Constructing effective paragraphs LEARNING SKILLS
Overview of this workshop What is a paragraph Why paragraphs matter Academic body paragraphs (supporting and counterarguments) Linking paragraphs Process of writing vs the final product Source: flickr.com COPYRIGHT LEARNING & TEACHING CENTRE I LEARNING SKILLS GROUP 2015 2
Why paragraphs matter BUILDING BLOCKS OF WRITTEN TEXTS Source: flickr.com Source: thecollegepanda.com 3
Academic body paragraphs Activity 1. On your handout is a list of sentences. Order them to create a paragraph that develops clearly and logically. 4
Activity 1 ANSWERS Pet ownership can increase the weekly exercise of all family members. In a study of the physical activity and sedentary behaviours of Australian children, Salmon et al. found that young children in families with pets (particularly dogs) took more family walks than those without pets. Older children in families with pets rated outdoor play with pets second only to play with friends. Young teenage girls reported feeling safer when walking alone with their family dog, an important finding with growing concerns about community safety. Even the incidental play children participated in with the family dog increased their levels of exercise. (based on PIAS 2012) Topic Organisation: age groups Sentence which could sit in several places in the para 5
Different types of pargraphs Introduction Concession/ Counterargument Body Paragraphs Source: themillions.com Conclusion 6
What is a paragraph? A paragraph is a unit of connected ideas It is introduced by the topic sentence (the idea that organises the paragraph) It is held together by a collection of related sentences A paragraph is not specifically a unit of length Paragraphs have a logical, cohesive structure COPYRIGHT LEARNING & TEACHING CENTRE I LEARNING SKILLS GROUP 2015 7
Academic body paragraphs WHAT ARE THE FEATURES OF A PARAGRAPH? One topic/ one aspect of a topic (often summarised in a topic sentence) Full explanation of the topic for the reader through clear relationships between ideas Logical organisation of ideas Use of linking words Source: National Archives of Australia Concluding sentence 8
The purpose of a body paragraph Demonstrate knowledge Develop discussion/ argument Provide evidence ILEARNING SKILLS GROUP 2015 COPYRIGHT LEARNING & TEACHING CENTRE 9
Academic body paragraphs WHAT ARE THE FEATURES OF A PARAGRAPH? Logical organisation of ideas General to specific Chronological or process Cause and effect Comparison / contrast Problem and solution Description / explanation /analysis Source: National Archives of Australia 10
Academic body paragraphs WHAT ARE THE FEATURES OF A PARAGRAPH? Linking words These are important between paragraphs These are also important within paragraphs They provide cohesiveness They signpost the argument They move the argument along Commons.wikimedia.org 11
Academic body paragraphs WHAT ARE THE FEATURES OF A PARAGRAPH? Meaning To introduce an additional idea Opposite idea Example Restatement or explanation Conclusion or summary Chronological order Order of importance Result or effect Comparison Concession Linking words Linking word/signpost And, another, also, too, moreover, furthermore, as well as, additionally 12
Academic body paragraphs WHAT ARE THE FEATURES OF A PARAGRAPH? Meaning Linking word/signpost To introduce an additional idea Opposite idea Example Restatement or explanation Conclusion or summary Chronological order Order of importance Result or effect Comparison Concession Linking words And, another, also, too, moreover, furthermore, as well as, additionally In contrast, contrastingly, nonetheless nevertheless For example, exemplified, for instance, highlighted, demonstrated, evidenced by Indeed In conclusion/summary, to conclude First of all, firstly, after that, since then, finally Above all, significantly, more importantly, most importantly Accordingly, as a result, thus, hence, therefore, it follows that Similarly, likewise, both, also Despite, in spite of, though/although, however, whereas 13
Academic body paragraphs WHAT ARE THE FEATURES OF A PARAGRAPH? Concluding Sentence Provides a logical end to the paragraph It may summarise or conclude your argument It may signal topic/arguments developed in the following paragraph 14
Academic body paragraphs FEATURES One English study suggested that owning pets can have positive benefits for health. Before the intervention, all participants completed a health questionnaire. They were then divided into three similar groups, the first group receiving dogs, the second receiving cats, while the third did not receive any pet. One month later, the pet groups reported a large reduction in the number of minor illnesses and complaints, and in the case of the dog group (but not the cat), this remained true for the ten month duration of the study. The difference between the dog and cat effect may be because dogs require more exercise. (based on PIAS 2012) 15
Academic body paragraphs FEATURES One English study suggested that owning pets can have positive benefits for health. Before the intervention, all participants completed a health questionnaire. They were then divided into three similar groups, the first group receiving dogs, the second receiving cats, while the third did not receive any pet. One month later, the pet groups reported a large reduction in the number of minor illnesses and complaints, and in the case of the dog group (but not the cat), this remained true for the ten month duration of the study. The difference between the dog and cat effect may be because dogs require more exercise. (based on PIAS 2012) Topic sentence near beginning One subject (=study about pets) Support develops topic in a logical way (time) 16
Activity 2 Read the paragraph on your handout. Complete the paragraph by writing a topic sentence. (Paragraph based on Cutt et al. 2012) 17
Activity 2- Some answers (Topic- dog owners, how often walking dogs, some differences in findings) Possible topic sentences Several recent studies have examined how often dog owners walk their pets. Recent studies into how often pet owners exercise their pets have produced quite different results. Comment OK but doesn t quite talk about differences feels a bit long and bitty- needs to be nominalized Research into how often owners walk their dogs has produced a surprisingly wide variety of findings. specifically mentions dogs, findings are surprising 18
Activity 3 Read the topic sentence on your handout. Quickly create an outline of supporting sentences that might develop this into a paragraph. Source: staticflickr.com 19
Activity 3 SUGGESTED ANSWERS Pets may also benefit people who are not able to socialize, such as the elderly and the disabled. Suggestions: Pets provide friendship, companionship Pets provide a reason to exercise/ stay active Pets need to be cared for Pets may alert neighbours in an emergency 20
Counterargument paragraphs A DIFFERENT ORGANISATION Paragraph includes opposing ideas on topic Source: wikimedia.com 21
Counterargument paragraphs In the past, studies suggested that pet ownership was linked to the rise in asthma and allergies in Western cultures. Cats and dogs produce allergens which are transmitted on hair, particles of skin and dust. Living in close contact with these allegens were thought to result in greater sensitization and more severe effects. However, more recent research demonstrates the opposite effect. The presence of cats and dogs in the home may actually acclimatise a child s developing immune system so that it is less sensitive to allergens in later life. It thus appears that having pets in the home has a stabilising influence on children s immune systems. (based on allergyuk.org, PIAS 2012) 22
Counterargument paragraphs In the past, studies suggested that pet ownership was linked to the rise in asthma and allergies in Western cultures. Cats and dogs produce allergens which are transmitted on hair, particles of skin and dust. Living in close contact with these allegens were thought to result in greater sensitization and more severe effects. However, more recent research demonstrates the opposite effect. The presence of cats and dogs in the home may actually acclimatise a child s developing immune system so that it is less sensitive to allergens in later life. It thus appears that having pets in the home has a stabilising influence on children s immune systems. (based on allergyuk.org, PIAS 2012) When: past (hint this will be challenged) How sure: Suggested that Thought to Change: However, opposite When: recent How sure: actually thus 23
Counterargument paragraphs USEFUL PHRASES Concession/ Counterargument Admittedly, It is true that Many theories assume that Many people believe that In the past research has focused on On the one hand Opposing view However, Nevertheless, While/ although this is true, This is not supported by the evidence On the other hand See also http://more.headroyce.org/research/writing/argumentation/concessions.html https://depts.washington.edu/owrc/handouts/concessions%20and%20counterarguments.pdf 24
Activity 4 Complete the paragraph on your handout so it is clear you are dealing with two different approaches/ opinions. Source: wordpress.com 25
Process of writing vs the final product (OR: DON T FORGET TO EDIT) Source: wikimedia.org 26
Summary Academic body paragraphs: Unified topic Main idea in a topic sentence near beginning Supporting sentences develop this idea using Organisation + Linking words Concession/ counterargument paragraphs Two opposing sections Phrases clearly mark each point of view (which you agree with, which you don t) Source: wikimedia.org 27
References VISUALS AND SOURCES 5. flickr.com 6. http://thecollegepanda.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/essay_2.png https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5138/5573659527_e3365297a4_o.jpg 7. http://www.themillions.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/570_kevin.jpg 8. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/41/bundesarchiv_b_145_bild-f038788-0020,_wolfsburg,_vw_autowerk,_k%c3%a4fer.jpg http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7a/vw_export,_bj._1951.jpg 9. http://yourmemento.naa.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/hr_610.jpg 10. Petcare Information and Advisory Service (PIAS) (2012). Pets and community health: how do companion animals help develop the lives of people? http://www.petnet.com.au/sites/default/files/pias_animal community_health_brochure.pdf 14. Cutte, H., Giles-Corti, B., Knuiman, M. & Burke, V. (2007). Dog ownership, health and physical activity: A critical review of the literature. Health and place, 13, 261-272 16. https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2762/4327203677_fed3b1d295_o.jpg 18. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1d/col_de_braus-small.jpg 19. https://www.allergyuk.org/allergy-to-domestic-pets/allergy-to-domestic-pets 21 http://more.headroyce.org/research/writing/argumentation/concessions.html https://depts.washington.edu/owrc/handouts/concessions%20and%20counterarguments.pdf 22. https://peterwindsor.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/20747.jpg 23. http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0f/ari_vatanen_-_1978_rally_finland.jpg 28