Academic Writing: Paragraph Structure

1
Academic Writing
Paragraph Structure
Expository writing "exposes" information by explaining and analyzing. A typical
expository paragraph starts with a controlling idea or claim, which it then explains,
develops, or supports with evidence. It is important to keep the sentences in your
paragraph focussed on the main idea. Paragraph sprawl occurs when digressions are
introduced into an otherwise focused and unified discussion. Digressions and deviations
often come in the form of irrelevant details or shifts in focus.
Shift in Focus
The paragraph in Task 1 below suffers from incoherence because some of the
sentences it contains are not directly related to the main ideas being discussed. Which
sentences are irrelevant? Which words in the topic sentence are KEY WORDS?
An example has been done for you.
EXAMPLE:
Different students use a variety of strategies when setting about writing their academic
assignments. Some students, for example, dash off an entire and effective essay with
minimal editing. Writing reports is more difficult than writing essays. On the other hand,
some people make very good use of the practical strategy of developing a workable
plan, executing that plan, and then minimally editing what they have written. My friend
Daisuke is able to do that. With or without a plan, there are yet other students who
develop their essays by starting at the beginning, and polishing each 'chunk' of text (a
sentence or a paragraph) before moving onto the next.
Task 1
(1) Across the continent of Europe there are shortages of skilled workers. (2) For
example, there are too few qualified computer engineers which has led to wages
spiralling in that industry and caused governments to intervene. (3) America has a
similar shortage. (4) In Germany the situation has got so bad that the government
recently announced a special immigration programme for 30,000 computer engineers
from India. (5) The Danes have problems too. (6) About 9,000 bricklayers and masons
will have retired by the end of this decade, but fewer than half that number will have
completed their apprenticeships and replaced them. (7) Denmark was one of the few
members of the EU to vote against a single currency. (8) France on the other hand lacks
workers in activities that range from agriculture to hotel-keeping. (9) Romano Prodi,
president of the European Commission, argued recently that the EU urgently needs to
ease restrictions on labour mobility particularly in the technology sector, in order to deal
with this problem. (10) Prodi has been in post for two years.
Adapted from University of East London Skillzone website
http://www.uel.ac.uk/skillzone/resourses/docs/resourc/wrkshops/Bu109/workshop3/workshop3/index.htm







Academic Writing: Paragraph Structure
2
Now read the following paragraphs. Which do you find more effectively
focused and unified? How does the writer achieve this?
1
It is a fact that capital punishment is not a deterrent to crime.
2
Statistics show that in
states with capital punishment, murder rates are the same or almost the same as in
states without capital punishment.
3
It is also true that it is more expensive to put a
person on death row than in life imprisonment because of the costs of maximum
security.
4
Unfortunately, capital punishment has been used unjustly.
5
Statistics show that
every execution is of a man and that nine out of ten are black.
6
So prejudice shows right
through.
1
The punishment of criminals has always been a problem for society.
2
Citizens have had
to decide whether offenders such as first-degree murderers should be killed in a gas
chamber, imprisoned for life, or rehabilitated and given a second chance in society.
3
Many citizens argue that serious criminals should be executed.
4
They believe that killing
criminals will set an example for others and also rid society of a cumbersome burden.
5
Other citizens say that no one has the right to take a life and that capital punishment is
not a deterrent to crime.
6
They believe that society as well as the criminal is responsible
for the crimes and that killing the criminal does not solve the problems of either society
or the criminal.
Topic Sentences
Both these paragraphs start out well with a topic sentence. A topic sentence is a
sentence whose main idea or claim controls the rest of the paragraph; the body of a
paragraph explains, develops or supports with evidence the topic sentence's main idea
or claim. The topic sentence is usually the first sentence of a paragraph, but not
necessarily. It may come, for example, after a transition sentence; it may even come at
the end of a paragraph.
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 (i.e., writers who
tend to sprawl). Topic sentences help these writers develop a main idea or claim for their
paragraphs, and, perhaps most importantly, they help these writers stay focused and
keep paragraphs manageable.
Adapted from Capital Community College Foundation Website, Hartford Connecticut
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/paragraphs.htm

Now look at the following example. What is the topic sentence here and how do
the other sentences in the paragraph relate to it?

Another problem with the import of Western feminism to India is that feminism relies on the
creation and enforcement of new laws in order to make it work. For example, unless it was illegal
to show favouritism due to sex at work, the culture of discrimination in the Western workplace
would probably still be widespread. However, laws like this can only operate if they are aligned to
cultural norms. As Kishwar states, the best laws will tend to fail if social opinion is contrary to
them. (2003:39). In India this has led to an authoritarian approach to the adoption of feminism
which, because the concepts are so far removed from what is considered culturally acceptable,
have led to often vicious and often arbitrary misuse of legislation by government and police
both organisations which many consider to be to some extent corrupt in India.


Academic Writing: Paragraph Structure
3
Controlling ideas
There are various ways in which a topic sentence can be used to set limits. Here are the
most commonly used methods.
A topic sentence can refer to PLACE, TIME, QUALITY, SIMILARITIES, DIFFERENCES,
LISTS, CAUSES, REASONS and EFFECTS
1. Internet shopping is very popular IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. (PLACE)
2. Internet shopping has become more popular IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS. (TIME)
3. Internet shopping IS VERY EASY. (QUALITY)
4. Internet shopping online and mail order shopping SHARE SOME FEATURES IN
COMMON. (SIMILARITIES)
5. Internet shopping HAS MANY BENEFITS. (A LIST)
6. The growth of internet shopping HAS CHANGED SOME PEOPLE'S
LIFESTYLES. (EFFECT)
7. Internet shopping is still not completely safe FOR SEVERAL REASONS.
(CAUSE)
What information would you expect to follow each of the topic sentences above?
The topic sentences in the paragraphs below have been left out. After reading the
paragraphs carefully, work with a partner to supply an appropriate topic sentence in
each case.
Paragraph (A)
Topic Sentence:

First, with a word processor it is possible to type over a word or words that you want to
change, while with a standard typewriter it is necessary either to erase or use correction
fluid or tape and then type in the corrections. The second advantage is that you can add
words or sentences in the middle of a paragraph and then command the computer to put
your text back in proper paragraph form. When using a standard typewriter, the only way
to add new Information is to retype the entire paragraph. A third benefit of using a
computer to write is that you can move entire paragraphs within longer assignments as a
result of a few key strokes. With a typed text, this can be accomplished only with
scissors and paste, which produces work with a very poor appearance.

Paragraph (B)

Topic Sentence:

For example, a 'sole proprietor' is a business owned by a single person. Newsagents,
corner shops, butchers and bakers are often run in this way. In contrast, a 'partnership' is
owned by more than one individual and can in fact be owned by up to twenty people,
though at least one partner is fully liable for all the debts. Doctors, solicitors, builders and
dentists are frequently run as partnerships. Private joint-stock companies examples of
which would be small breweries, are a third type of business ownership with two or more
partners at least, while public joint-stock companies, ICI, Shell, banks and supermarkets
are a fourth type of business organization within the private sector.
Adapted from University of East London Skillzone website
http://www.uel.ac.uk/skillzone/resourses/docs/resourc/wrkshops/Bu109/workshop3/workshop3/index.htm


Academic Writing: Paragraph Structure
4
Final sentences in a paragraph

The structure of a paragraph often resembles that of an essay. Look at the following
paragraph and see if you can identify the different parts:

Language, as we have seen, enables us to perform a multitude of tasks. It allows us to
communicate ideas as well as to describe dreams and emotions. It also helps us to
organise our world by placing certain structures on the daily business of life through such
things as newspapers, books, diaries and even emails with all their irregular spellings
and grammar. Above all, it enables us to think about the past and the future so that we
can plan the shape of our existence in a meaningful pattern by labelling days of the
week, seasons and, most obvious of all, months and years. These multiple features of
language give it a central place in our activity; they point to language as the key to
human life.

Adapted from Peck and Coyle (2005: 136), Write it Right: a Handbook for Students, Palgrave






Portfolio Task:

Write a paragraph based on one of the following topic sentences:

Unemployment has several important consequences.

Email has a number of advantages over communication by fax.

The world-wide increase in road transport is a serious threat to the natural
environment.

Post-war British society has benefited greatly from multiculturalism.

Physical Education plays an important role in the development of school
children.

Animal communication is far less complex than human language.