导图社区 The Paragraph
Numbering the parts of a paragraph—whether with words or with figures—is
编辑于2023-02-06 22:42:53 浙江省The Paragraph
Criteria of an Effective Paragraph
Coherence
Coherence means that the ideas fit together. Coherence belongs to the substructure of the paragraph, to relationships of thought, feeling, and perception.
Relevance (Unity)
Order of Thought
To be coherent a paragraph must satisfy two criteria:
First, relevance—every idea must relate to the topic.
Second, effective order—ideas must be arranged in a way that clarifies their logic or their importance.
Flow
Setting Up a Master Plan
The opening sentence makes clear, not only the topic, but also how it will be analyzed and developed.
Numbering the parts of a paragraph—whether with words or with figures—is simple and clear.
But it suits only topics which can be easily broken into parts. Moreover, it can seem mechanical and, overused, prove confusing.
In a short essay one paragraph using this method of flow is enough.
Linking Successive Sentences
The second way of maintaining flow is to connect sentences as you go.
Less obvious than “first,” “second,” “third,” this means of achieving flow seems more natural. And it can accommodate more complex relationships among ideas; it is not confined to topics that can be broken into a numbered series.
Sentences can be linked in several ways:
Repeating Key Words
Verbal repetition is the most obvious link.
Synonymous terms
人称照应(he, she, they, it)
指示照应(this, that, these, those)
替代照应(so, do)
hypernym-hyponym
Transitional Words
Sentences can also be linked by transitional words, which indicate relationships between ideas.
The relationship may be one of time (presently, meanwhile, afterwards); of space (above, below, in front); or of logic (therefore, however, as a result).
根据过渡词所表示的逻辑关系,我们可以大致分为下面几类:
①表示举例的逻辑衔接词
for example,.. for instance, such as, in the case of 等
②表示原因的逻辑衔接词
because, as, since, for, owing to, due to, as a result of 等
③表示结果的逻辑衔接词
thus, so, hence, consequently, as a consequence, therefore, accordingly等
④表示让步的逻辑衔接词
although, though, for all sth, despite sth, in spite of sth, despite the fact that..., for all that...等
⑤表示递进的逻辑衔接词
in addition, furthermore, what is more, moreover, in addition, additionally, besides等
⑥表示结论的逻辑衔接词
in conclusion, to sum up, to conclude, on the whole等。
⑦表示对比转折的逻辑衔接词
but, however, still, yet, nonetheless, nevertheless, though, instead, on the other hand, on the contrary, notwithstanding, even so, 等。
使用这些逻辑衔接词,能加强段落和文章的连贯性。
除了上面这些常见的逻辑衔接词,还有很多隐蔽性的、更加地道的衔接词、衔接句,比如:
On the surface ... but ... (表面上,但...)也可以表示让步和转折,
worse still, to make matters worse也可以表示递进。
Syntactic Patterning
Syntactic patterning simply means repeating the same basic structure in successive or near successive sentences.
Steps in Writing a Paragraph
Step 1 Think of the topic or theme or main idea, and express it in a complete sentence (topic sentence)
Step 2 Think of the details or examples or facts that may be used to support or explain the main idea.
Step 3 Work out an outline to arrange the details or examples or facts in logical order. With the outline, the paragraph is almost halt-done.
Ways of Developing Paragraphs
Time, Process, Space
Arrangement often inheres in the subject itself:
A paragraph about baking a cake or preparing to water-ski is committed to following the steps of the process it describes.
Telling a story, you must follow a certain sequence of events.
When describing a place, we need to find out the space relationships between them and arrange our descriptions accordingly.
And in some subjects there is a logical structure implicit in the subject that determines order of thought.
Illustration and Restatement
A single example
A serious of examples
Comparison, Contrast and Analogy
Comparison and contrast all treat two subjects of the same nature; but the former shows how the subjects are alike, while the latter focuses on how they differ.
These methods of development all involve two subjects (occasionally more than two).
Analogy is a special kind of comparison in which a subject of secondary importance and often of a quite different nature is introduced to clarify or justify some aspect of the main subject.
Cause and/or Effect
The causes of a particular event or situation
The effects of an event or a situation
Classification
To classify is to sort things into categories according to their characteristics.
Essential to a good classification is parallelism. In a good classification the parts must be parallel, and they should add up to the whole subject.
Sample 27
Definition
Basic Ways of Defining a Word or Term
Principles for Giving Definition
A Combination of Methods