INTRODUCTION
A
good essay has vivid topic sentences, well-connected paragraphs, and
carefully-applied transition words. These are mastered by students through
provision of considerable number of writing activities. They can only be
masters of good writing skills only if they can write on their own and connect
the ideas systematically as they write. The following are the three important things make any good essay should have:
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- WELL-CONNECTED PARAGRAPHS.
A paragraph is a self-contained unit in
writing that deals with a particular point or idea. A paragraph consists of one
or more sentences. In most writings, paragraphs are indented, that a first line
of a paragraph begins off the margin line while the rest sentences begin immediately
after the margin line. Or a paragraph is a group of sentences that are combined
to present a single idea. Paragraph can be short or long depending on the idea
being presented. Paragraph helps the reader distinguish one idea from another.
We may have many ideas and our job is to divide and organize them neatly into
individual paragraphs.
A common English usage states that a paragraph
should have three to five sentences but even single-word paragraphs are common
in English language especially in a journalistic and poetic style.
A paragraph should have a topic sentence or a
“main idea”, preferably first, and multiple “supporting” or “detail” sentences
which explain or supply evidences are followed. A good paragraph often begins
with a topic sentence which is distinguished from other sentences with a full
stop. The succeeding sentences are details that support and explain the main
idea in a specific way. Paragraph transition word is distinguished from other
sentences with a comma.
- CLEAR TOPIC SENTENCES/POINTS.
The topic sentence is the sentence in a
paragraph which summarizes the main idea of that paragraph. It is usually the
first sentence in a paragraph. It is also called Focus Sentence as it organizes
an entire paragraph.
Although topic sentences may appear anywhere
in a paragraph, in academic essays they often appear at the beginning. The
topic sentence acts as a kind of summary and offers the reader an insightful
view of the writer’s main ideas for the following paragraph.
A topic sentence adds cohesion to a paper and
helps organizes ideas both within the paragraph and the whole body of work at
large.
As the topic sentence organizes the idea of
the paragraph, serving as a sub-thesis, it remains general enough to cover the
support given in the body paragraph while being more direct than the thesis of
the paper.
A topic sentence may begin with a complex
sentence (main clause followed and dependent clause. E.g. while he is
conservative, John is also a pragmatist). Some begin with questions. But most
exam essays topic sentence begin with a single term, short phrase, short
sentence, or even a long sentence.
A topic sentence is distinguished from the
rest sentence with a full stop.
- CAREFULLY-APPLIED TRANSITION WORDS.
Transition words are words or phrases that
show the relationship between sentences, paragraphs, or sections of a text or
speech. Transitions provide greater cohesion by making it more explicit or
signaling how ideas relate to one another. Transitions act as bridges to
connect words and ideas so that your readers don’t have to do the mental work
for you.
- Coordinating transitions. These connect ideas that are equal in
rank, quality or significance. For example; and, also, too, together with,
not only…but also, as well as, furthermore, moreover, in the same way,
likewise, comparatively, and so on.
To introduce and opposing point; but, however, yet, on the contrary, on the
other hand, in contrast, still, neither, nor, nevertheless, notwithstanding,
besides.
To signal a restatement; that is, in other words, in simpler terms, to
put it differently.
- Temporal transitions. These show frequency: frequently,
hourly, often, occasionally, now and then, day after day, every so often,
again and again, and and so on.
To show a particular time; now, then, at that time, in those days, last
week, next, week, in 1999, at the beginning of August, at six o’clock, first
thing in the morning, two months ago, when, and so on.
To introduce a beginning; at first, in the beginning, since, before
then.
To introduce a middle; in the meantime, meanwhile, as it was
happening, at that moment, at the same time, simultaneously, next, then.
To signal an end; (or beyond); eventually, finally, at last,
in the end, later, afterward.
CONCLUSION AND OTHER OBSERVATIONS.
Topic sentence, details on the
idea, and concluding sentence (or example sentence) are the internal organizations of a single
paragraph. But you should also consider the ways of organizing these materials
within the paragraph and across the paragraphs. A transition word is a solution
to this because it balances the paragraph and links the previous paragraph to
the next paragraph.
Transitions are a way of connecting your
ideas. When you consider good transitions, ask yourself whether your transition
refers to the previous idea, and links that idea to the next idea.
These transition words can also be used to
introduce examples in the concluding
sentence of a paragraph. Here words like; for instance, for example, in a
nutshell, hence, thus, that is, then, etc are common.
The paragraph transition element is
grammatically optional (termed as Adjunct) with respect to the rest of the
sentence. Adjuncts are omissible, mobile, and stackable, as are frequently
marked out with commas although such demarcation is optional for shorter
adjuncts.
In summary:
Supporting Adjuncts: and,
because, since, so, etc.
Contrasting Adjuncts: although,
but, however, whereas, yet, etc.
Time-Ordering Adjuncts: after,
before, while, etc.
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Related Topics:
Also check out:
Resources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paragraph
- https://owl.english.purdue.edu/engagement/2/1/29/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Topic_sentence