Today’s Agenda Third and last readable report building block Paragraph development Transitional words and sentences Forward and backward references Homework: paragraph development exercise BEIT 336: Week 1 – Class 2 1 Characteristics of a Readable Report A readable report has these characteristics: Report content, writing style, language, and formality well adapted to the specific audience Strive to develop a simple, clear and interesting writing style by mastering effective Word Choice Sentence Construction Paragraph Development Yesterday, we learned that a readable report has the following characteristics. Today, we will study the third and final building block of readable writing: paragraph development. BEIT 336: Week 1 – Class 2 Paragraph Development Keep it short (avg. 8 – 10 lines) Maintain paragraph unity (focus on only one idea per paragraph) Use a topic sentence (clearly state the topic/main idea of the paragraph) Fully develop the idea by including additional sentences to elaborate on the topic Use transitional words and sentences to help move your reader forward in reading your work Here are a few tips on writing paragraphs. BEIT 336: Week 1 – Class 2 Paragraph Structure A common paragraph structure: Topic sentence Supporting sentences: elaborate on the main idea stated in the topic sentence Sum-up and/or transition: help your reader see the connection between the current paragraph and the following paragraph BEIT 336: Week 1 – Class 2 Paragraph Example #1 Topic Sentence: Sales increased as more money was budgeted for advertising. BEIT 336: Week 1 – Class 2 Paragraph Example #1 (cont’d) “Advertising budget” Supporting Sentences: During that same period, newspaper and radio advertising budgets were increased by 20% and television advertising was increased by 10%. Furthermore, during the year five billboards were constructed in the county. BEIT 336: Week 1 – Class 2 Paragraph Example #1 (cont’d) Sum-up and forward transitional: While sales rose as more money was spent on advertising, the demographics of the market changed. Next paragraph … market demographics BEIT 336: Week 1 – Class 2 Paragraph Example #2 Topic Sentence: During the first decade of operation, Jones Company almost went bankrupt. BEIT 336: Week 1 – Class 2 Paragraph Example #2 (cont’d) “Financial trouble” Supporting Sentences: Two years ago, the company was sued by the Smith Corporation for faulty products. Along with the settlement, Jones Company accumulated a million dollars in court costs. BEIT 336: Week 1 – Class 2 Paragraph Example #2 (cont’d) Sum-up and forward transitional: Even though Jones Company was in financial trouble, a new product helped to stabilize the business. Next paragraph … new product ...

1. Today’s Agenda
Third and last readable report building block
Paragraph development
Transitional words and sentences
Forward and backward references
Homework: paragraph development exercise
BEIT 336: Week 1 – Class 2

2. 1
Characteristics of a Readable Report
A readable report has these characteristics: Report content,
writing style, language, and formality well adapted to the
specific audience
Strive to develop a simple, clear and interesting writing style by
mastering effective
Word Choice
Sentence Construction
Paragraph Development
Yesterday, we learned that a readable report has the following
characteristics. Today, we will study the third and final
building block of readable writing: paragraph development.

3. BEIT 336: Week 1 – Class 2
Paragraph Development
Keep it short (avg. 8 – 10 lines)
Maintain paragraph unity (focus on only one idea per
paragraph)
Use a topic sentence (clearly state the topic/main idea of the
paragraph)
Fully develop the idea by including additional sentences to
elaborate on the topic
Use transitional words and sentences to help move your reader
forward in reading your work
Here are a few tips on writing paragraphs.

4. BEIT 336: Week 1 – Class 2
Paragraph Structure
A common paragraph structure:
Topic sentence
Supporting sentences: elaborate on the main idea stated in the
topic sentence
Sum-up and/or transition: help your reader see the connection
between the current paragraph and the following paragraph
BEIT 336: Week 1 – Class 2

5. Paragraph Example #1
Topic Sentence:
Sales increased as more money was budgeted for
advertising.
BEIT 336: Week 1 – Class 2
Paragraph Example #1 (cont’d)
“Advertising budget” Supporting Sentences:
During that same period, newspaper and radio advertising
budgets were increased by 20% and television advertising was
increased by 10%. Furthermore, during the year five billboards
were constructed in the county.

6. BEIT 336: Week 1 – Class 2
Paragraph Example #1 (cont’d)
Sum-up and forward transitional:
While sales rose as more money was spent on advertising,
the demographics of the market changed.
Next paragraph … market demographics

7. BEIT 336: Week 1 – Class 2
Paragraph Example #2
Topic Sentence:
During the first decade of operation, Jones Company
almost went bankrupt.

8. BEIT 336: Week 1 – Class 2
Paragraph Example #2 (cont’d)
“Financial trouble” Supporting Sentences:
Two years ago, the company was sued by the Smith
Corporation for faulty products. Along with the settlement,
Jones Company accumulated a million dollars in court costs.

9. BEIT 336: Week 1 – Class 2
Paragraph Example #2 (cont’d)
Sum-up and forward transitional:
Even though Jones Company was in financial trouble, a
new product helped to stabilize the business.
Next paragraph … new product
BEIT 336: Week 1 – Class 2

10. Paragraph Example #2 (cont’d)
“New product” Paragraph:
The company took an important task in developing a new
type of light bulb. The light bulb reduces glare without
decreasing brightness. … . The new product was a success with
consumers and revenue began to flow into the company.
BEIT 336: Week 1 – Class 2
Paragraph Example #3
Each year McDonald’s sponsors the All-American Band, made
up of two high school students from each state.

11. 2. Unfortunately, McDonald’s efforts in community
involvement sometimes produce a public-relations problem.
3. Franchisees are urged to join public service organizations.
4. McDonald’s tries hard to project an image of almost a
charitable organization.
5. Franchisees sponsor campaigns on fire prevention, bicycle
safely, and litter cleanup.
These are sentences in a paragraph, but their sequence has been
scrambled. Can you figure out which is the topic sentence and
which is the transitional sentence?
BEIT 336: Week 1 – Class 2

12. Paragraph Example #3
McDonald’s tries hard to project an image of almost a
charitable organization. First, each year McDonald’s sponsors
the All-American Band, made up of two high school students
from each state. Second, franchisees are urged to join public
service organizations. Finally, franchisees sponsor campaigns
on fire prevention, bicycle safely, and litter cleanup.
Unfortunately, McDonald’s efforts in community involvement
sometimes produce a public-relations problem.
Here is the answer.
BEIT 336: Week 1 – Class 2
Transitions

13. Transitional words/phrases
You can use transitional words/phrases within a sentence to
help move your reader along in reading your writing
Transitional sentences
Forward and backward references
Forward and backward references are two types of transitional
sentences
BEIT 336: Week 1 – Class 2
Transitional Words Example #1
Enumeration:
The promotion failed for two reasons. First, we had very
little preparation time. Second, we were extremely short of

14. experienced salespeople.
BEIT 336: Week 1 – Class 2
Transitional Words Example #2 (cont’d)
Cause-effect:
For three years we had no funds for maintaining the
equipment. As a result, we had suffered a succession of
breakdowns.

15. BEIT 336: Week 1 – Class 2
Transitional Sentences
Forward Reference: Sentence placed at the end of a
paragraph hinting at the topic of the next paragraph.
Backward reference: Sentence placed at the beginning of a
paragraph referring to contents in the previous paragraph
You will use EITHER a forward reference OR a backward
reference. DO NOT use both; it would be redundant.

16. BEIT 336: Week 1 – Class 2
Forward Reference Example #1
I have two main objections to the restructuring plan. First,
the plan does not sufficiently consider the workers close to
retirement. Second, the consultant did not look closely enough
at the costs of implementation. Even though I have objections,
the plan has merit.
The plan will benefit … .

17. BEIT 336: Week 1 – Class 2
Backward Reference Example #1
I have two main objections to the restructuring plan. First,
… . Second, … . . Inequity and cost problems may result from
the plan.
Even though I have objections, the plan has merit.

18. BEIT 336: Week 1 – Class 2
Forward Reference Example #2
The chemical industry’s earnings moved ahead mainly due
to reviving demand for synthetic fibers. Among the larger
companies, profits were … . However, while the chemical
industry was enjoying increased profits, other industries found
themselves in trouble.
Entire industries had difficulty in the fourth quarter of
1983 mainly because of … .

19. BEIT 336: Week 1 – Class 2
Paragraph Development Exercise
To complete this exercise
Type your paragraph in the space provided in the Word
document; DO NOT directly paste your paragraph in the
comment box on Blackboard
Rename the Word document to include your last name in the
filename. Upload the document by due date.

20. BEIT 336: Week 1 – Class 2