“Paragraph”,
this word is not strange for us, since we have learned it from elementary
school. When I read some materials or files about paragraph in English from
Miss Vita, I think I will get a lot of different knowledge about paragraph in
English and in Indonesian. Than after I read those materials. I sure myself
that I will get some different knowledge about paragraph, but I will also get
some same knowledge about it.
A paragraph must have a topic or main idea and every sentence in a paragraph must suport that main idea. When I
was in senior high school my teacher also give a file about paragraph to me, there are many kind of paragraph. there are:
RECOUNT
Social function : To retell events
for the purpose of informing or entertaining.
Generic structure
1. Orientation : provides the setting and introduces participants.
2. Events : tell what happened, in what sequence
3. Re-orientation : optional – closure of events.
Going to Sanur Beach
Orientation Last holiday our family
went to Bali to have a picnic. We went there by plane. We were in Bali for six
days, so we had to stay in a hotel because we didn’t have any relatives there.
We stayed in Bali Beach Hotel near Sanur Beach.
Event 1 When we came to the hotel, we didn’t come to our room directly, but we
have to check in first. We were received by the receptionists who were friendly
and kind, and then we were helped by a room boy who took us to our rooms.
Event 2 On the second day we visited Sanur Beach. We just took a walk, because
the beach is in front of the hotel. We walked along the seashore, played water
and sand. Actually we also wanted to swim in the beach but the lifeguard didn’t
allow us.
Event 3 Besides doing many activities we also watched some foreign tourists
activities. Some tourists were lying on the beach, while others were having
message or surfing.
Re-Orientation When we felt tired, we took a rest to have some meals and
drinks. And at 2 p.m. we went to the hotel. It was tiring but we were happy.
Adapted from: English exercise book
for Junior High School
REPORT
Social function : To describe the
way things are, with reference to a range of natural, man made and social
phenomena in our environment.
Generic structure:
1. General classification : tell what the phenomena under discussion it.
2. Description : tell what the phenomenon under discussion is like in terms of
(1), parts (2), qualities (3), habits or behaviors if living, uses, if non
natural.
General classification A post office
has an important role in the modern century. Though there are a lot of means of
communications such as telephones, facsimiles, handphones and computers, the
post office is still needed by people for the cheap public service. The clerks
and the postmen are always busy serving the people.
Description of function The post office sends and receives various kinds of
letters, such as post cards, aerograms, cables, postal order, surface mails,
airmails, registered letters, besides, it provides also stamps, revenue stamps,
envelopes, etc. We can also pay the electric bill the installment of the house
in the house or save money inthe post office.
Description of Before Lebaran day a lot of people in the big cities return home
to their owns. They bring a lot of luggage and money.The post office will help
them send their luggage and their money to their home towns. When the arrive a
their home towns, they can take their luggage and their money directly by
showing the receipts. So, they can go back to their home towns, they can take
their luggage and their money directly by showing the receipts. So, they can go
back to their home towns safer and feel more comfortable.
Adapted from: English exercise book
for Junior High School
DISCUSSION
Social function : To present (at
least) two points of view about an issue.
Generic structure:
1. Issue: statements, preview
2. Arguments for and against or statement of differing points of view :point,
elaboration.
3. Conclusion or recommendation.
Do women Deserve Higher Education
Issue The issue we are discussing is
whether women need higher education or not. Some people think that there is no
use for women to get higher education, surrounding. Thus, knowing about
practical household management is sufficient for women to lead their lives
Argument against Moreover, higher education does not ensure women get better life,
so why bother about it? There are many examples of women who succed in their
lives though they enjoy only average education. They succeed in managing their
household, educating their children and participating in community activities.
Argument for On the other hand, some other people believe that women also have
rights to pursue higher education. They claim that education is important for
everyone, including women, because it is one way to improve the quality of
life. Therefore, every woman must get education as high as they can pursue.
A further point they make is that higher education is not just the matter of
achieving a better position in community or working sphere. More importantly,
it is the way to empower women and to give them better understanding of life
and universe.
Conclusion In summary, women have the same right as men’s to get higher
education. However, it is also their right to take the chance or just to leave
it.
Adapted from: An English Text Book
for Senior High School
ANECDOTE
Social function : To share with
others an account of an unusual or amusing incident.
Generic structure:
1. Abstract : signals the retelling of an unusual incident
2. Orientation : set the scene
3. Crisis : provide details of the unusual incident
4. Reaction : reaction to crisis
5. Coda : optional reflection on or evaluation of the incident.
Where is My Sixth Donkey?
Abstract One sunny morning, Nasredin
went to the market and brought six donkeys with him. He wanted to sell them.
Nasredin felt tired so he rode one of the donkeys.
Orientation A moment later he wanted to make sure that he had not lost any of
the donkeys. Sitting on the back of his donkey. Nasredin counted his donkeys
but skipping the one he was riding on. So, he was confused because there were
only five donkeys left, while he brought six donkeys from his house.
Crisis He got down from his donkey and started to count again. He was very glad
then because there were six donkeys. He rode one of the again. Five minutes
later he started counting the donkeys again. And he was confused again because
he had only five donkeys.
Reaction Coincidentally one of his friends came by and asked him, “Why do you
look very confused, Nasreddin?”. Nasreddin answered, “Yes, I’m very confused.
This morning I left my house with six donkeys. Then I got down from my donkey
and I counted again and there were six donkeys. I was wondering but I was glad
because my lost donkey was back. Then I rode one of them again. Now, I count
them again and there are only five donkeys left.
Coda His friend said, there are six donkeys here. No, there are only five. Let
met count again, one, two, three, four, five. There are only five!” Nasreddin
answered.
Yes, you just counted five donkeys, and you are riding on the other one and you
didn’t count it. So, there are six donkeys, his friend explained.
Adapted from: Informational English
for Senior High School
NARRATIVE
Social function : To amuse,
entertain and to deal with actual or vicarious experience in different ways.
Narrative deal with problematic events which lead to a crisis or turning point
of some kind, which in turn finds a resolution.
Generic structure
1. Orientation : sets the scene and introduces the participants.
2. Evaluation : a stepping back to evaluate the flight
3. Complication : a crisis arises
4. Resolution : the crisis is resolved, for better or for worse
5. Re-orientation : optional
Orientation Margaret Dale is twenty
four and a nanny. She is the daughter of a well known surgeon. When she was
young, Margaret and her sister, Barbara, had a nanny. She dressed them and took
them to school in the morning. She prepared their breakfast and their lunch
box, to take to school. She met them after school and took them home. After
tea, she used to read to them in bed. On Barbara’s birthday she organized a
fantastic party. It was then Margaret decided that she too would be a nanny.
Complication Her farther was furious when she wanted to become a nanny. Like
most parents he wanted Margaret to go to university and hold a good position in
society.
Resolution But Margaret decided to go to college after leaving secondary
school. There she studied all the subjects necessary to look after children.
She got her certificate and she has been working for four years as a nanny. The
main thing is she is enjoying herself. She gets a lot of personal satisfaction
in her job. And her father sees a young, happy girl with a lot of enthusiasm
for life.
Adapted from: Informational English
for Senior High School
REVIEW
Social function : To critique an art
work, event for a public audience. Such work of art include movies, TV shows,
book, plays, operas recordings, exhibitions, concerts and ballets.
Generic structure
1. Orientation : place the work in its general and particular context, often by
comparing it with others of its kind or through analogue with a non art object
or event.
2. Interpretive Recount : summaries the plot and / or provides account of how
the reviewed rendition of the work came into being : is optional, but if
present often recursive.
3. Evaluation : provides an evaluation of the work and / or its performance or
production is usually recursive
4. Evaluative : summation provides a kind of punch line which sums up the
reviewers opinion of the art event as a whole is optional.
What’s up with love?
Orientation Ada Apa Dengan Cinta ?
(What’s up with love?) is a 2002’s big hit in Indonesia. Many viewers watched
it again and over again (especially the teenager audience).
Interpretive recount It’s no surprise considering that the movie’s theme offers
something that closely related to lives. But, it’s not all about it. There are
a lot of sociological concepts framed in the plot. It gives the audiences
something to take home about. Being juvenile is not always being part of the
peer group. Follow your own heart is much better step to take.
Evaluation The direction made this movie with trying as much as possible to
avoid the clich that a teen it makes this movie as a positive one for the
teenagers. Much better than a teen movie used to be (hedonism, lack of originality,
vulgarism, etc). The cast is great. Each actor plays their part decently and
makes the plot’s development in much style. Dian Sastro Wardoyo does know how
to act in front of the camera and she indeed the next best thing in Indonesia.
Evaluative Technically, this movie is a mediocre. The face is a bit slow, but
in general, “Ada Apa Dengan Cinta ?” is a respectable movie.
Adapted from: An English Text book
for Senior High School
DESCRIPTION
Social function : To describe a
particular person, place or thing.
Generic structure
1. Identification : Identifies phenomenon to be described.
2. Description : Describes parts, qualities, characteristics.
Sriwedari Park
Identification Sriwedari is a famous
place in the centre of Solo. It is situated on Jalan Slamet Riyadi, close to
the tourist information centre.
Description of qualities Sriwedari Park is best known for it’s performance of
Wayang orang. In the middle of the park, there is a traditional theatre for
performing wayang orang. Wayang orang is one of the traditional cultures from
Central Java. It is a kind of wayang kulit but it is performed by people. The
visitors can enjoy the show on Saturday night or an certain occasions like
festivals, Maleman, etc.
Description of parts The park also features a number of recreation facilities,
cinemas, children playground, dangdut stage and a museum. People will take
their children to lay in the play gound on Saturday night and on Sunday
morning. The car also watch film in Solo theatre everyday. For dangdut lovers they
can enjoy the songs and dances on Saturday night.
EXPLANATION
Social function : To explain the
processes involved in the formation or workings of natural or socio cultural
phenomena.
Generic structure
1. A general statement: Position the reader.
2. A sequenced explanation of why or how something occurs.
General statement Speech production
is made possible by the specialized movement of our vocal organ that generate
speech sound waves.
A sequenced explanation Like all sound production require a source of energy.
The source of energy for speech production is the steady stream of air that
comes from the lungs as we exhale. When we breathe normally, the air stream is
inaudible. To become audible, the air stream must vibrate rapidly. The vocal
cords cause the air stream to vibrate.
As we talk, the vocal cords open and lose rapidly, chops up the steady air
stream in to a series of puffs. These puffs are heard as a buzz. But this buzz
is still not a speech.
To produce speech sound, the vocal tract must change shape. During speech we
continually alter the shape of the vocal tract by moving the tongue and lips,
etc. These movements change the acoustic properties of the vocal tract, which
in turn produce the different sounds of speech.
Adapted from: An English Text book
for Senior High School
ANALYTICAL EXPOSITION
Social function : To persuade the
reader or listener that something is the case.
Generic structure
1. Thesis : position, introduces topic and indicates writers position preview
outlines the main arguments to be presented
2. Arguments : point retates main arguments outlined in preview elaboration
develops and supports each point / arguments.
3. Reiteration : restates writer’s position (Conclusion)
Thesis The facsimile machine has
changed communication completely. It is usually called the fax machine. People
nowadays do not send telegrams. They send a fax.
Arguments 1 It is faster and you can send it from your own home or from a
“wartel”. You can use it to send messages and pictures.
Arguments 2 A fax machine has many functions. It can be used to send and
receive documents. It can also be used as a document is very simple. You place
the document you want to send, face down in to the feeder. Dial the number and
press “start”. Dialing a number is similar to dialing a phone.
Argument 3 An additional function of the machine is the “one-touch” dialing.
You can store you frequently used numbers giving each number an abbreviated
code. For example, you give the code 1 for your friend’s number. Then you give
numbers 2, 3 to other numbers. The next time you press 1 the machine will dial
your friend’s number.
Argument 4 The fax machine is a very useful tool for businesses and newspaper
journalists. They can use a fax machine to send or receive their documents
quickly and easily. They can also send pictures or drawings using a fax
machine.
Reiteration It has become one of the frequently used communication systems in
global communication.
Adapted from: Informational English
for Senior High School
HORTATORY EXPOSITION
Social function : To persuade the
reader or listener that something should or should not be the case.
Generic structure
1. Thesis: announcement of issue concern.
2. Argument : reason for concern, leading to recommendation
3. Recommendation : statement of what ought or ought not to happen.
Thesis International Labour
Organisation’s (ILO) major project is the reduction of child-labour. The use of
child-labour in the manufacturing of products is very strong in East Asia.
Children as young as six and seven work at jobs from 6.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m.
They work in conditions which are very unhealthy. They are just given one meal
a day.
Argument ILO recognizes the fact that child labour has been around for al long
time. In the UK, there used to be children of five and six years working in the
cloth mills of Lancashire and in the coal mines. Employers found children less
troublesome. They could also be paid less.
Argument Nowadays child labour is very common in Asia and Africa. In India and
Afghanistan employers use child labour in the carpet and glass industries. They
claim that young children have nimble fingers. They can do the job better than
adults.
Argument Child labour is undesirable. Yet it seems to be necessary in low -
income countries. Poverty often makes child labour necessary. Poor families
need the money that their children earn.
Recommendation Schooling is necessary in the battle against child labour. One
of the main problems with schooling is its cost. Parents have to find the money
for school fees, uniforms, school books and pencils. Then there is the cost of
transport to school. An ILO report in 1996 recommended that income of parents
be raised. If they get a better income, these children would be sent to school.
So the first priority should be to provide skills training for parents. Then
they would be able to earn more and be able to send their children to school.
Adapted from: Informational English
for Senior High School
NEWS ITEM
Social function : To inform readers,
listeners or viewer about the event of the day which are considered newsworthy
or important.
Generic structure
1. Newsworthy event recounts the event in summary from.
2. Background event elaborate what happen, to whom, in what circumstances.
3. Source : comment by participant in, witnesses to and authorities expert on
the event.
Indonesian Maid Beheaded
Newsworthy event An Indonesian
housemaid has been executed in Saudi Arabia after being convicted of killing
her employer, the Saudi Interior Minister said.
Background The woman was beheaded in the Southern Asia province in what was the
second execution in the country.
The maid was earlier found of suffocating her female boss and stealing her
sewellery. Rape, murder and other serious crimes can carry the death penalty in
the conservative.
Source Last year, Saudi Arabia, which follow a strict interpretations of
Syaria, Islamic Law executed more than 130 people.
SPOOF
Generic structure
1. Orientation
2. Event : this is the sequence of event that can be more than one.
3. Twist : something that is fun.
Orientation Last week, I took my
four - years old daughter, Sally to a children party. We traveled by train.
Sally has never traveled by train before she sat near the window and asked a
lot of questions.
Event 1 “Why are you doing that?” Sally asked. “To make my self beautiful, the
lady answered. She put away her compact and smiled kindly. But you are still
ugly “Sally said”
Event 2 Suddenly, a middle – aged lady came into our compartment and sat
opposite to Sally.
“Hello little girl, she said. Sally didn’t answer, but looked at her
curiously.”
Twist The lady took out her compact powder. She began to make up her face.
PROCEDURE
Social function : To describe how
something is accomplished through a sequence of actions or steps.
Generic structure
1. Goal
2. Material (not required for all procedural texts)
3. Steps 1 – n (goal followed by a series of steps oriented to achieving the
goal)
How to cook Instant Noodle
Instant noodle can be cooked very
simply by following these instructions:
Your will need one packed of instant noodle, 2 glass of water, a pan, a bowl.
Boil 2 glasses of water in a pan add noodle, stir slowly for 3 minutes. While
the noodle is being cooked, put the seasoning and chili powder in a bowl. Pour
the cooked noodle together with the soup in to the bowl. Mix well with all
seasoning.
Spread delicious powder. The noodle is ready to be served.
COMMENTARY
Social function : To give comment
about something.
Generic structure
1. General statement to position the reader or point of view about argument.
2. Sequenced explanation about argument.
3. Conclusion.
U.S. Job Market still in Low Gear
General statement to position the
reader or point of view about argument The nonfarm payrolls report ushered in
2005 with a whimper. Only 146,000 jobs were created in January, well below
expectations that straddled the 200,000 mark. What’s more, annual benchmark
revisions reduced the tally of job creation over the previous three months by
59,000 positions. As a result, the overage six – month gain in payrolls now
stands at 168,500, a sub – par performance for an economy that clocked in
growth in excess of 4 percent in 2004, which would normally be consistent with
average monthly increases in the 250,000 to 300,000 range. The bottom line is
that irrespective of the strength in U.S. economic activity firms remain
cautious in their hiring intentions.
And, it looks like this trickled down to a more discouraged worker in January,
as a contraction in the labour force helped pull the unemployment rate down to
5,2 percent.
Sequenced explanation In spite of the disappointing headline in janyar, the
details of the report imparted some good news. The service, side of the economy
was the mainstay of job growth (+ 171,000 positions) and, equally important,
the gains were evenly distributed among sectors. Education, transportation,
leisure/hospitality, financial, and professional services each realized job
gains in the 20,000 to 35,000 range. In contrast, goods producing sectors did
not fare well, with a 25,000 reduction in manufacturing jobs accounting for the
bulk of the weakness in January.
Conclusion Although we believe that U.S. economy will expand by 3.5 percent in
2005, we doubt corporate America will break from its cautious hiring
intentions. We look for another 2 million new jobs this year, and while this
would not be a bad outcome. It would not be a great one either for an above
potential economic performance. That said, we doubt today’s report, or even a
continuation of below – trend job growth in 2005, would alter the Fed’s desire
to reduce the amount of monetary stimulus in the U.S. economy. However, it
would lend itself to a continuation of measured rate likes and increase the
possibility that the fed funds rate will remain below the 4 percent mark by
year-end.
Adapted from: Informational English
for Senior High School
Well, I hope we can learn about paragraph from this simple article
