This document discusses the key elements of writing an effective paragraph, including: - A paragraph should have one main idea expressed in a topic sentence. - A topic sentence introduces the main idea that the rest of the paragraph will explain or expand upon. - A paragraph typically includes a topic, controlling idea stated in the topic sentence, and supporting sentences that explain the controlling idea. - Common paragraph structures include answering a question, solving a problem, or discussing a topic. Writers can place the main idea at the beginning, end, or within the paragraph.

1. PARAGRAPH
DR. SUNARSIH, M.A.

2. DEVELOPING A PARAGRAPH
A GOOD PARAGRAPH CONTAINS SEVERAL RELATED SENTENCES THAT
SUPPORT ONE MAIN IDEA, WHICH IS LIMITED TO AND FOCUSED ON ONE
SENTENCE.
ONE PARAGRAPH = ONE MAIN IDEA = ONE TOPIC SENTENCE
TOPIC SENTENCE (LEADER) AND SUPPORTING SENTENCE (SUPPORTER)
SENTENCE = STARTED BY CAPITAL LETTER, CONTAIN COMPLETE IDEA, S
AND PREDICATE, ENDED BY PUNCTUATION (.; ?; !)
A. I STUDIED ENGLISH.
B. WHEN/IF I STUDIED ENGLISH.

3. THE TOPIC
1 PARAGRAPH -> 1 TOPIC SENTENCE -> 1 MAIN IDEA
A TOPIC HAS TWO ESSENTIAL PARTS: THE TOPIC AND THE CONTROLLING IDEA. THE TOPIC NAMES THE SUBJECT, OR MAIN IDEA, OF THE PARAGRAPH.
TOPIC SENTENCE:
ITERA IS A GREEN CAMPUS.
TOPIC CONTROLLING IDEA
IT HAS MANY TREES INSIDE. THE AIR IS FRESH, AND THE LAND IS HUGE.
EXAMPLE:
ITERA IS A NEW CAMPUS. IT WAS ESTABLISHED IN 2014. IT HAS BEEN 6 YEARS OLD. THE FACILITIES ARE INCOMPLETE BECAUSE THERE ARE STILL IN
PROGRESS OF CONSTRUCTION.

4. THE CONTROLLING IDEA
THE CONTROLLING IDEA MAKES A SPECIFIC COMMENT
ABOUT THE TOPIC, WHICH INDICATES WHAT THE REST OF
THE PARAGRAPH WILL SAY ABOUT THE TOPIC.
CONTROLLING IDEA WILL BE EXPLAINED BY THE SUPPORTING
SENTENCES/IDEAS NEXT.

5. IDENTIFYING THE TOPIC AND THE
CONTROLLING IDEA
MOUNT LASSEN 10, 453 FEET HIGH, IS ONE OF THE MOST ACTIVE
VOLCANOES IN THE UNITED STATES.
THE TOPIC:
MOUNT LASSEN
THE CONTROLLING IDEA:
10, 453 FEET HIGH, IS ONE OF THE MOST ACTIVE VOLCANOES IN THE
UNITED STATES

6. IDENTIFYING THE TOPIC AND THE
CONTROLLING IDEA
AMERICAN SCIENTISTS ARE WORKING HARD TO
GATHER FACTS ABOUT SEA TURTLES CALLED
LEATHERBACKS.
THE TOPIC:
SEA TURTLES CALLED LEATHERBACKS
THE CONTROLLING IDEA:
AMERICAN SCIENTISTS ARE WORKING HARD TO GATHER FACTS ABOUT

7. WHAT IS A PARAGRAPH PATTERN?
A PARAGRAPH PATTERN IS A PLAN. IT SHOWS THE PARTS OF
A PARAGRAPH AND HOW THEY ARE PUT TOGETHER.

8. PARAGRAPH SONG
• INTRODUCE A TOPIC IN A GENERAL WAY
• NEXT, YOU ADD SOME DETAILS OF WHAT YOU WANT TO
SAY
• THEN YOU WRITE A CLINCHER, PUT THIS SENTENCE LAST
• NOW YOU HAVE JUST COMPLETED YOUR GREAT
PARAGRAPH

9. WHAT ARE MAIN IDEAS?
THE MAIN IDEA IS THE SUBJECT OF THE PARAGRAPH. IT IS WHAT THE
PARAGRAPH IS ABOUT. WRITERS MAY DIRECTLY STATE THEIR MAIN
IDEAS OR THEY MAY IMPLY THEM.
A DIRECTLY STATED MAIN IDEA IS ONE THAT THE WRITERS TELL YOU
ABOUT IN A TOPIC SENTENCE.
AN IMPLIED MAIN IDEA IS JUST THE OPPOSITE OF A DIRECTLY STATED
IDEA. WRITERS DO NOT TELL YOU THE MAIN IDEA IN A TOPIC
SENTENCE. THEY GIVE YOU ONLY THE SENTENCES WITH THE
SUPPORTING IDEAS.

10. PARAGRAPH
• TOPIC SENTENCE _> TOPIC AND CONTROLLING IDEA
• SUPPORTING SENTENCES -> EXPLAIN CONTROLLING IDEA
• SUPPORTING SENTENCES -> SUPPORTING IDEAS
2-3 1
• MORE THAN ONE

11. WHAT TYPES OF PARAGRAPH
PATTERNS DO WRITERS USE?
THE THREE TYPES USED MOST OFTEN ARE THESE:
• QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED
• PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED
• TOPICS TO BE DISCUSSED

12. WHERE DO WRITERS PLACE THEIR
IDEAS
IN A PARAGRAPH?
THE MAIN IDEA FIRST IN THE PARAGRAPH HERE THE TOPIC
SENTENCE (THAT IS, THE SENTENCE CARRYING THE MAIN
IDEA) OPENS THE PARAGRAPH. THE SENTENCES CARRYING
THE SUPPORTING IDEAS COME NEXT. PEOPLE SOMETIMES
DRAW THIS PLACEMENT AS AN UPRIGHT TRIANGLE:
a. MAIN IDEA = 1
b. SUPPORTING IDEAS = MORE THAN ONE

13. WHERE DO WRITERS PLACE THEIR
IDEAS
IN A PARAGRAPH?
THE MAIN IDEA LAST IN THE PARAGRAPH IN THIS
PLACEMENT, THE TOPIC SENTENCE IS AT THE END OF THE
PARAGRAPH. THE SUPPORTING IDEAS COME FIRST. THIS
DRAWING OF AN UPSIDE-DOWN TRIANGLE SHOWS THE
PLACEMENT:
A. SUPPORTING IDEAS
B. MAIN IDEA

14. WHERE DO WRITERS PLACE THEIR
IDEAS
IN A PARAGRAPH?
THE MAIN IDEA WITHIN THE PARAGRAPH HERE THE WRITERS
START WITH SOME OF THE SUPPORTING IDEAS. THEN, THEY
PUT IN THE MAIN IDEA. NEXT, THEY GIVE SOME MORE
SUPPORTING IDEAS. THIS PLACEMENT IS SHOWN IN THIS
DRAWING OF TWO SMALLER TRIANGLES:
a. SUPPORTING IDEAS
b. MAIN IDEA
c. SUPPORTING IDEAS

15. REVIEW
• WHAT DID WE LEARN TODAY?
• SO WHAT? (RELEVANCY, IMPORTANCE, USEFULNESS)
• WHICH PART DID YOU FIND EASY/FUN?
• WHICH PART DID YOU FIND DIFFICULT?
• WHAT DO YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE?

16. RESOURCES
SUPRIYANTO, B. CRITICAL READING.
BANDUNG: INSTITUT TEKNOLOGI BANDUNG.