Q.1 What do you understand by paragraph?
Ans. Introduction / Structure of Paragraph: -
If you look at any printed prose book, you will see that each chapter is divided up into sections, the first line of each being indented slightly to the right. These sections are called paragraphs. Chapters essays and other prose compositions are broken up into paragraphs to make the reading of them easier, for the beginning of a new paragraph makes a change of topic, or a step in the development of an argument or of a story. In writing essays or other compositions, it is important to know how to divide them properly into paragraphs for an essay not so broken up, looks uninteresting and is not easy to read.
Definition: -
A paragraph has been defined as the largest single unit of an essay (the syllabus uses the word composition). In each paragraph there is one main idea and the sentences in the paragraph are woven around it. Remember that each paragraph is a vital part of the whole composition and is closely linked to the paragraphs which have gone before and those which will follow. It may be said that a paragraph is a distinct unit of thought. It consists of a group of related sentences forming an integral part of the composition which is being written.
Q.2 What is paragraph writing?
Related Question -
Q. What are the techniques of paragraph writing? Write a paragraph using any technique of your choice. (Invent the necessary details yourself). (2008-09)
Q. What are techniques/methods of paragraph writing? Write a paragraph by using any method of your choice. (2011 - 12) Ans. Technique of Paragraph writing: -
While writing a paragraph you should keep the following points in mind:
1. Collect all ideas about which you are going to write.
2. Arrange these ideas in a proper order: the important points should be mentioned first, and the minor points after words.
3. Choose the topic sentences – usually a short sentence written in the beginning of the paragraph.
4. Make the first and the last sentence cryptic and attractive.
5. Make your paragraph centered around one theme only.
6. Use various types of sentences. These break the monotony of narration.
Length of Paragraph: -
There is no standard rule regarding the length of a paragraph. It may be just a single sentence or several sentences. Note the variation in the following extract:
‘The presents had their third glass, and became quite like brutes. They muttered and shouted, not knowing why, and not listening to one another. (two sentences).
Then the party began to break up. Some went alone, some in twos, and some in threes, all staggering down the street. The host went out to speed his guests, but he fell on his nose into a puddle, smeared himself from top to toe, and lay grunting like a hog (three sentences).
This pleased the devil still more. (one sentence).