What is a paragraph?

A. Look at the following short composition:

A Magnificent Place to Visit

The Sundarbans is a wonderful place to visit because of its variety of animals and trees. Visitors to the Sundarbans can find many different types of animals. They can find fierce tigers in the dense forest; also they can find timid deer beside the streams. They can find places which are very charming for their greeneries. Thus visitors can find the varied wildlife in the forest. They can find mangroves and low dells. They can also find its beautiful rivers and a beautiful coast. So the sundarbans is one of the most wonderful places to visit for its natural beauty.

This is a paragraph. A paragraph is a group of sentences organized around an important topic. The sentences in a paragraph are connected with each other.

A paragraph usually consists of one topic sentence, some developers (supporting sentences), and a terminator (a concluding sentence).

1. Topic Sentence: The central idea of a paragraph is called the topic. The topic sentence introduces the main idea of your paragraph.
2. Developers: The developers are the sentences placed between the topic sentence and the last sentence in a paragraph. They develop the topic sentence through elaboration, exemplification, classification, and so forth. That is, they expand and support the idea stated in the topic sentence.
3. Terminator: The terminator is the last sentence in a good paragraph. It
   logically concludes the ideas developed through the developers of the paragraph. In other words, the terminator can restate the ideas put in the topic sentence .It can also present a quick summary of what has already been discussed. Actually the terminator completes the writer's description of the subject or topic.

In the above paragraph the first sentence introduces the central idea. So, it is the topic sentence. The next six sentences support the topic sentence; they are the developers. The last sentence restates the idea of the topic sentence and completes the writer's description. So it is the terminator.

Now we will learn how to develop a paragraph by answering questions.

Write a paragraph on 'your mother' answering the following questions:

How old is your mother?

What is her occupation?

How many brothers and sisters do you have?

What does your mother do for you in the whole day?

What are your duties to your mother?

My mother

My mother is a wonderful person. She is about 38 years old. She is a school teacher. She comes from a respectable family. She is sober and affectionate. I have one brother and one sister. I am the youngest. Mother takes great care of our education, food and clothing. Her anxiety knows no bound when any of us becomes sick. My mother says her prayers regularly. Every now and then, she cooks delicious food and prepares different kinds of sweets. She keeps the house neat and clean. She always gives us good advice and suggestions. She advises us not to quarrel with anybody, not to steal and never to tell a lie. She tells us to love our country and our relatives. I always try to help my mother in her work. We should obey and love our mother as she is doing her best for us. To me, she is the best person.

B. Read the following Paragraphs based on the given questions:

1. Topic: A Bus Stand
   Questions:
   a) What type of place is a bus stand?
   b) Why do people wait at a bus stand?
   c) What type of people do you find at a bus stand?
   d) What type of difficulties do you find at a bus stand?
   e) What type of hawkers do you find at a bus stand?

A Bus Stand

A bus stand is a very important place to those who travel by bus from one place to another. It is a place where buses stop for some time to help passengers to get in and off. Especially the bus stands in a city or town always remain busy. Passengers are always found waiting there. When a bus stops at such a stand, there is an unusual bustle and hurry among the passengers. Some others hurry to get down from the bus, while passengers waiting for the bus want to get into it. As a result, there is a always great rush of passengers. In such a situation the old and the weak find it difficult to get into or get off the bus. The scene often goes so far that passengers seem hostile with one another. Taking advantage of this situation pickpockets sometimes pick the pockets of the passengers. Moreover, shouts of conductors, bus-helpers make the place noisy. These are the usual sights of a bus stand during the busy hours of the day. Besides, hawkers are often found busy selling their goods like cigarettes, betel-leaves, newspapers, fruits and so on. A bus stand is always a busy place.

Topic: My favourite bird
Questions:
a) What is your favourite bird and where do you meet it?
b) How does a sparrow look?
c) Where does it make its nest?
d) Why do you like a sparrow?
e) What does a sparrow like to eat?

My Favourite Bird

A sparrow, peeping through my window, is something that makes me very happy. Every morning, when I wake up, I see the sparrow, playing in the tree, outside my window. I have been hearing its sound ever since I was a child. So it has become my favourite bird. The sparrow has a brown and white body with a tiny head. This makes it a lovely and sweet bird. It has a short, strong and sharp beak, which helps it to collect food and make nests in trees and in the corners of the houses. It likes to live in ventilators of a house, where it builds its home. It gathers tiny and light material for its home. It eats insects and worms. I hope Mr. Sparrow continues to visit my window every day of my life.

Topic: Preparing a Cup of Tea
Questions:
a) What will you do first to make a cup of tea?
b) What will you do next?
c) How much time do you need to prepare a cup of tea?
d) Why do some people have saccharin instead of sugar?
e) Do all types of people prefer the same kind of tea?

Preparing A Cup of Tea

It is an easy task to prepare a cup of tea. First, pour a cup of water in a pot, then put it on fire and bring it to boil. When it is boiled for a while, put one tea-spoon of tea-leaf or tea-powder in it and continue to boil it for a little longer. Then put the liquor in a tea-cup through a strainer. Then add one or two tea-spoons of milk and sugar as you like. The tea is prepared. But there may be varieties of tea for varieties of tastes. Some people may prefer tea without milk or sugar or may have them in different proportions. Some may add a little lemon juice to liquor instead of sugar and milk. Some may have either dark liquor or light liquor. Some would have saccharin instead of sugar for health reasons. It mostly takes five to ten minutes to prepare a cup of tea.

4. Topic: How to Make A Garden
   Questions:
   a) What will you do first when you decide to make a garden?
   b) What will you do regularly to keep your plants lively?
   c) What makes your garden healthy?
   d) How do you increase the fertility of your garden?
   e) Why do you need a fence?

How to make A Garden

To make a garden you have to follow certain procedures. First select a suitable piece of land. It can be in front of your reading room. Shovel, loosen and level the soil with a garden spade. Next, fence the land so that naughty boys and animals are unable to harm it. After that you should sow the seeds of different flowers of different seasons and plant many kinds of flower plants in it. Good seeds and plants are needed for a healthy garden. Finally you should work in the garden every morning and afternoon. Water the plants frequently. Weed your garden regularly to keep it neat and clean. Apply manure to the plants regularly to keep the soil fertile. Use pesticides so that harmful insects cannot do any harm to the plants and flowers. In city life, pot planting is a common way for city dwellers to have their gardens in a small space. All they need is a deck, a roof, or a tiny patch of well-lit space to start their own small garden following the same process.

5. Topic: Perseverance
   Questions:
   a) What is perseverance?
   b) How do you acquire perseverance?
   c) Why should we practice perseverance?
   d) What should we do to practice perseverance?
   e) Name a great person who practiced perseverance in life.

Perseverance

Perseverance means persistence in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving a goal. To develop the quality one requires regular practice of it.

Only a patient person with a strong determination can achieve his goal by perseverance. When a child learns to stand up and tries to walk, he is found to fall down again and again. But at one time he succeeds in walking. Similarly, a man having perseverance can succeed in life in spite of his repeated failures. A persevering person has tremendous self- confidence, indomitable determination, and a natural urge towards hard labour which paves his way to success. In spite of having intelligence and genius, he can hardly prosper in life if he is averse to diligence. In this world, all the great things have been possible only by perseverance. Shakespeare did not compose his voluminous works just in a day. He had to work hard days and nights with tremendous perseverance. In every sphere of life perseverance is the root of success and glory. Therefore, perseverance must be practiced from the very childhood so that this noble habit becomes a part and parcel of one's life.

6. Topic: Traffic Jam
   Questions:
   a) Why are the roads becoming narrow now?
   b) What are the main reasons of traffic jam?
   c) When do you find traffic jam most acute?
   d) What measures can be taken to lessen traffic jam?
   e) How can we stop road accidents?

Traffic Jam

Traffic jam has become a common sight now-a-days. Basically, it occurs because of the heavy number of vehicles. But in our country, there are other causes too.
The roads are mostly narrow and damaged. There are often garbage and building materials dumped on the roads. There are many unauthorised roadside shops. Often because of political meetings and processions, roads are blocked. There is a tendency with drivers to overtake and disobey traffic rules. Slow-moving and swift-moving vehicles race with each other. These also cause traffic jams. Traffic jams are most acute during working hours or examination times. To stop road accidents traffic rules should be enforced. If correct steps are not taken, city life will become very unfriendly in the future.

7. Topic: Global Warming
   Questions:
   a) What is the main reason for global warming?
   b) Why is the heat confined in the earth?
   c) Why are ecologists feeling apprehensive now-a-days?
   d) What can we do for the prevention of pollution of environment?
   e) How do forests contribute to our life?

Global Warming

Now-a-days global warming has become a danger to all living beings on earth. Greenhouse effect is responsible for global warming. It is the gradual warming of the air because of heat being stuck on earth. Environmental pollution works behind global warming. We are destroying our tropical rain forests and growing industries, mills and factories, using CFC gas at present. Thus, we are polluting our environment. For the destruction of forests and cutting down of trees, the amounts of carbon dioxide are increasing. The increased amounts of carbon dioxide around the earth have made a layer in space. The sun rays are coming through the layer but the heat cannot pass through the layer. This is why the heat is being confined on earth and it is making our globe warmer. As a result, the heat of the world is increasing day by day. It has made ecologists think about the alarming consequences. We should stop the pollution of the environment and save our living place from global warming.

8. Topic: My Birthday Party
   Questions:
   a) When did you celebrate your birthday?
   b) Who were the guests at the party?
   c) When did the party start?
   d) How was the party?
   e) How did the friends enjoy the party?

My Birthday Party

Yesterday, I celebrated my birthday. I invited some of my classmates and neighbours. My friends arrived at 5pm. They all greeted me with good wishes and presents. I took them to the garden, where we played for an hour. At 6p.m we got ready for the celebration. I blew out the candles and cut a chocolate cake which was a birthday gift from my parents. Everyone sang the birthday song and clapped their hands. I distributed the cake pieces along with sandwiches, patties, biscuits and fruit salad. Then we all drank cold fruit juice. There were various kinds of games for which prizes were given to the winners. The children were each given a packet of sweets and a box of colour pencils as return gifts. It was a wonderful party. I shall always remember this special day.

9. Topic: My Favourite Book
   Questions:
   a. What is your favourite book?
   b. Why do you like the book?
   C. Which character do you like most?
   d. Why do you like the character most?
   e. What happened last in the story?

My Favourite Book

The Elephant Man is my favourite book. I never get tired of reading it. This is the story of a poor, ugly man. Nobody loved him. Everyone laughed at him. They put him in a cage, like an animal at the zoo. Then one day a doctor saw him and thought, 'This poor man is interesting. I want to study him.' In course of time, the Elephant Man became famous, and everyone wanted to meet him. I like this elephant man most because he was able to change himself into an important person.

10. Topic: Country Life and City Life
    Questions:
    a) Compare city life and country life.
    b) How is the life in a city?
    c) How is life in a village?
    d) Which life is more hectic?
    e) How can we improve our society?

Country Life and City Life

Man is living both in cities and villages. Cities have prospered but the importance of country life has not lessened. In this modern competitive world, needs in city life have increased because most of the modern facilities are still found in the cities. The development of the society depends both on the development of cities and villages. Cities produce useful things with the raw materials supplied by the villages. In the cities, life is very hectic and competitive and people live in a programmed environment. On the other hand, in the villages, environment is fresh and easy. Modern facilities are available in the cities only. Most of the villages lack modern facilities. For good medical facilities and higher degrees, people have to go to the cities. In the cities, people lead an artificial life in gigantic buildings. But in the villages, one can lead a humble life in the lap of nature. Despite various merits and demerits, both lives have their charms. We can improve our society by developing both cities and villages.

C. Now write paragraphs on the given topics by answering the given questions :

1. Topic: A Child and a Flower
   Questions:
   a) Which two things are very innocent in this world?
   b) Why do a child and a flower need care?
   c) How does a flower motivate a cruel person?
   d) How do a flower and a child make the atmosphere beautiful?
   e) How is a child similar to a flower?
2. Topic: Coffee and Tea
   Questions:
   a) In which country did tea grow first?
   b) Where did coffee grow first?
   c) How do coffee and tea help in our daily life?
   d) How do we drink coffee and tea?
   e) How do we harvest tea and coffee?
3. Topic: Your First Day at School
   Questions:
   a) What is the most important day in your life?
   b) When did you go there for the first time?
   c) With whom did you go to school on the first day?
   d) How did you go to school on the first day?
   e) How did you feel on that day?
4. Topic: Your Aunt
   Questions:
   a) What is the name of your aunt?
   b) How old is she?
   c) Where does she live?
   d) What does she do?
   e) Why do you like your aunt?
5. Topic: Your Village
   Questions:
   a) What is the name of your village?
   b) Where is it situated?
   c) How many people are there?
   d) What is the occupation of the villagers?
   e) How do you like your village?

Letter writing is an important activity in our daily life. It is a popular means of communication. Letters are one of the oldest modes of communication used by humankind. A letter is a written message from one person to another. There are two types of letters: formal letters and informal letters.

A formal letter is a letter that is written in the formal language with a specific format for a business or official purpose. In simple terms, this is a letter written for professional communication. This is also sometimes called a business letter. A formal letter can be a letter of enquiry, a letter of request, or a letter of complaint. A formal letter is written to a teacher, a principal or to an office. On the other hand, an informal letter is written to friends and relatives. Now-a-days, emails are considered to be an effective medium of communication. Like a letter an email can also be formal and informal. It depends on your recipients and on the type of your massage and purpose. E-mails are messages which are distributed by electronic means from one computer user to one or more recipients via a network. In this unit we will discuss how to write formal letters and e-mails.

Read the following letter and notice its language and format:

June15, 2016

The Principal
Young Heart School

Subject: Application for permission to visit Bangladesh National Museum

Sir,

We are the students of class vii of your school. Quite a few students of our class wish to visit Bangladesh National Museum on next Friday. We have always been longing to see this historical place. We have heard a lot about this place. We hope that this visit will be very useful for us from educational point of view, and we do not want to lose this opportunity.

We, therefore, request you to allow us to go on this educational excursion. We shall remain ever grateful to you for this act of kindness.
Yours obediently,
Sirajam Munira, Nandita Das
On behalf of the students of Class Seven
Young Heart School

Neera, Sanjana and Meena (on behalf of the students of class VII)

Note:

In formal letters messages need to be precise and detailed, covering all the required information. Letters of this kind need to be very specific. Opinions should be clearly made. Requests for action should be clearly indicated. Reading the letter, everyone should know exactly what the sender is asking. There are various types of formal letters including leave application letters, apology letters, job applications, complaint letters, letters to the editor and so on.

A formal letter usually begins with the date and address of the recipient that should be written in the top left-hand corner of the letter.

After that the subject is written in bold. If he letter is hand-written, the subject should be underlined.

Next is the salutation section. In this line, if you do not know the recipient's name then it is ideal to address them as Dear Sir or Dear Madam.

Main section is the content that conveys sender's message clearly. A message can be in the form of requests, complaints, enquiry, information and so on. The content of your letter should be as short as possible, divided into short and clear paragraphs.

Further, the letter ends with closing remarks, promises, or suggested actions.

The closing of a formal letter should express gratitude and sincerity.

Examples of formal letter closings: Best wishes, many thanks, thanking you, sincerely yours, respectfully yours.

Write your name directly below this and then put your signature above it.

In an e-mail all these steps should be followed.

Here are some more formal letters for you to read:

1. Write a letter to your class-teacher asking for one week's leave:

20 February, 2015
Mrs. S. Khan
Class Teacher
Class Seven
Young Hearts School
Dhaka

Subject: Prayer for leave of absence for one week

Respected Madam,
While I was returning home from school yesterday, I slipped in the mud and fell down. As a result, I sprained my foot and am unable to walk.

I would be grateful if you would kindly grant me one week's leave. I am enclosing a Medical Certificate also.

Thanking you.

Yours obediently,

Neera Sanjana

Class Seven

Young Hearts School

Dhaka

2. Write a letter of apology to your math teacher for disturbing others in the exam hall.

20 June 2015
Mrs. S. Khan
Math Teacher
Class Seven
Young Hearts School
Dhaka

Subject: Apology for disturbing other examinees

Respected Madam,

I am really very sorry for disturbing other examinees in the exam hall during the Mathematics test today. I know you have taught us that disturbing others in the exam hall is wrong and it is good to try everything on our own, but I was so badly nervous that I could not solve the problems which were actually very easy. That is why, I disturbed my friends.

However, I now bitterly regret my action, and promise never to do it again. I would be grateful to you if you please forgive me for my offence.

Yours obediently,
Neera Sanjana
Class Seven

3. Write an e-mail to your Principal praying for a full free-studentship:

e-mail:principalbd@gmail.com
16 July 2015
The Headmaster
Newman High School
Khulna

Subject: Application for a full free-studentship

Respected Sir,
I am a regular student of your school. I would like to inform you that the financial condition of my family is not good and it is hard for my father to meet the minimum household expenses. So, I cannot afford to pay the school fee. Hence, I request you to grant me a full free-studentship on humanitarian grounds to enable me to go on with my studies.

I would be grateful to you if you consider my case with a sympathetic outlook and help me to study further.
Thanking you.
Yours faithfully,
Soma Hassan
Class Seven
Roll Number: 1
E-mail: somahan@gmail.com

4. Write a complaint letter regarding irregular water supply in your locality:

21 April 2015
The Chairman
Dhaka South City Corporation Nagar Bhaban

Subject: Complaint about irregular water supply

Sir,
This is to draw your attention to the irregular water supply in the Paribagh locality. In the morning the water supply is for only half an hour instead of the regular three hours. In the evening, sometimes there is no water supply and when water is supplied, it is for just fifteen minutes. At times, the water is so dirty that it cannot be used for drinking purposes. As a result, there is an acute crisis of drinking water.We have already made many complaints to our local authority regarding this inconvenience of the residents of the locality. They are always giving us empty promises and doing nothing. You are kindly requested to look into this matter seriously and solve the problem.

We are looking forward to your positive response.

Thanking you.
Sincerely yours,
Soheli, Sonam and Adnan (on behalf of the people of Paribagh)

5. Suppose, the British council has an advertisement in the national Dailies to start an advanced English course for put young learners. Write an e-mail in 100 words to the course-coordinator, requesting him to send you an application form:

John Bryan johnbryanbright@gmail.com
Dear Course Co-ordinator,
From the advertisement published in The Daily Star on 15 December 2014, I came to know that you are going to organize an advanced English course for young learners. I would like to participate in this course as an interested candidate. Therefore, I am requesting you to send me an application form as soon as possible.
With regards,
Akash
E-mail: John Bryan johnbryanbright@gmail.com

6. Write an application to the Manager of a bank to open a bank account:

25 September 2014
The Manager
Janata Bank
Tilagor Branch
Khulna

Subject: Opening a bank account

Dear Madam
I would like to open a savings account with you. My Head teacher could be my guarantor.

I, therefore, hope that you would do the needful in this regard. I would be highly obliged, if you help me open the account.

Yours faithfully

Neera
Class Seven
Greenleaf School
Khulna
E-mail: neera@gmail.com

7. Write an application to the Head teacher of your school, requesting him to organise an inter-class debate competition in the school:

25 December 2015
The Head Teacher
Glory School
Chattogram

Subject: Debate competition

Dear Sir,
This is to inform you that last year in December we established a debating club in our school. The club is now carrying out its activities in full swing. But it is a matter of fact that under this debating club, we did not organise any debating tournament. But to develop our personal skill, we would like to organise an inter class debate competition.

Therefore, we request you to take necessary steps to organise an inter- class debate tournament.

Yours obediently,

Abdus Salam (on behalf of class vii students)

8. Write an application to the Head teacher, requesting him to contact the World Literature Centre to provide the school library with more books.

12 December, 2016
The Headmaster
Blossom School
Dhaka-1205

Subject: Contacting the Bishwa Shahitto Kendro for providing books

Dear Sir,
This is to inform you that we, the students of your institution, would like to draw your attention to the fact that we have a library in our school. But it cannot provide us with enough books. Many students cannot read in the library at times. You must have learnt that the Bishwa shahitto Kendro has taken an initiative to lend books on some easy conditions.

Therefore, we earnestly request you to contact Bishwa Shahitto Kendro and ask them to provide our library with books.

We are looking forward to a positive response.

Thanking you.

Sincerely yours,

Swati Rema

Roll No: 01

Class Seven

Section: A

9. Write an e-mail to the editor of a local newspaper informing him about the traffic jam you face daily:

editor.observer@gmail.com

Date: 24 January 2016
To: The Editor
The Bangladesh Observer
Dhaka-1204

Sub: Intolerable traffic jam in Dhaka city

Sir,
Through the columns of your esteemed daily, I venture to voice my views about the intolerable traffic jam in Dhaka.

There is hardly anybody found in Dhaka who did not face the unbearable traffic jam. This has happened actually for the enormously increasing number of rickshaws and private cars. Here we see sometimes hundreds of different vehicles standing still. Especially office going people and students become victims to this terrible traffic jam. They have to miss their most important meetings and classes. But among all, patients suffer most while they are badly in need of medical treatment. Many patients die every day being stuck in traffic jams.

Nobody can avoid the responsibility of solving this problem as a dweller of Dhaka city. Through this small letter I would like to draw attention not only of the Government but also of the people who live in Dhaka. Without working hand to hand with the Government, it is quite impossible to minimise the sufferings of common people. Last of all, I can say that an effective and planned action can play a vital role in these circumstances.

Rawnie,
Malibagh, Dhaka-1201
E-mail: rawnie@yahoo.com

B. Now write the following:

1. An application to the District commissioner, complaining about the uncovered dustbins in your city.
2. An e-mail to the editor of a newspaper, demanding better medical facilities in your village.
3. A letter to the chief engineer of your local power station complaining about irregular electric supply in your area.
4. An application to your Headmaster requesting a transfer certificate.