The Grammar Business © 2001 Glenrothes College The Grammar Business Part Two 4. Logic rules: paragraphs, links and headings

The Grammar Business © 2001 Glenrothes College 2 If you want to make good, clear sense in writing Divide the content into manageable chunks (paragraphs) make each paragraph focus on a one central idea link the paragraphs with connecting words/phrases or with headings

The Grammar Business © 2001 Glenrothes College 3 A piece of writing is built of different types of unit words phrases (groups of words) clauses (groups of words that make some sense by themselves) sentences (one - or more than one - clause with a full stop) paragraphs (one - or more than one - sentence)

The Grammar Business © 2001 Glenrothes College 4 In good writing the reader follows the meaning confidently the ideas develop logically the style is reader-friendly there are links which remind the reader she s/he is and where s/he is going the writing is pleasurable to read

The Grammar Business © 2001 Glenrothes College 5 In poorly-constructed writing the development of ideas may be confusing there are poor connections between the paragraphs (if there are paragraphs) the style is monotonous the writer seems to be ignoring the reader, rather than ‘talking’ to them

The Grammar Business © 2001 Glenrothes College 6 Remember conjunctions? Mostly small words that can link sentences - like, for example –and –but –or –nor

The Grammar Business © 2001 Glenrothes College 7 There are also linking words which are useful to connect paragraphs - like However, On the other hand, Similarly, Moreover, Nevertheless, It is also true that Many of these are followed by a comma.

The Grammar Business © 2001 Glenrothes College 8 You don’t have to have a linking word or phrase to start each paragraph but it should be clear to your reader where a new paragraph is going - and where it has come from ( a sense of logical connection) it should be clear that you’ve started a new paragraph for a good reason i.e. a new idea, a different aspect....

The Grammar Business © 2001 Glenrothes College 9 In essays there is a central line of thought, presented in a sequence of logically connected paragraphs the first paragraph introduces the purpose and scope of the essay the last paragraph sums up the thought

The Grammar Business © 2001 Glenrothes College 10 In reports there’s a central line of thought, presented in a sequence of logically connected (usually headed & numbered) sections the first section introduces the purpose and scope of the report section headings provide links and connections

The Grammar Business © 2001 Glenrothes College 11 In reports, the reader can quickly get an overview of the contents by looking at a ‘Contents’ page (if there is one) reading a summary or ‘abstract’ (if it’s a long document) skimming through the section headings reading the introduction and conclusion

The Grammar Business © 2001 Glenrothes College 12 Essays and reports are logically constructed divided into chunks (either paragraphs or sections) connected by a clear, central line of thought

The Grammar Business © 2001 Glenrothes College 13 Logic and structure exercise go to Handout Four in the Course Notes – Part Two try dividing the text logically do this either as if it’s an essay (with linking words/phrases and paragraphs) or do it as a report, with headed sections