PARAGRAPHS

When we put several words together in a particular order to express a thought, we have a sentence. When we put a number of sentences together about a particular topic, they form a paragraph. These sentences may be short (simple) or long (compound or complex). When writing a paragraph, there are five important steps to remember:

1.   Jot down a few thoughts. These may be written either in full sentences or in skeleton form.

2.     Make sure that the thoughts follow one another in the correct (proper) order.  

3.     The rule is one  topic per one paragraph. Remove irrelevant thoughts/points.

4.     Beginning at the margin and use both long (compound or complex) and short (simple) sentences. If you are not too sure of yourself, jot down some simple sentences. Then rewrite the paragraph, joining some of the simple sentences together.

5.     Read the paragraph over to correct any mistakes you may have.

Exercise 1

Form a paragraph by writing the sentences in their correct order.

1.     So, Benedict and his friends left the cave and went to Monte Casino, where a heathen temple stood.

2.     Benedict died in 543.

3.     After a time, Benedict realized that this isolated life was not helping mankind in any way.

4.     Saint Benedict, the son of a rich roman family, was born at the beginning of the sixth century.

5.     Breaking this down, they built a monastery and began to lead useful lives: tilling the soil, caring for the poor and looking after travellers.

6.     When he grew up and saw how sinful and selfish his friends were, he became a hermit.

7.     As more and more people heard of this good young man, they joined him in order to escape from the wicked world.

8.     He lived in a cave, wearing only skins and eating only bread.

Exercise 2

Link the following thoughts together to form one paragraph. Write out the paragraph in full sentences.

Ostrich the largest bird in the world. Short wings. Cannot fly. Long legs. Runs faster than horse. Bushman very clever. Dresses in ostrich skin. Puts long stick through skin of neck. That keeps head in position. Walks slowly towards group of ostriches. Shoots ostrich with poisoned arrow.

ANSWERS

Exercise 1: Order of the sentences = 4, 6, 8, 7, 3, 1, 2

 Exercise 2: Example answer:

The ostrich is the largest bird in the world. It has short wings and cannot fly. With its long legs the ostrich runs faster that a horse, so the Bushman has to be very clever. He dresses himself in ostrich skin and puts a long stick through the skin of a neck, which keeps the ostrich head in position. He then walks slowly towards a group of ostriches and shoots the ostrich with a poisoned arrow.

Barnes, A., 1977. English Made Easy 7. Cape Town: Nasou, pp.19-20.