HOW TO WRITE AN EFFECTIVE PARAGRAPH: DEDUCTIVE STYLE

So far, I have been very interested in discussing writing as one of language elements and also conducting some researches about it because through writing I can observe how good language learners express their ideas and then transcribed them in a written form. Furthermore, writing activity is a process, through which I can investigate the learners’ language improvement in acquiring the language.

However, some gaps often occur to English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners that they find it difficult to transfer their source language into the target one. The following findings are what most of learners complaining about:

1.      The learners have a few numbers of vocabularies. As a result, they write their paragraph in Indonesian and then translate them into English. Finally, they usually produce very short paragraphs for they spend much time to look up dictionary to find the proper word of their translation.   

2.      The learners get difficulties in grammaticality. It is a very common issue that the learners often deals with that they often make mistakes in terms of grammar and structure. This formulaic pattern of English often leads them into failure.  

3.      The learners cannot develop their paragraphs. After getting the instruction to write, the learners usually have their ideas in mind. But, they often fail give some supports toward the ideas. It absolutely makes their writing neither coherent nor cohesive.

Therefore, I propose the strategy of how to write an effective paragraph. The approach used is the deductive one in which the main idea comes first followed by the supporting ideas. Through the strategy I will promote below, it is expected that it can minimize the above occurrence:

1.      Scaffolding the concept using a mind mapping activity. This will enable the learners to select their ideas and keep them under control. For an instance, in writing a discussion text, the writer should represent two different points of view to discuss. The topic of the writing is watching television for children.

2.      Making the outline to develop the map. The outline will ease the learners to decide what to write. It will also enable them to carefully determine what will become the main idea and the supporting ideas. They can arrange the outline like the sample given below:

§  Title: watching TV for children

§  Paragraph I

a)      Main idea: the existence of television in this new era

b)      Supporting idea 1: children as one of the viewers

c)      Supporting idea 2: the impact of watching TV on the children

§  Paragraph II

a)      Main idea: positive effects of watching TV on children

b)      Supporting idea 1: source of information

c)      Supporting idea 2: knowledge gained through watching TV

d)     Supporting idea 3: media of entertainment

§  Paragraph III

a)      Main idea: the negative effect of watching TV on children

b)      Supporting idea 1: spoiling time

c)      Supporting idea 2: containing some inappropriate programs for children

§  Paragraph IV

a)      Main idea: the conclusion

b)      Supporting idea 1: attitude should be taken by the viewers

c)      Supporting idea 2: the responsibility of the parents

3.      Administering the above outline will be beneficial to help the beginning writer to develop the writing consistently  Therefore, the next step is to develop the outline into a meaningful paragraph. It can be done by constructing the point stated in the outline into a complete sentence.

§  Paragraph I

a)      Main idea: the existence of television in this new era à television has showed its existence since it can grab millions of viewers’ attention in this new era.

b)      Supporting idea 1: children as one of the viewers à television also becomes the most important thing that children as one of the viewers enjoy most of the time.

c)      Supporting idea 2: the impact of watching TV on the children à the positive and negative impact may impose the children’s behavior

4.      After constructing the sentences and put them in a paragraph, the last but not least thing is that to make some revision in the writing. Adding some temporal conjunction or adverbial conjunction will make it more sense and alive.

Example: Television has showed its existence for years since it can grab millions of viewers’ attention in this new era. Furthermore, television also becomes the most important thing that children as one of the viewers enjoy most of the time. However, the positive and negative impact may impose the children’s behavior.   

5.      When the whole paragraph has been revised it is better to ask for a proofreading to friends or the teacher. If it is done, then the writing is ready to be published.

As a conclusion of this piece of writing, I would give some suggestions especially for the teacher that the process of writing should be fulfilled with some guidance and suggestions for the learners about their writing. This kind of feedback is very much helpful for the students about their writing strength and weakness. The assessment should be also in the form of motivating judgment.