Q.21 What are silent features of a good paragraph ? What is the significance of topic - sentence in paragraph / technical writing ? (2003-04)
Related Questions -
Q. What are the requisites of a good paragraph. (2009-10)
Q. What does the Topic Sentence represent in the grand theme of communication? (2011 - 12)
Q. What are the requisites of paragraph writing in technical presentation? How is unity in the paragraph important for effective communication? (2012 - 13)
Q. Describe the significance of Topic sentence in paragraph. (2012 - 13)
Ans. The salient feature of a good paragraph is as under
(i) A good paragraph has sentences which are well sequenced and connected.
(ii) A good paragraph carries and leads to single idea.
(iii) A good paragraph do not have superfluous statements.It should be concise and exact.
(iv) The paragraph should have matic unity.
Significance of Topic - Sentence: -
A sentence which carries over all idea or gist of the paragraph is called topic - sentence. Topic sentence is put either at the begining or at the end of the paragraph. This sentence is very significant in technical writing as it given an idea to the reader that what exactly the paragraph is all about. It also clarify the point of view of the writer.
Q.22 Describe the Techniques of paragraph development.
Related Questions -
Q. Discuss briefly coherence in paragraph development. (2009-10)
Q. Write a paragraph on inductive method of writing. (2009-10)
Q. What are the devices which are used for effecting emphasis in a paragraph ? Illustrate. (2011 - 12)
Q. How could unity in technical paragraph be brought about ? Discuss methods/orders of paragraph writing in technical communication. (2011 - 12)
Ans. A paragraph is a distinct unit, it concentrates on a particular idea. A paragraph may have variety of sentences, out of which one is a topic sentence whereas others are supporting sentences. Some basic requirements for developing a paragaph are :
Unity Coherence Emphasis
To attain these three basic requirements of a paragraph, follow different methods such as
* Inductive order.
* Deductive order.
* Question to Answer order
* Time order
* Comparison and Contrast
* Enumeration
* Space order.
Unity
* Topic Sentence: -
The topic sentence expresses the main idea of a paragraph. In other words, the sentence which states the main theme of the paragraph is known as the topic sentence. It is around that topic or theme that a paragraph is built. Other sentences are built around the topic sentence and the other supporting sentences lend support to the topic sentence or the key or theme sentence. The writer’s plan and also the nature of the subject-matter decide the place of the topic sentence in a paragraph.
(a) A paragraph may begin with a topic sentence. It means that the first sentence is the theme sentence. It is used when specific to general order is used.
(b) The topic sentence is somewhere placed within a paragraph but it happens occasionally.
(c) A paragraph may end with a topic sentence. In such paragraphs, the supporting sentences appear first and the theme sentence appears at the end. This arrangement is generally used in general to specific order or inductive order. Several ways are suggested to develop a paragraph.
1. Inductive Method: -
Moving from particular statement to general statement is inductive method of technical writing. Here, every detail, arguments or illustrations are given which finally leads to conclusion. In this type of order topic sentences comes at last of the paragraph.
Ex : Sohan dies, Hari dies, We are mortal. So we must bie.
The first two statement are particular since they are referred to individuals. The last statement is general since, it refers to all, not to an individual.
2. Deductive Method: -
Moving from general statement to particular statement is deductive method. The first sentence in the topic sentence of paragraph. Here the writer first says the sentence and then give details and explanation.
Ex : - We are mortal, Sohan dies. Hari dies.
The first statement is general since it refers to all. The last two statements are particular since they are referred to one individual.
3. Question to Answer Order: -
In this order, the writer begins with a question. Later, he gives answer to that question.
4. Exposition: -
The theme is introduced in the first sentence. The entire paragraph is then developed around this topic sentence.
5. Time Order: -
This order is the natural order of narration, in which one event leads to another.
6. Comparison and Contrast: -
This order is used when two or more things are compared or contrasted. This order emphasizes the difference between two subjects or things that are being compared.
7. Enumeration: -
This order is also used in narration when the words like firstly, secondly, finally and so on are used.
8. Space Order: -
While describing the location of a place, this order is useful.
Coherence: -
The word coherence literally means consistency especially of speech, thought, ideas and reasoning which makes the expression clear and easy to understand. In order to make the readers understand the message, the writing must be coherent and logical. Moreover, it should include all necessary information and ideas should be presented in a sensible order. In short, there are four significant devices which may help to attain coherence pronouns, repitition, synonyms, connectives.
Emphasis: -
A paragraph may contain various facts and ideas and out of which some are prominent. The writer gives each item, fact or idea the emphasis it deserves.
Four techniques which are usually used by the writers :
(1) Emphasis by position
(2) Space and Emphasis
(3) Sentence structure and emphasis
(4) Mechanical means of emphasis.
Q.23 “Man’s treatment of man has not always been human.” Using the sentence as your topic sentence, write a paragraph using the deductive method. (2009-10)
Ans. “Man’s treatment of man has not always been human.” Man’s treatment or handling with man in a society is a important aspect of life; but a man treated other man in several manners, link human being like layman, & like animals also.
I want to discuss here just anly man’s behaviour with man’s are always like a human being as man treat in home because in a society human are the parts of a life or a role in the life which are given to us by GOD. So in society every one are puppet of GOD, no one have individual existence in society. So it must be true that always man treat to the man like a human being. The treatment of man are reflecting socialy. So man are belong from society. Society impact always on man. So “Man’s treatment of man has not always been human.”
Q.24 Explain, some methods for developing a paragraph.
Related Questions -
Q. Explain briefly the chronological method of writing. (2010 - 11)
Ans. Spatial Method: -
Spatial method emphasize the visual description of a particular idea by providing details related to location, direction, etc. It can depict the spatial movement, namely inside to outside, front to back, left to right, bottom to top of the process, object, etc.
Example : -
Higher up in the atmosphere, water vapour and sulphur dioxide combine to form great banks of sulphur acid droplets. These appear as the beautifully shining cloud layers of Venus but are unlike the soft, water-bearing clouds of Earth. The densest clouds lie at a height of 50 km-five times higher than the highest clouds on Earth. This layer is about 3 km thick, and above and below are more extensive layers of acid mist. From these clouds, drops of sulphuric acid probably fall to corrode the planet’s surface.
Liniar Method: -
In a linear or sequential fashion present the logical progression of a process or an idea. Each sentence logically leads to the other and all the sentences in the paragraph are interlinked.
Example: -
Tin is produced from cassiterite (SnO2) by reducing it with carbon. The ore is crushed and washed with water to remove lighter impurities. It is then roasted to remove impurities such as arsenic and sulphur as volatile oxides. The roasted ore is heated with coal in a reverberatory furnace at 1500 K. The crude tin obtained by this method is contaminated with iron and other metals. It is therefore, remelted on an inclined surface. Tin, which has a lower melting point than other metallic impurities present, melts and flows down leaving behind the less fusible metals.
Chronological Method: -
Chronological technique organizes the ideas in a paragraph in the order in which they occurred or appeared before you. This technique gives importance to the date and time while organizing the sentences. You can arrange the sentences clock-wise or anti clock-wise and accordingly the order is called chronological or reverse chronological order respectively.
Example: -
Before the mid-nineteenth century, people in the United States ate most foods only in season. Drying, smoking, and salting could preserve meat for a short time, but the availability of fresh meat, like that of fresh milk, was very limited; there was no way to prevent spoilage. But in 1810 a French inventor named Nicolas Appert developed the cooking-and-sealing process of canning. And in the 1850s an American named Gail Borden developed a means of condensing and preserving milk.