A good paragraph is characterized by many different features/aspects just as those features that characterize/beautify a beautiful lady or handsome boy. Those features that determine and maintain the quality and clarity of a paragraph are as follows: Unity, length and organization:
A. Unity: A paragraph is said to have unity if it has only one topic/pilot sentence and the other supporting sentences. Unity is violated by the inclusion of more than one central idea, if information fit/interpreted in one paragraph is interpreted in other paragraphs, and if the irrelevant and useless expressions are introduced.
B. Length: Not fixed/have no particular rules; but depends on the nature of the topic sentence and purpose of the writer. Current practice is of short paragraphs. Shorter paragraphs appear clearer and easier for the readers. Better make use of moderate and varied length.
C. Organization: It concerns with the orderly presentation of the topic sentence, and other supporting details which maintains coherence and cohesion. A paragraph is said to be organized if it has the proper placement of the topic sentence, coherence and cohesion. Properly organized paragraphs become clear and complete. Factors influencing the organization of paragraphs are as follows: the topic or pilot sentence, placement of the topic sentence, coherence and cohesion.
i. The topic/pilot sentence: The sentence that expresses/bears the controlling or main idea of paragraph is called the topic sentence. It is the sentence that is outstanding and clear to the readers, and the rest of the sentences within a paragraph are just illustrative or subordinates to it. A good paragraph has a beginning, a middle and an end, all of which are related to the topic sentence.
ii. Placement of the topic sentence:
at the beginning
in the middle
at the end
in two places (beginning and end)
sometimes main theme not directly expressed but implied
iii. Coherence: It is the logical sense relation between lexical and syntactic items in a text. A good paragraph is coherent. The thought/idea interpreted in a paragraph should be connected and developed in a logical order in order to maintain coherence. In a coherent paragraph, one sentence leads naturally on the next i.e. there lies meaningful relationship between sentences. Coherence can be maintained by arranging materials in a paragraph in different ways: chronological order, spatial order, logical order.
Chronological order: events or material presented in the order of time of their happening.
Spatial order: The term spatial derives from 'space'. This is the order presenting material according to position. Spatially we can present our material from near to far, direct to indirect, outside to inside or inside to outside, more important to less important, etc.
B. Length: Not fixed/have no particular rules; but depends on the nature of the topic sentence and purpose of the writer. Current practice is of short paragraphs. Shorter paragraphs appear clearer and easier for the readers. Better make use of moderate and varied length.
C. Organization: It concerns with the orderly presentation of the topic sentence, and other supporting details which maintains coherence and cohesion. A paragraph is said to be organized if it has the proper placement of the topic sentence, coherence and cohesion. Properly organized paragraphs become clear and complete. Factors influencing the organization of paragraphs are as follows: the topic or pilot sentence, placement of the topic sentence, coherence and cohesion.
i. The topic/pilot sentence: The sentence that expresses/bears the controlling or main idea of paragraph is called the topic sentence. It is the sentence that is outstanding and clear to the readers, and the rest of the sentences within a paragraph are just illustrative or subordinates to it. A good paragraph has a beginning, a middle and an end, all of which are related to the topic sentence.
ii. Placement of the topic sentence:
at the beginning
in the middle
at the end
in two places (beginning and end)
sometimes main theme not directly expressed but implied
iii. Coherence: It is the logical sense relation between lexical and syntactic items in a text. A good paragraph is coherent. The thought/idea interpreted in a paragraph should be connected and developed in a logical order in order to maintain coherence. In a coherent paragraph, one sentence leads naturally on the next i.e. there lies meaningful relationship between sentences. Coherence can be maintained by arranging materials in a paragraph in different ways: chronological order, spatial order, logical order.
Chronological order: events or material presented in the order of time of their happening.
Spatial order: The term spatial derives from 'space'. This is the order presenting material according to position. Spatially we can present our material from near to far, direct to indirect, outside to inside or inside to outside, more important to less important, etc.
Logical order: The central idea expressed
through the topic sentence should be supported with relevant examples, proofs, reasons, cause-and-effect relation, etc.
NOTE: Some other ways of maintaining coherence according to Narayanaswami are: Reason connectives: because, because of, since, etc.
Purpose connectives: to, in order to, so that, etc.
For a cause effect relation: if, unless, accordingly, as a result, thus, hence, therefore, etc.
through the topic sentence should be supported with relevant examples, proofs, reasons, cause-and-effect relation, etc.
NOTE: Some other ways of maintaining coherence according to Narayanaswami are: Reason connectives: because, because of, since, etc.
Purpose connectives: to, in order to, so that, etc.
For a cause effect relation: if, unless, accordingly, as a result, thus, hence, therefore, etc.
To introduce contrast: but, howecer, nevertheless, on the other hand, on the contrary, although, in spite of, etc.
To introduce semantic relation: who, which, that what, where, etc.
iv. Cohesion: It refers to the proper use of different linguistic devices to connect grammatical and discourse
units. Such linguistic devices are also known as cohesive devices. It makes a paragraph coherent and organized. Two types of cohesion: grammatical and lexical:
Grammatical cohesion: The grammatical connectedness of a paragraph is grammatical cohesion. They are used for/as:
substitution- noun by pronoun
reference: my friend who.........;
determiner- the, this;
sentence connectives: because, although;
sentence adjunct- moreover, however, etc.
To introduce semantic relation: who, which, that what, where, etc.
iv. Cohesion: It refers to the proper use of different linguistic devices to connect grammatical and discourse
units. Such linguistic devices are also known as cohesive devices. It makes a paragraph coherent and organized. Two types of cohesion: grammatical and lexical:
Grammatical cohesion: The grammatical connectedness of a paragraph is grammatical cohesion. They are used for/as:
substitution- noun by pronoun
reference: my friend who.........;
determiner- the, this;
sentence connectives: because, although;
sentence adjunct- moreover, however, etc.
Also Read: What is Paraphrasing?
Also Read: How to summarize?
Also Read: How to avoid Plagiarism?
