ФЕДЕРАЛЬНОЕ АГЕНТСТВО ПО ОБРАЗОВАНИЮ

ГОСУДАРСТВЕННОЕ ОБРАЗОВАТЕЛЬНОЕ УЧРЕЖДЕНИЕ

ВЫСШЕГО ПРОФЕССИОНАЛЬНОГО ОБРАЗОВАНИЯ

«ИРКУТСКИЙ ГОСУДАРСТВЕННЫЙ ЛИНГВИСТИЧЕСКИЙ УНИВЕРСИТЕТ»

Кафедра прикладной лингвистики

DRAFTING PARAGRAPHS AND ESSAYS

Методические указания для студентов

Иркутск 2009

Печатается по разрешению редакционно-издательского совета Иркутского государственного лингвистического университета

ББК 81. 432.1 - 923

DRAFTING PARAGRAPHS AND ESSAYS [Текст]: методические указания для студентов 4-5 курсов / сост. С.Н. Зарезина. − Иркутск: ИГЛУ, 2009. − 27 с.

Настоящие методические указания предназначены для студентов старших курсов языковых вузов и направлены на совершенствование навыков письменной речи, а именно, написание параграфа и эссе. В «Указаниях» содержатся материалы и задания, нацеленные на обучение данным видам письменной речи, а также перечень тем для написания параграфа и эссе. Методические указания могут использоваться как на уроках практического курса английского языка, так и в рамках самостоятельной работы студентов.

Составитель: С.Н. Зарезина, кандидат филологических наук, доцент;

кафедра прикладной лингвистики ИГЛУ

Рецензенты: Ю.Н. Карыпкина, кандидат филологических наук, доцент;

кафедра теоретической лингвистики ИГЛУ;

И.В. Чернигова, кандидат филологических наук, доцент;

кафедра иностранных языков для гуманитарных

специальностей ИрГТУ

© Иркутский государственный

лингвистический университет, 2009

Drafting Paragraphs

Prose writing is divided into paragraphs. Each paragraph is built around a central idea, which may be stated in a topic sentence, or topic statement. Thus a paragraph is a group of related sentences developing a single topic. The topic may be stated in a topic sentence, which often is the first sentence in the paragraph. The sentences that follow should be related in two ways:

1. Each sentence should help to develop the topic.

2. Each sentence should lead smoothly into the thought of the next.

The paragraph may end with a clincher sentence, a sentence that sums up the thought of the paragraph or emphasises some idea in it.

The paragraph indentation notifies the reader that there has been a change of subject, time, place, speaker, or some other sort.

Paragraphing also aids the writer. It helps him to arrange his ideas in orderly manner.

Careful thinkers form good paragraphs naturally and logically. Beginning writers can gain much by studying certain definite types of paragraph development and then practising them. Many paragraphs are a combination of types, but practice in specific types offers good training.

Guides to the Development of the Paragraph

1. Make the central idea clear. In paragraphs of explanation, state that central idea in a topic sentence, which as a rule should be the first sentence but, which may come at the end or within the paragraph.

2. Go over the paragraph to see that it has a unity; that every sentence in it is related to the central idea.

3. Check each paragraph for coherence: that is, to see that the ideas, expressed by various sentences are arranged in a logical order.

4. Be sure that emphasis on the central idea is evident now and then you can secure effective emphasis by use of a clincher sentence that sums up the idea in the paragraph or reinforces the topic sentence.

5. Develop a paragraph by using definitions, details, comparison or contrast, cause and effect, illustrations or examples, repetition, or any combination of methods that will be most helpful.

A good paragraph has a unity, that is, it contains only those ideas that contribute to the topic of the paragraph. Any idea that does not do so is distracting to a reader and should be eliminated.

Another way to make a paragraph easy to understand is to arrange the sentences in an orderly plan. As soon as the plan is clear, the reader is prepared to follow the thought. In a narrative paragraph, one ordinarily tells the events in order of time; in a descriptive paragraph, in order of position or place. In an argumentative explanatory paragraph, one might go from less to more important ideas.

A third method of obtaining clearness is to use transitional words, phrases, or sentences to tie a paragraph together. For example:

Time: at last, meanwhile, then, now, later, at first, by this time, etc.

Place: here, there, beyond, farther on, to the left, next over, between, in the midst of, etc.

Addition: and, besides, for example, furthermore, another, again, too, etc.

Contrast: but, still, although, however, nevertheless, instead, yet, etc.

Summary and Conclusion: thus, consequently, in conclusion, in review, finally, for this reason, accordingly, in short, etc.