PARAGRAPH BUIDING_handout

Most paragraphs in an essay have a three-part structure—introduction, body, and conclusion. You can see this structure in paragraphs whether they are narrating, des[r]

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PARAGRAPH BUIDING

I GETTING READY TO WRITE: Decide what you are going to write and then plan them

1.1 To choose and narrow a topic: choose a topic that is not too narrow or broad Ex: holidays, friends, country, dancing, car, etc

1.2 Brainstorm: gather idea about the topic; there are main types: +Making a list

Ex: teenager fashions, driving, things to at the beach, etc

+Free writing: write whatever comes into your head about the topic, without stopping

+Mapping: write topic in the middle with a circle around it; put the next idea in a circle above and below, connect them by lines, etc

II THE STRUCTURE OF A PARAGRAPH

2.1 Definition: A paragraph is a series of sentences that are organized and coherent, and are all related to a single topic

Ex: Read and identify what are the topic, main idea and supporting ideas

Our writing, from context view, mentions to the literary type of Prodigal sons in two great religions and focus on plot, character and structure So, while the story in Lotus Sutra starts earlier and emphasizes in the Father’s helping progress by “means”, the Bible one puts the core at the Father’s love to accept the Lost Son’s coming back Besides, if the relationship here is between the human being and the God or Buddha, the version in Lotus Sutra expresses the self-effort of Acarin with his Tathagata Store In addition, we recognize, from point of view and received object, the characteristic of each version in the reference to Sutra system and Bible in order to explain their differences in meaning In short, the prodigal type is an interesting phenomenon which reveals the humanity in Buddhism and Christianism through the way of literature

2.2 Parts of a paragraph: A paragraph has three basic parts

_The topic sentence: is the main idea, the most general and often the first sentence of the paragraph

_The supporting sentences: explain the topic sentence, they are more detail and follow the topic sentence

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Ex: Identify three main parts of these paragraphs:

Today, we are committed to a worldwide struggle to promote and protect the rights of all who wish to be free And when Americans are sent to Vietnam or West Berlin, we not ask for whites only It ought to be possible, therefore, for American students of any color to attend any public institution they select without having to be backed up by troops It ought to be possible for American consumers of any color to receive equal service in places of public accommodation, such as hotels and restaurants and theaters and retail stores, without being forced to resort to demonstrations in the street, and it ought to be possible for American citizens of any color to register and to vote in a free election without interference or fear of reprisal It ought to be possible, in short, for every American to enjoy the privileges of being American without regard to his race or his color (JF.Kenedy, Civil Rights Address)

2.3 Paragraph structure

Most paragraphs in an essay have a three-part structure—introduction, body, and conclusion You can see this structure in paragraphs whether they are narrating, describing, comparing, contrasting, or analyzing information Each part of the paragraph plays an important role in communicating your meaning to your reader

_Introduction: the first section of a paragraph; should include the topic sentence and any other sentences at the beginning of the paragraph that give background information or provide a transition

_Body: follows the introduction; discusses the controlling idea, using facts, arguments, analysis, examples, and other information

_Conclusion: the final section; summarizes the connections between the information discussed in the body of the paragraph and the paragraph’s controlling idea

Ex: Identify the structure of this paragraph:

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of long ago and far away as colored motion pictures, by arranging silver atoms and color-absorbing molecules to force light waves into the patterns of original reality Or if we want to see into the center of a steel casting or the chest of an injured child, they send the information on a beam of penetrating short-wave X rays, and then convert it back into images we can see on a screen or photograph Thus almost every type of electromagnetic radiation yet discovered has been used to extend our sense of sight in some way (George Harrison, “Faith and the Scientist”)

2.4 Topic sentence

2.4.1 Definition: A topic sentence has several important functions: it substantiates or supports an essay’s thesis statement; it unifies the content of a paragraph and directs the order of the sentences; and it advises the reader of the subject to be discussed and how the paragraph will discuss it Readers generally look to the first few sentences in a paragraph to determine the subject and perspective of the paragraph

Example: Medicine is one of the oldest sciences known to man Ancient medicine was a combination of magical powers, charms, and formulas Powdered goat food and dried frog eyes seem strange and absurd remedies to modern man, but the ancients took them seriously They also believed that many illnesses were the result of having displeased the gods Therefore, the best cure was a prayer or sacrifice that would restore them to the favor of the gods For this reason, the profession of physicians or doctors was usually reserved to the priest caste This custom persists, even today, in some of the primitive tribes of Africa and among the American Indians

2.4.2 Exercises

a Write topic sentence for these topics

_A favorite place to relax _A grandparent

_A pet

b Circle the topic and underline controlling idea

1 Effective leadership requires specific qualities that anyone can develop There are several advantages to growing up in a small town

3 There are several enjoyable ways to travel between the US and Queretaro Air pollution in Mexico City is the worst in the world for a number of reasons

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support marine life

6 Most US universities require a 550 point TOEFL score for a number of reasons Animals in danger of becoming extinct come from a wide range of countries People can avoid burglaries by taking certain precautions

9 In order to fully explore the wreck of the Titanic, scientists must address several problems 10 Fixing a flat tire on a bicycle is easy if you follow these steps

c Choose the best topic sentence for each group of supporting sentences Write it on the line provided

1.) ……… For example, a person can have breakfast in New York, board an airplane, and have dinner in Paris A businesswoman in London can instantly place an order with a factory in Hong Kong by sending a fax Furthermore, a schoolboy in Tokyo can turn on a TV and watch a baseball game being played in Los Angeles

a) Airplanes have changed our lives

b) Advances in technology have made the world seem smaller c) The fax machine was an important invention

2.) ……… I enjoy summer sports like water skiing and baseball The weather is usually sunny and hot, so I can go to the beach almost every day Gardening is my hobby and I spend many summer days working in my garden Unfortunately, the days pass too quickly in summer

a) I like to garden in summer b) Summer is my favorite season c) Summer is too short

3.) ……… One thing you must consider is the quality of the university’s educational program You also need to think about the school’s size and location Finally, you must be sure to consider the university’s tuition to make sure you can afford to go to school there

a) It is expensive to attend a university in the United States

b) There are several factors to consider when you choose a university to attend c) You should consider getting a good education

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common to buy cards in stores and send them through the mail, but turning on the computer and sending cards over the Internet is also popular

a) Sending cards is very popular in North America b) Birthday cards are the most popular kind of card c) It is important to send thank-you cards

5.) ……… First of all, we need money to repair old roads and build new roads We also need more to pay teachers’ salaries and to pay for services such as trash collection Finally, more tax money is needed to give financial help to the poor citizens of the city It is clear that the city will have serious problems if taxes are not raised soon

a) We should raise city taxes b) City taxes are too high c) City taxes pay for new roads

d Write a topic sentence for each paragraph Make sure your topic sentence expresses the main idea of the paragraph

1.) ……… He has collected stamps and coins ever since he was a child He is very proud of his valuable collections Paul also enjoys painting and drawing Recently he has become interested in gardening Out of all his hobbies, Paul’s favorite one is reading He usually reads at least one book every week Paul keeps busy with all of his hobbies

2.) ……… I can’t wait to come home from school and eat the delicious meals she has prepared She is famous for her desserts like peach pie and chocolate soufflé She is always experimenting with new recipes and trying different ingredients No one in the world can cook the way my mother does

3.) ……… It never starts in cold weather The horn and the left turn signal don’t work properly Worst of all, the radio only gets one station, and the CD player is completely broken I wish I could get a new car

4.)………First and most importantly, the work is very interesting I learn new things every day and I get to travel a lot In addition, my boss is very nice She is always willing to help me when I have a problem I have also made many new friends at my job Last, but not least, the salary is fantastic

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day, my wallet was 4stolen, and I lost all my credit cards It rained every day except one, and on that day I got a terrible sunburn All in all, it wasn’t a vacation to remember

III THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PARAGRAPH 3.1 Paragraph support and development

There are basic ways to develop a paragraph

_Detail: some specific points that tell more about a general statement _Explanation: what something means or how something works

_Example: a specific person, place, thing or event that support an idea or statement

3.2 Concluding sentence

3.2.1 Definition: The final sentence of a paragraph is usually called the concluding sentence; it sums up the main points or restates the main idea in a different way- it means to give the same information in a slightly way, perhaps by using different words or using different word order

3.2.2 Exercise- Write a concluding sentence for each paragraph

1.) Credit cards have a lot of advantages First of all, credit cards are convenient because you don’t have to carry a lot of cash around You can buy the products and services you need even if you not have cash in your pocket In addition, credit cards are very helpful in emergencies Finally, you can become a better money manager as you learn to use credit cards responsibly ……… 2.) There are many reasons why I am against wearing a school uniform For one thing I don’t like they style of the uniform The navy blazer and plaid skirt are too conservative for me Secondly, the uniform isn’t comfortable I prefer to wear baggy pants and a sweater instead of a skirt and a jacket Finally, I want the freedom to express my individuality through my style of dressing ……… 3.) There are many reasons why I like wearing a uniform to school First of all, it saves time I don’t have to spend time picking out my clothes every morning Wearing a uniform also saves money It’s cheaper to purchase a new uniform than to go out and buy lots of school clothes In addition, I don’t have the pressure of keeping up with the latest styles Most importantly, wearing a school uniform gives me a sense that I belong I really think that it adds to the feeling of school spirit and community ……… ……… ………

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_Showing your work to another student is a very useful way to improve your writing Ex: Check this paragraph, leave any necessary comments and correct them

Even when a first date is a disaster, a couple can still become good friend For example my first date with John wasn’t very good I thought he was coming to pick me up at 6:30, but he did not When I got into his car, I tore my stocking Next, I accidentally got some spaghetti on my shirt Then we went to a movie He fell asleep during the movie Now that John and I are good friends, we can look back and laugh because even when a first date is a disaster, a couple can still become good friend

_Purpose: there are reasons for peer editing:

+To get back information from the reader about some things such as: what more details or explanation should be added, something is not organized clearly, what kind of not relevant information, something hard to understand, etc

+Get experience from another one; re-correct yourself _How can you peer edit?

+Read your friend’s paper several times; read from the beginning through the end for the first time for the first time and ask yourself: What is it about? What is his purpose?

+On your second time, read more slowly for specific parts and take notes Look for topic sentence and including sentence

Note places where you have trouble understanding, where there seems to be unnecessary information or where there is not enough information

Let the writer know which parts are especially strong or interesting

Ask question: this is the good way to let the writer know where to add information Circle or underline words, phrases, and sentences that you wish to comment on +Focus on grammar and spelling mistakes

IV SOME NOTES ON BUILDING A PARAGRAPH

4.1 Based on the draft, each of elements should be written into a paragraph 4.2 Choose the way to develop the paragraph content, argument and structure

Based on these issues- The content presented and the way to argue, the post and relation to previous ones, type of context and the writer’s; there are structures in groups:

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Our article concentrates on the Conditional sentences and the process of teaching it in the concern to its correlation between English and Vietnamese in order to sketch out an initial summary of this interesting issue The correlation is early considered as its important role in language cognition, especially in teaching English So, conditional sentence is surveyed in English and Vietnamese In English, this writing expresses the result of research, statistics and proves nearly all kinds of conditional sentences, and then they are divided into groups with specific quantity Besides, the relationship between these three main types of conditional sentences is also figured out In Vietnamese, some outlines and the table collecting 14 conditional sentences forms are introduced as a very important point in teaching by comparison with Vietnamese Based on these data, this article presents some notes and opinions including the way to systematize “If sentences” structures, develop some mix-types, explain the matter of conditional sentences’ quantity and compare the system of conditional conjunctions, etc on process of teaching student whose major is not English

+Inductive paragraph

Being in middle school is difficult for those moving on from elementary school When you are in middle school, the work gets harder, the amount of homework increases, and your parents give you more responsibilities because you are older Even though you are older, you are still not old enough to drive or be out for long periods of time by yourself You are in an uncomfortable space between being a teenager and being a little child The middle school years are not easy

+Chaining paragraph

In view of these circumstances, there were some who urged that I end the war at once by ordering the immediate withdrawal of all American forces From a political standpoint, this would have been a popular and easy course to follow After all, we became involved in the war while my predecessor was in office I could blame the defeat, which would be the result of my action, on him and come out as the peacemaker Some put it to me quite bluntly: This was the only way to avoid allowing Johnson’s war to become Nixon’s war

(Richard M Nixon, The Great Silent Majority, Delivered November 1969.)

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for them - dresses, shoes, delicious food, soft beds, and every home comfort (Cinderella- fairy story)

+Mixed paragraph:

Use of the internet has grown very quickly In 1983, there were 562 computers connected to the Internet By the turn of the century, there were 72.3 million computers in 247 countries on-line Experts say that the Internet is now growing at a rate of approximately 40 percent a year As time goes on, the Internet is becoming more and more popular

_Without topic sentence: is the way to express the content in each of sentence which is equal in meaning and relationship to list a set of events relating to each other, conflicting to each other or being stronger and stronger

+Abreast paragraph

They have built more prisons than schools They have mercilessly slain our patriots- they have drowned our uprisings in rivers of blood They have fettered public opinion; they have practised obscurantism against our people To weaken our race they have forced us to use opium and alcohol (Declaration of Independence, Democratic Republic of Vietnam, delivered by President Ho Chi Minh in Hanoi on September 194; Ho Chi Minh, Selected Works (Hanoi, 1960-1962), Vol 3, pp 17-21.)

4.3 Coherence

4.3.1 Definition: In a coherent paragraph, each sentence relates clearly to the topic sentence or controlling idea Each sentence flows smoothly into the next without obvious shifts or jumps A coherent paragraph also highlights the ties between old information and new information to make the structure of ideas or arguments clear to the reader

4.3.2 A number of other techniques that you can use to establish coherence in paragraphs are described below

+Repeat key words or phrases

+Create parallel structures: Parallel structures are created by constructing two or more phrases or sentences that have the same grammatical structure and use the same parts of speech This is also repeating a pattern in a series of consecutive sentences

+Be consistent in point of view, verb tense, and number

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I don’t wish to deny that the flattened, minuscule head of the large-bodied "stegosaurus" houses little brain from our subjective, top-heavy perspective, but I wish to assert that we should not expect more of the beast First of all, large animals have relatively smaller brains than related, small animals The correlation of brain size with body size among kindred animals (all reptiles, all mammals, for example) is remarkably regular As we move from small to large animals, from mice to elephants or small lizards to Komodo dragons, brain size increases, but not so fast as body size In other words, bodies grow faster than brains, and large animals have low ratios of brain weight to body weight In fact, brains grow only about two-thirds as fast as bodies Since we have no reason to believe that large animals are consistently stupider than their smaller relatives, we must conclude that large animals require relatively less brain to as well as smaller animals IF we not recognize this relationship, we are likely to underestimate the mental power of very large animals, dinosaurs in particular (Stephen Jay Gould, “Were Dinosaurs Dumb?”)

SOME USEFUL TRANSITIONS (modified from Diana Hacker, A Writer’s Reference)

To show addition:

again, and, also, besides, equally important, first (second), further, furthermore, in addition, in the first place, moreover, next, too

To give examples:

for example, for instance, in fact, specifically, that is, to illustrate

To compare:

also, in the same manner, likewise, similarly

To contrast:

although, and yet, at the same time, but, despite, even though, however, in contrast, in spite of, nevertheless, on the contrary, on the other hand, still, though, yet

To summarize or conclude:

all in all, in conclusion, in other words, in short, in summary, on the whole, that is, therefore, to sum up

To show time:

11 To show place or direction:

above, below, beyond, close, elsewhere, farther on, here, nearby, opposite, to the left (north, etc.)

To indicate logical relationship:

accordingly, as a result, because, consequently, for this reason, hence, if, otherwise, since, so, then, therefore, thus

4.3.3 Be aware of irrelevant sentence

A sentence that does not support the main idea does not belong in the paragraph, thus such a sentence should be omitted When a sentence does not belong in a paragraph, it is called an irrelevant sentence

Ex: There is one irrelevant sentence in each paragraph that follows Find that sentence and cross it out

1.) The capital city of a country is usually a very important city The government offices are located in the capital city and political leaders usually live there nearby There are many different types of governments in the world The capital may also be the centre of culture There are often museums, libraries, and universities in the capital Finally, the capital city can serve as a centre of trade, industry and commerce, so it is often the financial centre of the country

2.) The packaging of many products is very wasteful Often the packaging is twice as big as the product Packaging is used to protect things that are breakable Many food items, for example, have several layers of extra packaging Most of these extra layers could be eliminated

3.) There are several ways people can conserve natural resources One way is to turn lights off and appliances when they are not in use Another way is to drive cars less My favorite kind of car is convertible People can also insulate their houses better Finally, by reusing things like bottles and plastic bags, people can reduce the amount of waste By practicing these simple guidelines, we can save our natural resources

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5.) Cats make wonderful house pets They are very loving and friendly Cats are also clean They don’t eat much, so they are not expensive Unfortunately, some people are allergic to their hair Cats look beautiful and they’re fun to have in your home

V THE WAYTO ARGUE IN A PARAGRAPH 5.1 Definition

In argument, it is necessary to use reasoning, evidence to affirm or negate a comment, conclusion These reasoning and evidence must be persuading Each of paragraphs conveys one point including the author’s idea So, arguing is very important thing to focus on

5.2 Classify

They are the way to arrange sentences in logic process Some kinds (over 27) are listed: _Inductive method

Happiness lies not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort The joy, the moral stimulation of work no longer must be forgotten in the mad chase of evanescent profits These dark days, my friends, will be worth all they cost us if they teach us that our true destiny is not to be ministered unto but to minister to ourselves, to our fellow men (Franklin Delano Roosevelt, First Inaugural Address, Delivered March 1933)

_Deductive method

Today our nation joins with you in grief We mourn with you We share your hope against hope that some may still survive We thank all those who have worked so heroically to save lives and to solve this crime those here in Oklahoma and those who are all across this great land, and many who left their own lives to come here to work hand in hand with you We pledge to all we can to help you heal the injured, to rebuild this city, and to bring to justice those who did this evil (William Jefferson Clinton, Oklahoma Bombing Memorial Address, Delivered 23 April 1995 in Oklahoma City)

_Combine inductive and deductive methods

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the nutrients in fruits and vegetables can help fight diseases If you eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, you’ll be on the road to better health

_Antithesis

Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand today, signed the Emancipation Proclamation This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity But one hundred years later, the Negro still is not free One hundred years later, the life of the Negro is still sadly crippled by the manacles of segregation and the chains of discrimination One hundred years later, the Negro lives on a lonely island of poverty in the midst of a vast ocean of material prosperity One hundred years later, the Negro is still languished in the corners of American society and finds himself an exile in his own land And so we've come here today to dramatize a shameful condition (Martin Luther King, Jr., I Have A Dream, Delivered 28 August 1963, at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington, D.C.)

_Compare +Similar:

"All men are created equal They are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness"

This immortal statement was made in the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America m 1776 In a broader sense, this means: All the peoples on the earth are equal from birth, all the peoples have a right to live, to be happy and free (Declaration of Independence, Democratic Republic of Vietnam, delivered by President Ho Chi Minh in Hanoi on September 194)

+Difference

The Declaration of the French Revolution made in 1791 on the Rights of Man and the Citizen also states: "All men are born free and with equal rights, and must always remain free and have equal rights." Those are undeniable truths

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Democratic Republic of Vietnam, delivered by President Ho Chi Minh in Hanoi on September 194)

_Causality

+Reason comes first

Because of these briefings and because we had watched the rise of al-Qaida over many years, we understood that the network posed a serious threat to the United States We wanted to ensure that there was no respite in the fight against al-Qaida On an operational level, therefore, we decided immediately to continue to pursue the Clinton Administration's covert action authorities and other efforts to fight the network President Bush retained George Tenet as Director of Central Intelligence, and Louis Freeh remained the Director of the FBI And I took the unusual step of retaining Dick Clarke and the entire Clinton Administration's counterterrorism team on the NSC staff I knew Dick Clarke to be an expert in his field, as well as an experienced crisis manager Our goal was to ensure continuity of operations while we developed new policies (Condoleezza Rice, Opening Statement to the 9/11 Commission, delivered April 2004, Washington, D.C.)

+Result comes first

Now the primitivism of the 9th century ought to be no match for the progress of the 21st century The allure of freedom, the power of technology, the reach of communications should surely win the day Ultimately, the past cannot triumph over the future And our future offers all nations magnificent bounties of hope Because the pace of progress is growing, and it is growing exponentially (Binyamin Netanyahu, Address to the United Nations General Assembly, 24 September 2009, New York)

+List of events in causality

A good essay requires an effective structure That kind of structure is just satisfied by a clear logic thought One of most popular logic thought is causality Because of that fact, we need to get understood some kind of causality performance

VI OPINION PARAGRAPH 6.1 Fact and opinion

_Fact is a piece of information that is true

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a What is the main idea?

b What is the writer’s purpose?

c Identify the sentence or parts showing opinion d Why does the writer include a fact in this paragraph?

When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world (In Congress, July 4, 1776, The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America)

6.2 Modal expression making recommendation

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make you sound less sure of your ideas Instead, you should use grammatical methods such as modal auxiliary verbs and transitions

6.3 Transition words expressing causality

_Causal adverbs: Because, since and so are causal adverbs They join two ideas when one idea causes or explains the other Because and since introduce the cause or reason, and so and

therefore introduce the effect or result _Punctuation note

+When because or since begin a sentence, use a comma after the first part of the sentence +When the effect or result comes first, not use a comma before because and since

+A result or effect beginning with so is usually the second part of sentence; use a comma before so

+Use therefore after a period +Use a comma after therefore

EXERCISES

1 What is the difference between chaining paragraph and abreast paragraph?

2 Write a paragraph for each of these kinds of paragraph: Deductive paragraph, inductive paragraph, chaining paragraph, mixed paragraph, and abreast paragraph