In my other post we established the link between the paragraph and the essay in terms of the ideas they develop, the basic structural element of the two and the devices by which the various elements in the paragraph and the full essay are
linked.
Once you can locate the topic sentence or controlling idea in each paragraph of an essay, you will have no difficulty in locating the thesis of the essay. After all, all the paragraph in an essay develop a single thesis just as all the sentences in a paragraph develop a single idea which is sometimes expressed by a topic sentence.
The meaning of each sentence is however affected by various punctuation device. It is not too much, however, to repeat that there two broad categories of punctuation marks - the end punctuation marks which mark the end of sentences and the internal punctuation marks which enable the writer to make his meaning clear to his reader.
The three ends punctuation marks, you will recollection, are the full -stop, the question mark and the exclamation marks. Whenever you see each of these punctuation marks you expect a statement, a question which may require and answer, and the expression of various shades of emotion. These three punctuation marks are indispensable to a good writer, whether that writer is writing a paragraph or full essay.
The internal punctuation marks are probably more important than the end punctuation marks when it comes to the manipulation of the meaning or making the meaning very clear. The insertion of a comma may make a difference between an intended meaning and the obvious meaning.
Comma is probably the most frequently used punctuation mark after the full stop. It is used very commonly to indicate a short pause. But other uses of comma include the following :-
- To set up items in a list, e.g I have a house, a car, a bicycle and a shovel.
- To separate subordinate clause from the main clause when the subordinate clause comes before the main clause, e.g if you do not understand this question, please read the instructions once again.
The internal punctuation marks are many, it is important to note them and also study their functions in making your meaning clear when you write were well illustrated. You are to go over them very carefully, master their use and functions before you begin serious writing.