PARAGRAPH WRITING: TYPES AND TECHNIQUES:Putting on Our Play

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Journalistic Writing MCM310

LECTURE 21

PARAGRAPH WRITING: TYPES AND TECHNIQUES

TIME ORDER PARAGRAPHS

Example 1

My European Holiday

Last year I took a month-long trip to Europe. First, I went to London. I stayed there for two

weeks. I saw many historical places and went to several shows. After London, I flew to Paris, where I went

shopping and visited the Louvre. I stayed in Paris for a week. Then I went to Rome by train. In Rome I saw

the Colosseum, the Pantheon, and Vatican City. After a week in Rome, I flew home. It was an educational and

enjoyable trip.

STRUCTURE:

1. Topic sentence:

2. Body:

went to London

went to Paris

went to Rome

returned home

3. Conclusion

Example 2

Putting on Our Play

Last weekend we put on our annual drama club play. It was a great success, but it was also hard work.

We began planning two months ago. First, we selected the play. Next, a director was chosen. After that, we

began casting the play. The next step was to find people to design and make the costumes and sets. All this

while, we were rehearsing. Finally, two weeks ago, we held a dress rehearsal, and, at last, we felt we were ready

for opening night. Because of all our hard work and careful preparations, the play was a big hit.

Structural analysis:

Central idea:

Body:

Time words

what happened

First

selected the play

director was chosen

After that

began casting the play

The next

found costume and set designers

All this while

rehearsing

Finally

dress rehearsal

At last

ready for opening night

Conclusion:

Time Order Paragraphs: Practice

Prepare a paragraph in which you tell the story pf a book you have read or a movie you have seen.

SPATIAL ORDER PARAGRAPHS: Used to describe spaces.

Example 1

A Comfortable Place

My favorite room is my living room. It's rectangular with the door on the left side of the south wall. In the wall

opposite the door is a picture window. Below the window is a sofa. A rectangular coffee table is in front of the

Journalistic Writing MCM310

sofa. Facing the sofa are two armchairs. An abstract painting is on the west wall. Along the east wall you will

see a long cabinet with a vase of flowers on it. To the right of the cabinet is a small table with a telephone on it.

This bright and uncluttered room is my favorite place to relax.

Location words:

Left and right; Front and back; Centre; East and West; North and South; Next to; Above; Below; Behind; In

front; Top etc.

Spatial Order Paragraphs: Practice

Picture in your mind a place that you know very well. Now write an outline of a paragraph describing that place

without drawing a diagram first.

MULTI-PARAGRAPH COMPOSITION:

Composed of more than one paragraph

Example 1

My Three Closest Friends

Like everyone else, I know all kinds of people and I'm friendly with most of them. Among all the people I've

gotten to know, I have several very close friends.

First I'll introduce you to my friend William. We've known one another since the first grade, when he moved

in next door and was put in my class. We share secrets and many activities, like playing baseball on the same

team. In William, I have a friend with whom I can relax and be myself.

Another important person to me is Janet. Janet is three years older than I, and I think of her as a big sister.

Janet and I used to ride the same bus to school, and sometimes she and I would sit together. In all the years

I've known her, Janet has given me much useful advice and encouragement, particularly about school. Janet is

one friend I know I can always depend on during good times and bad times.

The third person I think is special is Tom. Tom and I are taking a photography class now, and we spend at

least two evenings a week together. He's got a great eye for composition and a terrific sense of humor, and we

have a lot of fun. Tom's a great friend to have around when I'm feeling sad.

William, Janet, and Tom--each of them is important to me in a different way. I feel lucky to have such good

friends.

Structure:

Introduction

Central Idea

Body

First Paragraph

Central idea

Body

Conclusion

Second Paragraph

Central idea

Body

Conclusion

Third Paragraph

Central idea

Body

Conclusion

Central idea

CONTRASTIVE COMPOSITIONS:

Two Cities

Boston and San Francisco are two of the most visited American cities. Each has its own "personality"

Journalistic Writing MCM310

and character, which are often appreciated by people who live elsewhere.

Boston has the ethnic "flavor" typical of many cities in the East. This gives Boston the homey character

of a city of neighborhoods. One ethnic group whose presence is felt is the Irish, who have become important

in the politics of the city and state, of whom President John F. Kennedy is an example. The many universities

in and around the city make Boston a leading center for higher education. Boston is also a high-tech center,

with many white-collar workers in fields related to the computer industry. Its homey and high-tech sides

make Boston a diverse city.

San Francisco lies on the West Coast, a continent away from Boston. Like Boston, it has ethnic areas,

including the world-famous Chinatown. Unlike Boston, however, the city did not follow the typical pattern of

growing through a steady influx of immigrants. San Francisco grew dramatically as a result of being near the

gold fields, which were the goal of the famous gold rush of 1849. Yet many visitors feel San Francisco is a big

city that has kept a small-city feel. Some physical features help make San Francisco unique among American

cities. It is built on steep hills, which give many dramatic views. Another famous area of the city that provides a

lovely panorama is the wharf, where one can shop or dine on a wide variety of fish. A center of finance in the

western United States, San Francisco also boasts a rich cultural life. It was the birthplace of many avant-garde

movements, from the Beatniks of the 1950s and the Flower Children of the 1960s to the sexual liberation

movements of the 1970s and 1980s. San Francisco always seems to be ahead of its time.

These cities show the diversity of American urban areas. They prove the variety possible within and

between cities.

Structure:

· Para 1: Topic sentence

Para 2 and 3: Comparison between Boston and San Francisco

Para 3: Conclusion

Contrastive Compositions: Practice

Now write a contrastive composition that shows the difference between any two people or things you would

like to compare.

CAUSE & EFFECT COMPOSITIONS:

Choosing My Career

My decision to become a nurse was based on several well-thought- out reasons. Some of my reasons

had to do with personal goals. Other reasons had to do with my view of society and where I want to fit into

society.

During my last year in high school, I had several long conversations with my parents about what to do

after I graduated. Through these talks, I was able to clarify my career goals. I wanted a job with good pay and

good status. These were not my only goals. I also wanted a job that would help people in a practical way, a job

that could make people's lives better.

Taking these reasons into consideration, I was able to narrow down my choices to two jobs. The first

was teaching. I have always liked children, and I like teaching people to do things. A teacher also makes a

decent living and gets a fair amount of respect if he or she does her job well. I would also be able to help

people as a teacher. The second choice was nursing. Nursing met all my criteria for a job. In addition, it is a job

I could continue to do periodically or part-time if I decided to have children. Finally, I decided on nursing

as a career since it offered me a good-paying, respected position with a lot of flexibility.

I'm now in my last year of nursing school, and I'm looking forward to starting my professional life. I

feel certain I made the right choice.

Cause & Effect Compositions: Structure

1. Introduction:

2. Body:

Journalistic Writing MCM310

Cause

Introduction

Body

Conclusion

Effect

Introduction

Body

Conclusion

3. Conclusion

Cause & Effect Compositions: Practice

Now outline your cause and effect composition on one of the following themes.

The steps you took or will take in choosing a place to live

The steps you took or will take in choosing a place to work

The steps you took or will take in making any complicated decision

Source: Connor. Express Yourself in Written English. Illinois: NTC. 1990

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