PARAGRAPH

Paragraph is one set of sentence that has one theme/main idea. The theme is located in the topic sentence and usually in the first sentence. But, we can’t decide what the theme is by reading the first sentence only without reading the supporting sentences. Whereas, we know whether it’s theme or not by reading supporting sentences that develop the main idea. The beginning of paragraph is started by a new line which is used to distinguish one idea to another idea, and usually the first line is indented. 
Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish which is the theme because it is so ambiguous and we are careless in reading. Please look these two paragraphs:

• 1   The space in my new room is big enough for everything I want to do. I can spread out board games on the floor, which has a soft rug to sit on. Even better, the floor isn’t covered with junk because there are huge cupboards to store stuff in. and if I want to make sure a toy is kept safely away from my brother. I can hide it in a hole in the wall I found next to my bed.

• 2.    The room is so big that it can easily fit the big desk that Dad used to keep in the study. Not only did he give me the desk. I also got the old computer that sits on it. The computer doesn’t have the Internet, but it can play games and it makes homework easier. But, the desk’s drawers are the best thing. 
          If we look at those two paragraphs, at a glance it looks the same. But, if we read the supporting sentences, it looks so different. Both of them talk about space. The first paragraph talks about big space, the second paragraph describes the big desk in a big space. 
  
  A good paragraph has a topic sentence stating the main point of the paragraph, supporting sentences with details and specific examples, logical, coherent thoughts that are developed in order from one sentence to the next, and a concluding idea that wraps up the point of the paragraph. 
  A good topic sentence is informs the subject, asserts the writer’s point of view or attitude, intrigues the reader to continue reading, creates a sense of action, and it is not vague, rambling, too narrow or too broad.

There are seven types of paragraph development. They are narration, exposition, definition, description, comparison, process analysis, and persuasion.

A.     Narration

·         It contains characters, a setting, a conflict, and a resolution.

·         Normally chronological.

B.    Exposition

·         It can be a part of descriptive / narration.

·         It is credibility / believable.

·         Usually explain about cause and effect.

C.   Definition

·         Never citing “according to….” But it’s found in the world.

·         Usually use it is / it is not to define something.

D.   Description

·         It is not what we saw, but what readers need to see / imagine the scene, object, person, etc.

E.    Comparison

·         To make easy comparing between 2 elements, draw up a chart and list the two items being compared.

F.    Process Analysis

·         Explain how process happens.

·         Analyzing the process into a series of steps.

·         Isolating into numbers or bullets.

G.   Persuading.

·         To persuade people to change their minds / to take an action.

·         It’s needed to supply them with information, analysis, and context they need to form their own opinions.

·         Remember that readers are interested in their opinion only. If we can help them formulate and deepen that opinion, they will be glad to read our article.

Sometimes, if someone asks me to analyze what the paragraph belongs to, I’m still confused to do it. And I’m just able to try looking some characteristics / differences between a kind of paragraph to another. For example narration always related to story, persuading related to advertisement, process analysis related to steps how to make something, definition, description and explanation related to describe something. Definition and description is describing what is something; explanation is describing why something is the way it is. Definition is describing something briefly; description is describing something fully / widely. Comparison related to something different. 

That's all from me about paragraph. I do wait for your comment to improve our knowledge about paragraph. Thank you...