UNDERSTANDING PARAGRAPH

To make we understand what the text tells about, we have to know five points of understanding paragraph, they are :

A.      Topic

Subject, or something that discussed in paragraph. Generally, topic consist of one word, but it can be consist of two words.

B.      Main Idea

To find main idea easily, we have to know the characteristics of main idea, they are :

v  Independent clause

v  Statement form

v  More specific than topic

v  Can be in first sentence, second sentence, in the middle sentence, or may be in first and last sentence.

C.      Topic  Sentence

The sentence that contains main idea. Sometimes, topic sentence is same as main idea.

D.      Details

Additional informations about main idea. If we have found the main idea, and topic sentence, the rest is details.

E.       Transitions

There are two place of transitions, within paragraph and between paragraph. Within paragraph, it means that the transitions are between sentences, and between paragraph, it means that transitions are at the beginning of paragraph.

e.g. furthermore,In addition, in fact, so, next, finnaly, but, etc.

Examples :

Computers and Education in America

In the last decade, computers have invaded every aspect of education, from kindergarten through college. The figures shows that schools have spent over two billion dollars installing two million new computers. Recently, with the explosive increase of sites on the internet computers have taken another dramatic rice.

Topic = Computers

Main idea = computers have invaded every aspect of education

Topic sentence = In the last decade, computers have invaded every aspect of education, from kindergarten through college

Details = The figures shows that schools have spent over two billion dollarsinstalling two million new computers.recently, with the explosive increase of sites on the internet computers have taken another dramatic rice.

Transition = Recently

Outdoor recreation is on the increase world wide as people have more leisure time, greater mobility, and more disposable income.  In addition there is a proliferation of new types of recreation such as mountain bike riding, snow boarding, canyoning and other emerging activities that have different environmental requirements and are often in conflict with more traditional outdoor activities.

Topic : Outdoor Recreation

Main Idea : Outdoor recreation is on the increase world wide as people have more leisure time, greater mobility, and more disposable income.

Topic Sentence : Outdoor recreation is on the increase world wide as people have more leisure time, greater mobility, and more disposable income.

Details : In addition there is a proliferation of new types of recreation such as mountain bike riding, snow boarding, canyoning and other emerging activities that have different environmental requirements and are often in conflict with more traditional outdoor activities.

Transition : in addition

Conventional methods used in the design and planning of park management facilities have depended on user surveys and traffic counts to estimate the requirements.  However these methods fall far short of the real needs of managers who need to comprehensively evaluate the cascading effects of the flow of visitors through a sequence of sites and estimating the effects of increasing visitor flows through time.

Topic : Conventional methods

Main Idea : Conventional methods used in the design and planning of park management facilities

Topic Sentence :  Conventional methods used in the design and planning of park management facilities have depended on user surveys and traffic counts to estimate the requirements.

Details : However these methods fall far short of the real needs of managers who need to comprehensively evaluate the cascading effects of the flow of visitors through a sequence of sites and estimating the effects of increasing visitor flows through time.

Transition : However

Computer simulation has typically been utilized to study biophysical environmental processes (Goodchild et al., 1993) with more recent attention being focused on "human dimensions" of environmental systems.  Many of these simulation modeling efforts employ a number of artificial intelligence techniques combined with Geographic Information System (GIS) functions to address human-environment interactions (e.g. Green, 1987; Slothower, 1996; Gimblett et al. 1996a, 1996b; Briggs et al. 1996).  Exploratory studies (eg. Berry et al. 1993; Gimblett et al. 1994; Saarenmaa et al. 1994; Gimblett and Itami 1997). Tobler (1979) and Itami (1988) have suggested the use of cellular automata (CA) as a method for simulating dynamic environmental processes over large scale landscapes, and applications of this approach have been successfully demonstrated (e.g., Green et al. 1987; Manneville et al. 1989). 

Topic : Computer

Main Idea : Computer simulation has typically been utilized to study biophysical environmental processes (Goodchild et al., 1993)

Topic Sentence : Computer simulation has typically been utilized to study biophysical environmental processes (Goodchild et al., 1993) with more recent attention being focused on "human dimensions" of environmental systems.

Details : Many of these simulation modeling efforts employ a number of artificial intelligence techniques combined with Geographic Information System (GIS) functions to address human-environment interactions (e.g. Green, 1987; Slothower, 1996; Gimblett et al. 1996a, 1996b; Briggs et al. 1996).  Exploratory studies (eg. Berry et al. 1993; Gimblett et al. 1994; Saarenmaa et al. 1994; Gimblett and Itami 1997). Tobler (1979) and Itami (1988) have suggested the use of cellular automata (CA) as a method for simulating dynamic environmental processes over large scale.

For me, English is very important. Because i want to know everything in this world, and the way is by mastering English. Actually, i have a dream to go abroad like my seniors. To reach it, of course i should improve my English capability. Now, i am trying to improve my speaking, listening, grammar, and everything about English. Not only in campus, but also at home I pcactice my English.

Topic : English

Main Idea : English is very important.

Topic Sentence : For me, English is very important.

Details : Because i want to know everything in this world, and the way is by mastering English. Actually, i have a dream to go abroad like my seniors. To reach it, of course i should improve my English capability. Now, i am trying to improve my speaking, listening, grammar, and everything about English. Not only in campus, but also at home I pcactice my English.

Transition : Actually