WEEK 7- 12 LECTURE: ENGLISH 123 COMPOSITION

I.

PARAGRAPH
1. Definition
A sentence or group of sentences organized to develop an idea about the topic.
2. Structure
2.1 Topic statement/ sentence sentence that introduces or expresses the central
thought or gist of a paragraph as a composition by itself or part of much longer
composition.
2.1.1

Can either be:

2.1.1.1 Expressed is directly present as part of the paragraph either at
the: beginning, middle, or end.
2.1.1.2 Implied is indirectly present in the paragraph, indirectly because
it has to be deduced from the paragraph itself.

2.2 Supporting statement /sentences sentences that help or contribute to the

development of the central thought in the topic sentence.
2.3 Concluding statement sentences sentences that end such as re-statement,
decision, judgement, result/outcome, or completion to the central thought.
EXAMPLE, BOARDWORK, GROUPWORK/SEATWORK
3. Characteristic
3.1 Unity the oneness of the idea in a paragraph or any other type of composition.
To achieve this:
3.1.1 Determine the idea you want to develop.
3.1.2 Express this idea into a topic sentence that can be developed according to
purpose.
3.1.3 Support the idea/topic sentence with sentences that still develop the idea.
EXAMPLE, BOARDWORK, GROUPWORK/SEATWORK
3.2 Coherence the holding together of all sentences or statements in the paragraph.
On a sentence level, it is the agreement of subject and the predicate while on a
paragraph level, it is the appropriate flow of the sentences in a paragraph.
To achieve this:
3.2.1 Use effective method of development in producing support sentences
3.2.2 Organize the sentences/paragraph from beginning to end with the use
effective pattern of organization

3.2.3

Use of effective transitional devices.

EXAMPLE, BOARDWORK, GROUPWORK

3.3 Emphasis the focus of the sentences in the subject.
To achieve this:
3.3.1 maintain the subject
3.3.2 give each subject equal play up (if more than one subject)
EXAMPLE, BOARDWORK, GROUPWORK
4. Order/Arrangement/Pattern of Organization
4.1 Time/Chronological Order the sequencing of information according to time
thereby useful for: Explanations of Events (history, incidents) and Narrations of
stories.
4.2 Space/Spatial Order the natural sequencing of information thereby useful for:
Descriptions of Things, Persons, Places , Analysis by Partition
4.3 Reason/Logical Order the sequencing of information from General to Specific,
Specific to General, Climactic Order,
5. Use of Transitional Devices paves the way for coherence in a paragraph.
Transitional Devices are words or expressions that slide or sequence idea/s from one
sentence to another within a paragraph.
5.1 For Narration: First, Second, Third... before, beforehand, formerly, afterwards, then,
subsequently, in the past, at present, in the future, in the beginning, in the course of
time, as time goes by, in the meantime, for a while, in a few seconds, prior to,
previously, to begin with, shortly after.
5.2 For Exposition of:
5.2.1 PROCESS: first, second..., one, two,.., step one, step two..., start, then, next,
finally.
5.2.2 ENUMERATION: first, second..., firstly, secondly,... one, two, ..., ... also, and,
in addition.
5.2.3 PARTITION: first, second,..., one, two,... from atop, to the middle, to the
bottom, from outside, to inside...
5.2.4 CLASSIFICATION: according to , on the basis of, all together, individually,
5.2.5 CAUSE & EFFECT: thus, hence, therefore, so, consequently, naturally,
logically, for this reason, because of, due to, since.
5.2.6 COMPARIING: similarly, likewise, the same as, in like manner, in the same
manner, as important as, as good as.

5.2.7

5.2.8

CONTRASTING: however, but, nevertheless, yet, even though, despite, on

the contrary, while, conversely, different from, than, greater than, purer than,
more than.
DEFINING: also, too, furthermore, moreover, in terms of, for example, for
instance

5.3 For Description: from the top... to the bottom, from the left... to the right, toward,
backward, in front, at the back, eastward, eastbound, along, through, as far as,
diagonal to, perpendicular to, parallel to, to the edge of, in the middle of, interior of.
Etc.
5.4 For Persuasion&/ Argumentation:
6. Use of Effective Beginning & Ending
6.1 Striking Statement Women are from Venus, Men from Mars
6.2 Question What is an Educated Man?
6.3 Quotation/Sayings Reading makes a full man, conference a ready man, writing
and exact man Francis Bacon
6.4 If opening If you feel you have had enough of too much, you should feel lucky
as well.
6.5 Split Opening When an artist listens... His heart thinks... His hand glows... His
paintings speak...
6.6 Mild Command Come and see the difference
II. PARAGRAPH DEVELOPMENT:
1. Description is a mental creation of picture or image done through affective senses
2. Narration is a story telling which occurs with time
3. Exposition is explanations of processes, enumerations, partitions, classifications,
causes & effects, comparisons & contrasts, and definitions.
4. Persuasion&/ Argumentation III. ESSAY is an expository form of writing. It can be:
1. Formal - impersonal
1.1 expository

1.2 descriptive
1.3 narrative
1.4 persuasive &/argumentative
2. Informal - personal

VI. WRITING ABOUT LITERATURE:

1. Movie Review is a critical analysis of a motion picture
Movie is a motion picture of prose fictional narrative. It is a contemporary
form of literature and a modern trend for developing communication skill in
viewing.
Criticism is an explanation of bringing out the pros and cons, advantages and
disadvantages, or strong/positive and weak/negative, points of a particular thing, person,
event, etc.
Analysis is an explanation of the definitions, classifications, descriptions, parts,
elements, or characteristics of a whole composition.
2. Journal is a daily record of happenings similar to a diary.
3. Autobiography is the story of ones own life written by oneself.