Text and Paragraph
Structure
Unit B – Reading Comprehension
Unit C – Writing Skills
Gilad Bronshtein – gilad.bron@gmail.com
Basic Text Structure
Basic Text Structure
1. Introduction Paragraph:
• This purpose of this paragraph is to clearly present the main subject of your paper
• This paragraph informs the reader in advance of the general subject you are going to discuss
• This paragraph should include your research question – what are you trying to find out and why?
• It could also mention your research methods. For example, the use of academic research articles
• Very Important – the last sentence of the introduction must include a clear statement
• This is your “thesis statement” and essentially tells the readers about your answer to the research question
2. Body )Support) Paragraphs:
• Each paragraph in this part should present a sub-topic that relates to and supports the main subject of your paper
• Each paragraph is an independent unit of meaning - it should focus on one idea or argument only
• Each paragraph should deal with one main argument by first stating it and then developing it with examples and
analysis
• Remember that each paragraph represents one aspect of the research topic that relates and supports the main subject of the
paper
3. Conclusion Paragraph:
• This paragraph builds on the arguments and ideas your presented so far.
• It should clearly state what your conclusion is from the discussion you performed throughout the paper (in part 2 – The
Body)
• This final paragraph should not contain any new information!
• End your paper by explaining the importance of your conclusions to your reader audience
Basic Text Structure
What is a Paragraph?
What is a Paragraph?
• A paragraph is a group of sentences that are connected to a central theme. A paragraph usually
contains topic, a main idea, and support for that idea.
• Topics, main ideas, and support are found not only in specific paragraphs, but also at the level of
the whole text and sections of the text.
Topic:
• The topic/subject of the paragraph tells us what the paragraph is about. The topic is a word or
phrase that explains the general theme of the paragraph (text or section of the text).
Main Idea:
• The main idea is usually a sentence (or two) that explains what the writer is saying about the topic.
The main idea is the most important information the writer wants you to know about the topic of
that paragraph. The reader may agree or disagree with the idea and it is the writer’s task to
provide “evidence” that supports the main idea.
Support:
• The main idea is explained, supported, or illustrated by the other sentences, which are the
supporting details. The support can come in the form of research, statistics, examples, descriptions,
etc.
What is a Paragraph?
Basic Paragraph Structure
1. Topic Sentence:
• Always begin a new paragraph with a topic sentence.
• The topic sentence should clearly state the main idea of the paragraph.
• In other words, the main idea of a paragraph is usually expressed in one sentence.
• Remember, the main subject of the text tells us what we’re talking about in general, while the main
idea of the paragraph tells us something about that subject.
• Do not confuse the main idea of the topic sentence with the main subject of the text.
2. Supporting Sentences:
• These sentences are the body of each paragraph.
• These sentences present support for the main idea of the paragraph (that you showed in the topic
sentence)
• A main idea must have adequate support in the form of examples, statistics, quotations, etc. (Do
not forget to cite the source!)
• Each example should be followed by a sentence that explains why this example is important. This is the
analysis part.
• That is, explain why this example is necessary and how it supports the main idea of the paragraph.
• A good paragraph should have Cohesion – a sense of unity, where each sentence contributes to the
central thought (main idea).
• A good paragraph should also have Coherence – a way in which sentences are organized logically to
support the main idea.
• Coherence can be achieved by organizing sentences in a different order through the use of
connectives.
3. Closing Sentence:
Basic Paragraph Structure
What to Remember When Writing a
Paragraph?
Writing a Paragraph – The Process
in Practice
Topic Sentence (Main Idea of Paragraph):
• Most people believe that they would be happier if they were richer, but survey evidence on subjective
1
well-being is largely inconsistent with that belief.
Supporting Sentences (Examples, Support, Analysis):
• 2
Subjective well-being is most commonly measured by asking people: “All things considered, how
satisfied are you with your life as a whole these days?” or “Taken all together, would you say that you
are very happy, pretty happy, or not too happy?”
• 3
Such questions elicit a global evaluation of one’s life. 4An alternative method asks people to report
their feelings in real time, which yields a measure of experienced affect or happiness.
• 5
Surveys conducted over decades in many countries indicate that, on average, reported global
judgments of life satisfaction or happiness have not changed much over the last four decades, in spite
of large increases in real income per capita (per person).
Closing Sentence (Conclusion, Transition to Next Paragraph):
• 6
To conclude, material wealth alone does not determine happiness or well-being, and the answer must
be found elsewhere.
Writing a Paragraph – Final Product
Most people believe that they would be happier if Your final written paragraph
they were richer, but survey evidence on should look similar to this…
subjective well-being is largely inconsistent with
1. Font: Times New Roman, Size 12
that belief. Subjective well-being is most
commonly measured by asking people: “All things 2. Line Spacing: 1 line space between
considered, how satisfied are you with your life as every two lines
a whole these days?” or “Taken all together, would
3. Formatting: No bold or highlighted
you say that you are very happy, pretty happy, or
words
not too happy?” Such questions elicit a global
evaluation of one’s life. An alternative method 4. Formatting: One continues block of
asks people to report their feelings in real time, text, no unnecessary line drops or
which yields a measure of experienced affect or line breaks.
happiness. Surveys conducted over decades in
5. Justify (block formation) the text so it
many countries indicate that, on average, reported is equally aligned to both sides
global judgments of life satisfaction or happiness
have not changed much over the last four 6. Use the correct punctuation for
decades, in spite of large increases in real income quotations, citations, and sentence
structure.
per capita (per person).To conclude, material
Practice – Course Book Language
Skills, pp.5-6
