution is having a devastating effect on
mankind. Firstly, water pollution reduces valuable supplies
of fresh, clean water needed for daily consumption. Most of
the pollutants, which enter the water come from industry,
sewage systems, and agriculture. These include chemicals
and harmful wastes from animals and plants. Another
devastating effect is brought about by air pollution, which
turns fresh, clean air into smoggy, unpleasant smelling air.
The result of air pollutants is the harm it has on human
health. For example, the gases, which are released into the
atmosphere can cause such diseases as emphysema and
cancer.
