Sample Paragraphs

1. Topic sentence:-
Suppose you want to write a paragraph about Police Work. The introductory
part (topic sentence) of your paragraph might look like:

Police officers perform many important services.

_______________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
___________________________
2. Body (Supporting sentences):- Notice how the writer has added some
details after the opening (topic) sentence:

Police officers perform many important services. They may be involved in

solving
crimes. They may find themselves helping lost children. Often police officers
are
also called upon to calm frightened people or to assist someone who has
been
wronged. They may give aid to motorists whose cars have broken down or
who
have been in accident.

3. Concluding sentence:- the concluding sentence summarizes the

information presented by the supporting sentences by restating the main
idea rather than merely repeating it.

There are three reasons why Canada is one of the best countries in the
world. First, Canada has an excellent health care system. All Canadians have
access to medical services at a reasonable price. Second, Canada has a high
standard of education. Students are taught by well–trained teachers and are
encouraged to continue studying at university. Finally, Canada’s cites are
clean and efficiently managed. Canadian cities have many parks and lots of
space for people to live. As a result Canada is a desirable place to live.

Write a concluding sentence for the following paragraph

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Freddie is very shy. At parties he sits in a corner by himself all night. When
he is in a crowd, you would never notice him. When you talk to him, he looks
at the ground and stammers out one-word replies. He never speaks in class,
and I've never seen him talk to a
girl. ...................................................................................................................
..............................
4. Positions of Topic Sentences:-
Position(s) of topic sentence(s) in a paragraph can be:
a. the beginning of the paragraph
b. the middle of the paragraph
c. the end of the paragraph
d. the beginning and the end of the paragraph

Identify the topic sentence

1. In Arab countries, where women do not have equal rights, men commonly
cut in front of women at ticket window. In Britain and the United States,
where “first come, first served” is almost an obsession, many businesses
have customers take numbers to ensure that “first come’ is really “first
served.” By contrast, in southern Europe, where people don’t like businesses
regulating their behavior, lines are disorderly, with lots of pushing and
shoving for the best position; the strongest or most aggressive win.
Anthropologists who study line-forming behavior have concluded that the
way people wait in line reflects cultural values about fairness.

2. There were a variety of reasons why people said they went to football
games. Some of the fans said they went to games because they felt it would
help their team to win the series. Others considered going to foot ball games
more exciting than watching them on TV. A few felt that purchasing tickets
to football games would ensure the financial success of the game and, thus,
its continuance. And a very small number explained that going to football
games was strictly a social occasion.

3. For many years, I suffered from severe anxiety every time I took an exam.
Hours before the exam, my heart would begin pounding, my legs would
shake, and sometimes I would become physically unable to move. Last year,
I was referred to a specialist and finally found a way to control my anxiety—
breathing exercises. It seems so simple, but by doing just a few breathing
exercises a couple of hours before an exam, I gradually got my anxiety under
control. The exercises help slow my heart rate and make me feel less

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anxious. Better yet, they require no pills, no equipment, and very little time.
It’s amazing how just breathing correctly has helped me learn to manage my
anxiety symptoms.

4. The weather in March was unpredictable. One day there was heavy
ground fog, and the next day was clear. It rained for a few days and cleared
up and then it rained again. One day the temperature ranged from 45
degrees to 75 degrees, and the next day the temperature stayed around 55
degrees all day long. It is difficult to plan activities or know what to wear in
March weather.

NOTE:- Topic sentences are not the only way to organize a

paragraph, and not all paragraphs need a topic sentence. For
example, paragraphs that describe, narrate, or detail the steps in
an experiment do not usually need topic sentences. Topic sentences
are useful, however, in paragraphs that analyze and argue. Topic
sentences are particularly useful for writers who have difficulty developing
focused, unified paragraphs.

5. Principles of Paragraph Construction

A. Unity:- Here is an example of a unified paragraph. The first
sentence expresses the main point of the paragraph and the rest of the
sentences relate to the main
point.

1. Your sister is an attractive woman. Her large, dark eyes are beautiful.
Her complexion is flawless, and she has a lovely big smile. Her long, black
hair is full and shiny. She is tall and slender, and her every movement is
graceful. She also dresses stylishly, and her assortment of passant skirts
and loose- fitting blouses look great on her.

Examples of a paragraph that is not unified:

1. When I was growing up, one of the places I enjoyed most was the cherry
tree in
the back yard. Behind the yard were an alley and then more houses. Every
summer when the cherries began to ripen, I used to spend hours high in the
tree, picking and eating the sweet, sun-warmed cherries. My mother always
worried about my falling out of the tree, but I never did. But I had some
competition for the cherries- flocks of birds that enjoyed them as much as I

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did and would perch all over the tree, devouring the fruit whenever I wasn’t
there. I used to wonder why the grown-ups never ate any of the cherries; but
actually when the birds and I had finished, there weren’t many left.

2. The dormitory rooms were unusually large. They were sixteen - foot - high
ceilings added to the feeling of spaciousness, as did the light - colored walls
and
the mirrored closet doors. There was space in the rooms for two double beds,
dressers, a console television, and a sofa and chair. The cupboard space was
small and cramped. They looked twice the size of your average dormitory
rooms.

Exercise 1
Circle the letter of one sentence in each group that is not clearly related to
the
topic for that group of sentences.
1. Topic: I am sick of eating 'Ambasha'
a. I've been eating 'Ambasha' twice a day all semesters.
b. It is starting to taste like dog food
c. I love Injera very much.
d. I'm getting fat from eating 'Ambasha'.
e. I get a stomachache just thinking about eating another 'Ambasha'

2. Topic: The baby isn't hungry this morning.

a. She keeps spitting out her food.
b. She keeps playing with her food.
c. She turns her head when I try to feed her
d. Her stomach looks stuffed.
e. She loves rice pudding for lunch.

Exercise:-
Each of the following paragraph topics is followed by two sentences
that relate to the topic. Add two more sentences of your own that are
also related to the topic, and hence, would make a unified paragraph.

1. Topic: Aberash enjoys living away from home.

a. She is glad to be closer to the University.
b. She likes being away from the younger brothers
c._______________________________________
d. _______________________________________

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2. Topic: It's difficult going to school and working at the same time.
a. There is no time for any social life.
b. It is easy to get tired and run - down
c.......................................................................................
d................................................................................

B. Coherence:- A paragraph is said to have coherence when its sentences

are linked (woven together ) or have natural flow of ideas. You can achieve
coherence in your paragraph by using cohesive devices and logical order of
ideas.

Cohesive Devices:-
1. Pronouns: since each pronoun must refer to an antecedent, a pronoun
and its antecedent form a link between sentences.

Example:- Patients must fast for twelve hours before the test. They should
also avoid red meats for seventy-two hours before coming in.

2. Repetition: Direct repetition of a key word or expression or substituting a

pronoun for a noun can link sentences in a paragraph.

Example:- Exposure to too much sun can damage the skin. This damage is
irreversible and can result in skin cancer.

3. Transitional markers: transitional terms make a paragraph coherent by

relating ideas. The most common markers are the simple connectives like
and, or but, for, etc.

Sequencing:- the logical order of ideas

There are several possible orders for sequencing:

A. Time order (Chronological sequencing)

Example:-
Sunday was a long day. I had to get up at 5:00 am to attend an Easter
sunrise

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service .Then I had duties at the church the rest of the morning. In the
afternoon, I visited the Manor Rest Home and talked to shut–ins who seldom
has visitors. Then I went to my aunt’s for dinner and played cards with Uncle
Herman until about 9:00 pm. Then I drove up in to the hills with my family for
a special Easter midnight chapel service in the pines. We stayed in a
mountain
cabin with ten other people that night and did not get to sleep until after
2:00 a
m. I was exhausted after twenty-one hours of activity.

Connecting words – connecting through time. First, Second, Third, Next,

Then, Later on, Afterward Years ago, Earlier, Before ,Suddenly, Now,
Sometime later, Once, Often, Yesterday ,Today, Tomorrow, In the past,
Thereafter, In the first place In the next place etc.
B. Spatial sequencing

Example:-
As you enter the library, you are greeted by paintings on each side of the
door. The painting on the right is of the town’s high school, and on the left
is a watercolor of the town’s city hall. There are several other works of art in
the main body of the building. As you face the archway on the left, you
discover pieces of pottery enclosed in a glass case. A ceiling mural appears
over the archway, and on the right a wall hanging has been hung. The
entire library is filled with works of art.

Expressions which help to answer the details question “where?” such as:
Over On top (of) Under On bottom (of) In front of Along side (of) Behind
Outside (of) Near Inside (of) Far

C. Generality sequencing,
1. Specific-to-General:- If a paragraph begins with specific details
involving many layers of details and examples and if it is closed with a
general statement at the end, it is reasonable to say that the paragraph is
organized from specific-to-general.

Example:-
They should be good listeners. They should also be good talkers, since they
have to sum up and restate what both sides say. They have to promise to
keep private what is said at a mediation session. They also need to be able

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to encourage others to open up and say what is on their minds. These are
the good qualities of good mediators.
2. General-to-Specific: When writing about a topic that involves many layers
of details, you can start the paragraph with a general statement, followed by
supporting details and examples that become more and more specific.

Example:-
Dreams are common events during sleep. Dreams occur during rapid
eye movement sleep. During these rapid eye movement sessions, the body
is paralyzed to prevent harm coming to the sleeping person from
unconscious muscle movements that occur in response to the images in the
dream. Rapid eye movement sessions sleep takes place about every 90
minutes.

D. Sequence in importance: Use this sequence when you want to give

several details or examples and wish to start your paragraph with the most
important or more interesting ones. this attracts the attention of readers.

Example: Our department needs lots of fixing-up. Though it may be difficult

to fix-up all of them at the same time, we have got to fix the leaky roof first
before the September rains come. Next, we need to patch the big holes in
the bed room walls and then strip the peeling paint off the walls. Then we
can repaint the apartment. After the walls are painted, we can work on
replacing the linoleum squares in the kitchen that are loose or cracked.
Later, the living room carpet needs shampooing, and we should replace that
old swaybacked sofa. Then, we won't be embarrassed to have company
over once in a while.

C. Completeness:
A good paragraph is fully developed. Here are the main qualities of a
welldeveloped paragraph.
 It provides enough supporting points for the main idea expressed in the
topic sentence to be clearly understood.
 It provides enough specific details and examples to be interesting and
informative.
t does not leave the readers with unanswered questions that could be
cleared up with a little more detail or an additional example or two.
 It concludes with a sentence that clearly" wraps up" the paragraph and
relates to the topic sentence in some manner.

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D. Variety: Effective writers have the ability to use a variety of sentence
structures to express their thoughts. Short, simple sentences and longer,
more complex sentences can work together to achieve variety that enhances
meaning

Example of a sentence that lacks variety:

I enjoy Christmas very much. I like shopping. I like decorating the tree. I
like giving presents. I enjoy eating on Christmas Day. I enjoy eating turkey.
I like a lot of dressing. I like pumpkin pie. I also like being with the family. I
like seeing my grandmother. I like seeing my nieces.

6. Techniques of paragraph development (types of paragraphs): The

common methods of paragraph development are:

A. EXPOSITORY
B. DESCRIPTIVE,
C. NARRATIVE AND
D. ARGUMENTATIVE

A. EXPOSITORY PARAGRAPHS: is a paragraph that explains, analyzes a

topic giving you definition, information, an explanation, facts, or a
illustration (exemplification) etc. there are various types of expository
paragraphs:-
 Definition
 Exemplification
 Classification
 Cause
 Effect
 Cause-effect
 Comparison
 Contrast
 Comparison-contrast

1. Definition
Example: 1
Empathy is the ability to completely understand another person’s point of
view. It is a great asset in police work. By practicing empathy, police officers
can avoid being closed- minded. It will help them to see all sides of a traffic
accident or a criminal incident. Empathy eliminates bias and, instead,
introduces tolerance, understanding and sympathetic human relations.

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2. Exemplification: An example paragraph is one that uses specific
examples to illustrate a point made in the writing. An example can be a fact,
a historical example, a statistic, an event or a behavior. Examples are
often introduced by transitions like the following: for example, to illustrate,
for instance, such as, as an illustration, including etc.
Your examples should have relevance, accuracy and sufficient details

Example:
Computer software programs come in a variety of types, each offering
different functions to users. The programs most often used are word
processors. These programs can produce letters, reports, articles,
announcements as well as other documents. Another kind of computer
program is the database, which allows the users to sort all kinds of
information in a variety of ways. You might put on a database a library
catalog, all the business products in inventory, or all the names and
addresses of students attending a school. Another kind of program is the
communications program, which allows the user to connect to the Internet
and to send electronic mail to others. If you can access the Internet, you can
search
thousands of databases, files, and Web sites for information. You can access
university libraries, company Web sites, government information agencies.
The computer offers manykinds of programs for users, each with a distinct
function or benefit to the users.

3. Comparison and/or Contrast

A writer may want to discuss similarities only, or differences only, or both
similarities and differences within a single paragraph. The paragraph is
called a comparison paragraph when it describes similarities and it is called a
contrast paragraph when it describes differences, and compare contrast
when it describes both.

Sample Comparison Paragraph (point to point comparison)

My hometown and my college town have several things in common. First,
both are small rural communities. For example, my hometown, Gridlock, has
a population of onlyabout10,000 people. Similarly, my college town,
subnormal, consists of about 11,000localresidents. This population swells to
15,000 people when the college students are attending classes. A second
way in which these two towns are similar is that they are both located in
rural areas. Gridlock is surrounded by many acres of farmland which is

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devoted mainly to growing corn and soybeans. In the same way, Subnormal
lies in the center of farm land which is used to raise hogs and cattle…

Sample Comparison Paragraph (subject to subject comparison)

My home town and my college town have several things in common. My
hometown and my college town have several things in common. First, my
hometown, Gridlock, is a small town. It has a population of only about
10,000 people. Located in a rural area, Gridlock is surrounded by many
acres of farmland which are devoted mainly to growing corn and soybeans.
Gridlock also contains a college campus, Neutron College, which is famous
for its Agricultural Economics program as well as for its annual Corn
Watching Festival. As for my college town, it is too small, having a population
of about 11,000 local residents, which swells to 15,000….

transitional words used are:- like, alike, resembles, similarities, as…..,

just like, likewise, also, same …. , too, just as, equally, similarly, similar,
both etc.

Organizing Contrast Paragraph

As mentioned above, a contrast paragraph discusses the differences
between (at least) two things.

Example:
Even though Arizona and Rhode Island are both states of the U.S., they are
strikingly different in many ways. For example, the physical size of each
state is different. Arizona is large, having area of 114,000 square miles,
where as Rhode Island is only about a tenth the size, having an area of only
1, 214 square miles. Another difference is in the size of the population of
each state. Arizona has about four million people living in it, but Rhode Island
has less than one million. The two states also differs in the lands of natural
environments that each has. For example, Arizona is a very dry state,
consisting of large desert areas that do not receive much rainfall every year.
However, Rhode Island is located in a temperate zone and receives an
average of 44 inches of rain per year. In addition, while Arizona is a
landlocked state and thus has no seashore, Rhode Island lies on the Atlantic
Ocean and does have a significant coastline.

Here are some common transitions showing contrast: however, on the other
hand, different, in contrast, as opposed to, differently, instead, unlike, differs

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4. Classification
Classification is the process of putting a large number of items or behaviors
into smaller, well-defined groups.
Example:-
People looking to lose weight have a few options: exercise, diet, weight loss
pills, or surgery. Exercising involves going to a gym, working out at home, or
joining some sort of class or sports team. Dieting often involves strict
management of what one eats in order to lose, gain or maintain weight.
Weight loss pills can help individuals who have difficulty losing weight by
reducing appetite, reducing fat absorption or increasing fat burning. A person
can lose weight by combining the pills with other methods such as diet or
exercise. Individuals who are severely overweight can talk to a doctor about
having surgery to help them to lose the weight that they need.

5. Cause and Effect

A paragraph could be a "cause paragraph" which details cause
(reason); or it could be "effeect paragraph" which details effect
(result) or cause- effect paragraph" detailing both cause and effect

Example of Cause Paragraph:

These days, the spread of deserts across the world is increasing in alarming
rate.
There are many reasons for this occurrence. First, the clearing of vegetation
cover to get new land for farming resulted in rapid loss of forests. This
depletion
of forests degraded wild life and soil. Second, the rapid growth of population
made peoples to push cultivation into areas that were entirely unsuitable for
agriculture. These activities of man on highly sensitive and delicately
balanced
ecosystem led to a progressive decline in the vegetation cover. Third, the
pastoral
nomads are the other protagonists in the tragedy for the fact that far more
animals are building up than the system can maintain, i.e., the number of
animals
is increasing beyond the potential of land. Finally, the progressive
destruction of
the third world’s stock of trees for the existing demand for firewood and
timber as

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building material is accelerating soil erosion and reducing its capacity to feed
and employ people. If forests continue to be depleted in such ways, it is
inevitable
that the problem aggravates and our globe will be affected by desertification
much more higher than the present.

Example of Effect Paragraph:

The last night storm caused a great damage. The winds blew up to
ninety four miles an hour and it rained very hard. Eucalyptus trees by the
river blew over, and
the trees hit the power lines and blacked out the areas for five hours. Before
morning, as the river overflowed its banks, homes were flooded, roofs caved
in, and
thousands of families living nearby were forced to flee their homes with
whatever
belongings they could gather. Downtown, the main street was flooded; the
cars
were left stranded in the bumper-deep water, and even some automobiles
floated
over the streets.

B. DESCRIPTIVE PARAGRAPH: The primary purpose of descriptive

writing is to describe a person, place or thing in such a way that a picture is
formed in the reader's mind through vivid language and descriptions of
something that appeal to our five senses (sensory words).

1. Describing People: As shown earlier, descriptive paragraphs are often used to

describe what a person looks and acts like. Read this example descriptive
paragraph. (Notice how the descriptive words are used.)Here is an example of a
descriptive paragraph:

I am forty years old, rather tall and I have blue eyes and short black hair. I wear
casual
clothes as I teach students in a relaxed atmosphere. I enjoy my job because I get to
meet and help so many different people from all over the world. During my spare
time, I like playing tennis which I play at least three times a week. I also love
listening to classical music and I must admit that I spend a lot of money on buying
new CDs! I live in a pretty seaside town on the Italian coast. I enjoy eating great
Italian food and laughing with the likable people who live here.
2. Describing Places: As a writer, you have to observe a scene around you with
great care; and you have to present it faithfully so readers know exactly what you

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see. Selecting some places filled with colors, noises and people in the midst of
actions, you will present a scene that is clear and vivid for any reader to appreciate.

Example:-
My bedroom is very cozy. It is a small room with thick carpeting and light blue
walls. Below the north window is my double bed covered with an imitation of
leopard skin bedspread. To the left of the bed against the wall is a nightstand with
a reading lamp, an alarm clock, and a portable radio. At the foot of the bed is a
wooden stand holding my black-and-white TV. Behind the wooden stand and in
front of the closet are three comfortable arm chairs. On the east and west walls
posters of famous historical and geographical sites are plastered. The holy cross
bearing the crucifixion of Christ is hung to the wall alongside the portrait of Virgin
Mary embracing infant Christ...

C. NARRATIVE PARAGRAPH: Narrative paragraph tells a story or an event

through chronological order.

Example:-
Sunday was a long day. I had to get up at 5:00 am to attend an Easter
sunrise
service .Then I had duties at the church the rest of the morning. In the
afternoon, I visited the Manor Rest Home and talked to shut–ins who seldom
has visitors. Then I went to my aunt’s for dinner and played cards with Uncle
Herman until about 9:00 pm. Then I drove up in to the hills with my family for
a special Easter midnight chapel service in the pines. We stayed in a
mountain
cabin with ten other people that night and did not get to sleep until after
2:00 a
m. I was exhausted after twenty-one hours of activity.

D. ARGUMENTATIVE PARAGRAPH:
An argument paragraph presents a point of view or opinion or claim and provides
evidence or facts to support the point of view taken. An argument is an opinion
supported by facts or evidence to persuade someone . one paragraph will just
include one view point. argumentative paragraph normally consists of a
COUNTERARGUMENT: A COUNTERARGUMENT is where you
acknowledge or introduce the opposing arguments or anticipate
your readers' argument against your CLAIM and then refute it with a
REBUTTAL to explain why their argument is flawed and incorrect.

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 Example:-

6. STEPS FOR WRITING EFFECTIVE PARAGRAPH

1. Think of a topic and write the Introductory sentence or the topic
sentence.
 The topic sentence not only introduces the topic, but it also expresses
your claim /opinion about it. if the topic sentence is written in the
opening, you will attract your reader
 Use active voice to write topic sentence

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2. Brainstorm to find the best supporting ideas, examples and
details that support your claim in the topic sentence; the best
supporting ideas are the ones about which you have some knowledge. If you
do not know about them, you cannot do a good job writing about them.
3. Use cohesive devices and the appropriate sequencing of ideas to
maintain the paragraph's coherence.
4. Revise your sentences for sentence variety, spelling and
grammar, and make sure that your paragraph is concise.
5. Write concluding summary sentence either by restating the topic
sentence or summarizing the your supporting ideas

Example
a. topic : Rural areas of Ethiopia
b. topic sentence : Rural areas in Ethiopia have four problems.
c. what are these four problems?

The answer to this question is used for writing the details.

Point 1- poverty
Point 2- lack of education
Point 3- poor medical care
point 4-...........................

Activity In the above example, a topic sentence with possible details is

given. Write a complete paragraph by writing complete sentences of the
details. You may start with the topic sentence followed by details like this:

Rural areas in Ethiopia have three problems. One of these is poverty.

It………...............................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
.......................

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