Paragraph

Paragraph can be defined as a group of related sentences about a single topic,

just as sentence have specific components-core parts-paragraph also contains
particular elements that are necessary for complete meaning to be conveyed.

Three Essential elements of Paragraph

Topic: The one thing paragraph is about. The topic is the unifying factor, and every
sentence and idea contained in the paragraph related to the topic.

Main Idea: A statement or implications about the topic or what the author wants
to communicate about the topic. The main idea is the central or most important
thought in the paragraph. Every other sentence and idea in the paragraph is related
to the main idea.

Details: The proof, support, explanation, reasons or examples that explains the
paragraph’s main idea.

Each of the following examples contains a group of sentences but only one is
paragraph that one has three essential elements .Identify the paragraph.

Examples:
1: Cats frequently becomes aggressive when provokes. Some plants require more
light than other due to coloration of their foliage. Some buildings, due to poor
construction, waste a tremendous amount of energy.

2: Some plants require more lights than others due to coloration of their foliage.
Some plants will live along time without watering. Plants area being used as
decorator items in stores and offices

3: Some plants require more light than other due to color of their foliage. Plants
with shades of white, yellow or pink in their leaves need more light than plants
with completely green foliage. For example a Swedish ivy plant with completely
 green leaves require less light per day than variegated Swedish ivy that contains
shades of white, yellow, and green in its leaves.

In the 1st example the group of sentences were unrelated; each sentence was about different
thing and there was no connection among them.

In the 2nd example ,each sentence was about plant-the common topic. However the
sentences together couldn’t prove ,explain or support and particular main idea about plants

In the 3rd example, each sentence was about plants and all sentences were about one main
idea that some plants need more lights than others due to colors in their leaves.

Thus the third example is paragraph; it has a Topic sentence-plants; Main idea-that plants
require varying degree of light due to coloration; Supporting detail- the example of Swedish
ivy.

How to identify the topic of Paragraph

The topic of the paragraph is the subject of the whole paragraph. It is the one thing that the
whole paragraph is about. Usually the topic of the paragraph can be expressed in two or
three words.

To find the topic of a paragraph, ask yourself this question: What is the one thing the author
is discussing throughout the paragraph?

Example: In recent years, the importance of vending machines has rapidly increased.
Actually, vending is little more less than an extension of the self-service trend except that
added locational flexibility is realized. The vending industry has now developed a machine
that can read and handle bills; therefore, it is only a matter of time before goods with larger
unity value will be sold in vending machines.

In the example, the author is discussing one topic-vending machine-throughout the

paragraph. Notice how many times the word vending is repeated in the paragraph.
Frequently, the repeated use of a word can serve as a clue to the topic of a paragraph.
In the example the author is discussing one topic-vending machines-through out
the paragraph. Notice how many times the word vending is repeated in the
paragraph. Frequently, the repeated use of a word can serve as clue to the topic
of paragraph.

Example: Chinese writing utilizes the system of characters each of which

represents the “meaning” of a word, rather than its sound. Chinese dictionaries
and rhyme books contain tens of thousands of these characters, but to read a
newspaper one need “only” about five thousands. It’s not easy to become a
scholar in China. In 1956,the difficulties prompted the government of the people’s
Republic of China to simplify the characters. They also adopted a spelling system
using the Roman alphabet, to be used along with the regular ancient system. It is
doubtful whether it will replace the traditional writing, which is an integral part of
Chinese culture. In China, writing is an art-calligraphy-and thousands of years
poetry and literature and history are preserved in the old system.

Topic: ________________________________________________________

How to find the Main Idea

The main idea of the paragraph tells you what the author wants you to know
about the topic. The main idea is usually directly stated by the writer in one or
more sentences within the paragraph. It is stated in the sentence that tell what
the rest of paragraph is about. In some paragraphs main idea is not stated directly
in one sentence instead,it is left to the reader to infer or reason out.

To find the main idea of the paragraph, first decide what the topic of paragraph is.
Then ask yourself these questions: What is the main idea-What is the author
trying to say about the topic? What sentence states the main idea?
 Example:
The Federal Trade Commission has Increasingly interested in false and misleading
packaging. Complaints have been filed against many food packages because they
make boxes unnecessarily large to give a false impression of quantity. Cosmetic
manufacturer have been accused of using false bottoms in packaging to make
small amount of their products appear to be much more.

In this paragraph the topic is “False Packaging”. The main idea is that the Federal
Trade Commission is becoming increasingly concerned about false or misleading
packaging. The author stated the main idea in the first sentence of the paragraph.

Where to find the stated main Idea

In the first sentence: The most common placement of the main idea is in
the first sentence of the paragraph.

Example:
The good listener, in order to achieve the purpose of acquiring information, is careful to
follow specific steps to achieve accurate understanding .First ,whenever possible the good
listener prepares in advance for the speech or lecture he/she is going to attend. He/she
studies the topic to be discussed and finds out about the speaker and his/her beliefs.
Second, on arriving the space where the speech is to be given, he/she chooses a seat to sit
where hearing and seeing would be easier .Finally, when the speech is over an effective
listener reviews what was told and react to and the evaluation of the ideas are expressed.

(Deductive thought pattern is employed in which a statement is made at the beginning and
then a supported throughout the paragraph)
In the last sentence: The second most common position of the main idea
sentence is in the last paragraph. In this type author first builds up the main idea then
state it at the end of the paragraph.

Example:
Whenever possible the good listener prepares in advance for the speech or lecture he/she
is going to attend. He/she studies the topic to be discussed and finds out about the
speaker and his/her beliefs. On arriving the space where the speech is to be given, he/she
chooses a seat to sit where hearing and seeing would be easier and when the speech is
over; an effective listener reviews what was told and react to and the evaluation of the
ideas are expressed. Thus, an effective listener, in order to achieve the purpose of
acquiring information, is careful to follow specific steps to achieve accurate understanding .

(Inductive thought pattern is employed. Author provides supporting evidence for the main
ideas, and then stated it.)

In the middle of the paragraph: Another common placement of the main

idea is in the middle of the paragraph. In this case writer builds up to the main idea, states
it in the middle and then goes on with further elaboration and detail.

Example:
Whenever possible the good listener prepares in advance for the speech or lecture he/she
is going to attend. He/she studies the topic to be discussed and finds out about the
speaker and his/her beliefs. An effective listener, in order to achieve the purpose of
acquiring information, is careful to follow specific steps to achieve accurate understanding
of the lecture. Furthermore, On arriving the space where the speech is to be given, he/she
chooses a seat to sit where hearing and seeing would be easier and when the speech is
 over; an effective listener reviews what was told and react to and the evaluation of the
ideas are expressed.

In the First and last sentence: Sometimes author uses two sentences to
state the main idea twice in one paragraph, the writer states the main idea at the
beginning then explains or supports the main idea and finally restates the main idea at the
very end.

Example:
The good listener, in order to achieve the purpose of acquiring information, is careful to
follow specific steps to achieve accurate understanding .First ,whenever possible the good
listener prepares in advance for the speech or lecture he/she is going to attend. He/she
studies the topic to be discussed and finds out about the speaker and his/her beliefs.
Second, on arriving the space where the speech is to be given, he/she chooses a seat to sit
where hearing and seeing would be easier .Finally, when the speech is over an effective
listener reviews what was told and react to and the evaluation of the ideas are expressed.

Effective listening is an active process in which a listener deliberately takes certain actions
to insecure that accurate communication has occurred.

Recognizing Details: The details in paragraph are those facts and ideas which
prove, explain, support or give examples of the main idea of the paragraph. Once the topic
or main idea have been identified, recognizing the supporting detail is relatively simple
matter. The more difficult job involved is the selection of the few key, or most important
details which clearly support the main idea.

All details in paragraph relate to and expand, in some way, the paragraph’s main idea: but
not all of these details are completely essential to the author’s central thought. Some
details are just meant to describe; others are to provide added, but not essential,
information; still others are intended to merely repeat or restate the main idea.

On the other hand, the key supporting detail within a paragraph are those statement which
carry the primary supporting evidence need to back up the main idea. To find the key
supporting detail in a paragraph, ask yourself: What are the main facts the author uses to
back up or prove what he said about the topic?

In the below paragraph the main idea sentence is underlined and highlighted; the key
supporting details are underlined once, notice how the underlined details differ, in the type
and importance of the information they provide, from the remaining details in the
paragraph.

Example:
Newspapers are the largest single advertising medium in the nation. They have extensive
coverage; hardly a city or town in the country is not served by a local paper or by one from
nearby larger city. For this reason, an advertiser can be highly selective about the markets to
which he advertises if he uses them. If he needs a campaign in a limited local area, he can
cover just that area by newspaper and not pay for wasted circulation, which he would do if he
used a magazine or a large metropolitan daily. Because newspapers are printed either weekly
or daily, the advertiser can take advantage of local opportunities rather quickly; he can
advertise in the paper on a few hours notice.