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Three fundamental features
1. Three fundamental features
All essays or articles are made up of paragraphs; paragraphs in turn are made up of sentences. That is to say, paragraphs run between sentences and essays in terms of the length of composition. We have learned to make effective sentences in the preceding chapter. In this chapter we shall learn to write paragraphs.
Although paragraphs are made up of sentences, single, correct, and effective sentences put together do not necessarily make an effective paragraph. Let us read the following sample and see what features make an effective paragraph.
Sample 1
The Irish countryside is very beautiful.
[1]There is a popular Irish song which says that there are 100 different shades of green in the Irish landscape, and this is no exaggeration.
[2] Thanks to generous rainfall, much of the countryside is covered in rich green vegetation, which is why Ireland is also known as the Emerald Isle.
[3]It also has a varied landscape with dramatic mountains, rocky coastlines and rolling hills.
[4]
[Analysis]
If we read the paragraph carefully, we shall find that the whole paragraph talks about one thing or one topic: the beauty of the Irish countryside. All the four sentences in it are related to this central idea, and to nothing else. This, therefore, is our first finding: the paragraph has one, and only one, central idea, which is expressed in the first sentence The Irish countryside is very beautiful.That first sentence concerning the topic of the paragraph is usually called the topic sentence.
After the topic sentence [1], sentences [2], [3], and [4]give a few facts or descriptions to show how beautiful the Irish countryside is: [2] cites the lyrics of a song emphasizing the many different shades of green in Ireland,[3] gives the reason why Ireland is rich in green, and [4] adds some more information about the Irish landscape. All information given in these three sentences impresses the reader with the central idea that the Irish countryside is very beautiful. This is the second thing we have noticed in the paragraph.
There is in [1] the phrase the Irish countryside, in [2] the Irish landscape, in [3] much of the countryside and Ireland, and in[4] It also has a varied landscape. These words keep reminding the reader that the Irish countryside is being talked about. Besides, the pronoun this in [2] refers back to the lyrics of the popular Irish song, while it in [4] to the country of Ireland mentioned in [3]. All these devices help to connect the four sentences and make the paragraph coherent. So good connection between sentences is the third feature of an effective paragraph.
Thus we can say that an effective paragraph generally has three fundamental features: a central idea, supporting evidence, and close connection between the sentences.