Theocratic Aid To Kingdom Publishers

Lesson 42

PARAGRAPH CONSTRUCTION

Good paragraphing is based on the principles of unity. Paragraphing is the division of thoughts into handy, sensible units to show the introduction of a new idea, a new group of ideas, or a direct quotation. The only hard and fast rule to remember is to place in the same paragraph all sentences related to the same thought or same phase of a thought.

By use of paragraphs in a theme or composition both the reader and the writer are greatly aided. They aid the reader to discern when one group of thoughts on one idea is completed and a new idea begins. The ordinary mind is not capable of taking in a large number of details unless they are broken up into units. If paragraphing were not

employed in the writing of a composition all the points or ideas would be run together and they would be hard to find, and, if found, hard to grasp by the reader.

Length of a paragraph cannot be arbitrarily set at any specific measure or limit. Short and long paragraphs have both advantages and disadvantages. Ordinarily short paragraphs are used at the introduction and conclusion of a talk, or for emphasis. One should avoid too many short, choppy paragraphs of two or three sentences in a composition, because usually when this is practiced the reader has a hard time in grasping the main idea amid so many small units. One should not become breathless at the sight of a long paragraph, because if it has solid unity of argument it is justified. If it were divided into shorter paragraphs the thought content or unity might be broken or disunited. For example, in the Watchtower magazine one will frequently notice long paragraphs, but this is to be expected because more thoughtful and serious work demands a larger size to make room for the fine analysis and nice distinctions of skilled thinking. On the other hand, some paragraphs may be long without justification. In such cases they can be cut down or divided into smaller units and still be unified. When paragraphs are too long the reader cannot readily find or locate the key ideas. Note the variation of paragraph lengths in the American Standard Version Bible.

Each paragraph, as a rule, has a topic sentence, generally the first sentence. In it the writer states the main thought of the paragraph. In effect he says, "This is what I'm going to talk about." It is the signpost for what comes next. The last sentence is often referred to as the clincher sentence. These two substantial statements, the topic and clincher sentences, hold the paragraph firmly together. They fulfill the same purpose in the paragraph as do the introduction and conclusion in the talk as a whole.

There are several methods of developing the material presented within the paragraph itself; eight will here be discussed.

First is the development by COMPARISON. This is a paragraph which brings out the meaning of the topic sentence by likening it to another idea supposedly better known to the reader. An excellent example of this is found at 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, American Standard Version. The topic sentence is: "For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ." Following this, the paragraph goes on to compare the body of Christ with the human body, showing the likeness of parts composing them. In this way it brings out the main idea of the topic sentence.

The second is development by CONTRAST. Just opposite to the above method, this one amplifies the main idea by contrasting differences instead of showing similarities. Just as a light background sets off a dark object, so does one idea set off an unlike idea. For example see the paragraphs in the American Standard Version at Isaiah 65:13-16 and Galatians 5:16-24.

The method next to be given is development by ELIMINATION. It consists in eliminating from the reader's consideration what is not true in order that what is true will stand out more clearly. A paragraph on page 16 of the booklet Government and Peace uses this method; which reads, in part: "Note this further and indisputable fact: that the fight is not Catholic against Protestant; the issue is not Fascism or Communism against democracies; but the issue is, man rule under Satan against Theocracy by Jesus Christ." This paragraph eliminates what the issue is not and then sets forth what the issue really is.

Development by CAUSE AND EFFECT is also commonly used. Causes or factors are discussed, which causes produce certain effects. Or effects could be discussed first, followed by a mention of the causes. See the paragraphs in the American Standard Version at Isaiah 24:1-13 and Revelation 12: 7-12 for examples.

Development by EXAMPLE is citing examples in support of the key thought. If one's topic sentence were, "No one

who advocates The Theocracy can escape persecution by the opposition government of Satan," and then he gave examples of Abel, Christ Jesus and the apostles as evidence, that would be development by example. See also the paragraph in the American Standard Version at Hebrews 11:1-12.

Development by DEFINITION is accomplished by defining a key word or words in the topic sentence. Such a development is found in the booklet Jehovah's Servants Defended, page 1, paragraph 4. The topic sentence is, "Jehovah's witnesses are not a sect, a cult or a religion." The paragraph is then developed by telling who Jehovah's witnesses are and defining the words sect, cult, and religion.

Development by REPETITION is one in which a key word of the topic sentence is repeated often throughout the paragraph. An excellent example of this development is found in the booklet Fighting for Liberty on the Home Front. On page 6, paragraph 2, the topic sentence states, "The knowledge of this truth makes one free to worship Jehovah God Almighty in spirit and in truth." Then each sentence thereafter except one contains the word "truth". Repetition of a key word is what gives the emphasis in this type. See also in the American Standard Version the paragraph at Ecclesiastes 3:1-15.

Another type of paragraph is developed by QUESTIONS. In this method, the thought of the paragraph is carried forward by a series of aptly proposed questions. The opening paragraph of the booklet Religion Reaps the Whirlwind uses questions to good effect. If used sparingly, this method of development will promote a pleasing variation in paragraph construction.

Sometimes the paragraphs seem to lack coherence one to the other. To overcome such condition use connecting or transitional words or phrases. They act as a bridge from one thought to another. It may be a single word, called a transitional conjunction, or a group of words, called a transitional expression. Every writer or speaker should have many at his command. If the thought continuity from

one paragraph to the other is not sufficient, by the use of such connectives give the finished whole coherence where necessary.