Writing Essays in English Language and Linguistics Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- A guide to the book's icons: what do they mean?
- Part 1 The basics
- Chapter 1 Writing at school and writing at university: are they really so different?
- Chapter 2 Fundamental principles
- Part 2 Getting down to writing
- Linguistics glossary
- Task key
- References
- Index
Chapter 2 - Fundamental principles
from Part 1 - The basics
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2012
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Acknowledgements
- Introduction
- A guide to the book's icons: what do they mean?
- Part 1 The basics
- Chapter 1 Writing at school and writing at university: are they really so different?
- Chapter 2 Fundamental principles
- Part 2 Getting down to writing
- Linguistics glossary
- Task key
- References
- Index
Summary
‘So what are the most important things I need to know . . . even before I start writing?’
Paragraph essentials: what is a paragraph . . . and when should you begin a new one?
At some time during our school life, most of us were told that when we want to begin writing about a new idea we should start a new paragraph. And if you think I'm going to tell you anything different here then I'm afraid you're going to be disappointed – new paragraphs are indeed started when a writer has a new idea they wish to introduce into their discussion. The trouble is, it can be difficult in practice to know what a new idea actually is. A person might argue, for example, that every sentence expresses a new idea; however, we certainly don't have a separate paragraph for every sentence that we write!
Generally, a new paragraph represents a shift of focus by the writer which is usually the result of one of the following:
a new argument;
a new point in a sequenced argument containing a series of logical steps or thought processes;
a new stage in a process or procedure, or a discrete element of a description;
an alternative point of view;
a discussion or explanation of each point or item in a list – one paragraph for every point/item.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Writing Essays in English Language and LinguisticsPrinciples, Tips and Strategies for Undergraduates, pp. 14 - 42Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2012