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Ways We Use Paragraphs

We would not be too ambitious if we compared the purpose of a paragraph to the purpose of anything else, even life itself.   Arguably, purpose helps determine meaning.   Once we understand, if only on a small scale, the purpose of something, such as a task, a job, a relationship, or even our own lives, we know more clearly what it is we should do to accomplish that purpose.   It is no different in writing.   First, we consider who we are in a writing situation and to whom we are writing—the writer and the reader. Then, our purpose becomes clear.   Once we understand our purpose in writing, we begin to understand what we need to write. Purpose will begin to give our writing meaning and substance.

What do we mean by purpose? 

Often, what we say is just as important as how we say it.   How we say something can be understood as tone.   Just like purpose helps give our writing meaning and substance, it also helps us understand the tone our writing will have.

The purpose of each situation will determine the tone you will take in your writing. (Refer to the sidebar for a list of words related to "tone".)

 

For example, consider this writing situation: you are describing your first apprenticeship with the state's most reputable construction company.

Here you might emphasize the high and low points of the apprenticeship. Your tone might be light, playful, and even funny.

 

In this situation, your tone might be very different -- serious, informed, authoritative.

Who you are and to whom you are writing in each scenario changes the purpose of the same writing situation.

 

How do we determine purpose?

Let's approach the "how it works" section for this module in two ways:

 

Remember the vertices of the Aristotelian Rhetorical Triangle: writer, reader, topic.

 

To determine the purpose of a paragraph, first know that all paragraphs, whether they stand alone or they are part of a longer piece of writing, develop a main idea.

 

 

 

Who is writing?

 

 

 

We begin with the question, "Who is writing?" Even if the answer to the question appears simple—"Well, I am the one writing," look deeper. We all play various roles in our lives—which role are you playing in this particular writing situation?  

 

 

Who is writing?

Who is reading?

 

 

The answer to the question "who is writing" co-depends on the answer to the question "who is reading." Often our audience determines the role we will assume as a writer in a particular writing situation. So, ask yourself "who am I writing to" or "who is my audience." Again, the answer might be simple: "I am writing an essay for my instructor." But, the answer is never that simple. Given your experiences in the class and your understanding of the essay assignment, what kind of instructor is he or she? What kind of assignment are you writing?   Understanding the expectations of our reader or readers will help us understand our purpose.

 

Who is writing?

Who is reading?

What are you expected to write?

Who is writing?

Who is reading?

What are you expected to write?

 

Finally, we not only take steps to understand the writer and reader, but we also take steps to understand the expectations of the writing content.   What are you expected to write?   If it is an assignment, what steps do you need to take to make sure you understand exactly what the assignment is asking you to write?

 

If you fully consider the expectations of the writing situation, including the expectations you have of yourself as a writer, the expectations of the reader, and the expectations of the writing task, your purpose will become clear.

 

Once the purpose is clear, then WHAT YOU NEED TO SAY and HOW YOU NEED TO SAY IT will also become clear.   Let's consider a couple examples.

 

 

 


Self Check Area 

 

Now it's time to check your understanding of paragraph purpose. Click on the "Self Check Quiz" wording below to get started.

 Open/Close Self Check Quiz

 

 

Click here to go to the review section for Module 1: Paragraph Purpose


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