What+is+a+paragraph

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Group A. What is a paragraph? A paragraph is the smallest part a text is divided into. It is made up of three to five sentences and each sentence is normally quite short, as a matter of fact it contains from nine to twelve words. Every paragraph should have more or less from sixty to eighty words. In each paragraph a specific topic is discussed and in a text the most important paragraph is normally the first one, in which the writer explains the main topic of his work. Secretary:Nardi B. Federica

This is an interesting idea but it doesn't correspond to any rules that I am aware of (unless they are those suggested by Mr Collins as appropriate guidelines for students preparing for the C2 exam). If you look at any normal textbook or novel written in English, I think you will find that the question is rather different. Your description of a paragraph should be descriptive rather than prescriptive (i.e. it should say what a paragraph IS from observing paragraphs in books, articles etc, rather than saying what you think a paragraph SHOULD be). Let me know what you think!

I agree with the teacher; maybe we just focused on the exam rules, or what we heard about it. So, the main thing about "What is a paragraph?", is that a paragraph should be coherent and cohesive, and without superfluous words. Silvia.

A paragraph is a part of a text and, more specifically, a set of sentences between 8 and 11 lines, in which the writer develops a main idea. From a visual point of view, at the beginning you have to indent the first line while, when you have finish to expose your ideas, you have to change the line and start a new paragraph. There are different types of paragraphs each one with its specific function (Narration Paragraph - Exposition Paragraph - Description Paragraph - Persuasion Paragraph). Eleonora, Francesca, Ilaria.

Thank you girls. Please note 'finish + ...ing'. We don't usually talk about 'exposing' ideas - can you find a better word here? Try checking the American corpus as we did in our lesson. A paragraph can have any number of lines - there is no rule about this, but as you say it usually contains/develops one main idea.

Paragraph Group C

A paragraph is a part of a text, which deals with a particular idea. It consists of one or more sentences, which are coherent and cohesive. From the visual and structural point of view, the its start is indicated by the beginning of a new line and it is indented. A paragraph always ends with a full stop.

Yes, that’s a paragraph! Well done group C.

GROUP D A paragraph is part of a text composed by sentences written in a specific order. Paragraphs develop many ideas, which refer to the main topic. Each idea might be a consequence of the previous one, but it can also explain an opposite point of view. One paragraph can be clearly identify by the space at the very beginning of it.

Thanks Group D – but I did say write a paragraph, and you’ve written 3!!

// Here are 3 paragraphs on the subject (from Wikipedia) // // A paragraph (from the Greek paragraphos, "to write beside" or "written beside") is a self-contained unit of a discourse in writing dealing with a particular point or idea. Paragraphs consist of one or more sentences.[1][2] The start of a paragraph is indicated by beginning on a new line. Sometimes the first line is indented. //

// A written work — be it an essay or a story — is about an idea or concept. An essay explains it; a story narrates it. To help the reader understand and enjoy it, the explanation or narration is broken down into units of text, the paragraph. In an essay, each paragraph explains or demonstrates a key point or thought of the central idea, usually to inform or persuade. In fiction, each paragraph serves to advance the plot, develop a character, describe a scene or narrate an action — all to entertain the reader. All paragraphs support each other, leading the reader from the first idea to the final resolution of the written work. Some (print) styles do not indent the first paragraph, but do indent all those that subsequently follow. This follows the logic that the purpose of indenting is to separate paragraphs in a way that lets the reader know where one paragraph finishes and another begins. The general American practice is to indicate all paragraphs including the first, by indenting the first line (three to five spaces), whereas business letters generally use blank lines and no indent (these are sometimes known as "block paragraphs"). //

// For other purposes, indented paragraphs are preferred. //