3.1 Organisation - structure, paragraphs, topic sentences, theme

Structure

The four text types in Part 2 show how we structure our information in different ways to achieve different purposes.

Paragraphs

Written texts are divided into paragraphs each of which deals with a particular aspect of the topic of the text. Paragraphs are necessary to make the text coherent by helping the reader to identify the main points and to see how those points are being developed.

Topic sentences

Paragraphs usually have a topic sentence which is a general statement whose function is to indicate the main point of that particular paragraph. The rest of the paragraph gives Examples, details, evidence and so on to elaborate on, explain or support the general statement. The topic sentence often (but not necessarily) comes at the beginning of the paragraph.

Theme

Like the function of the topic sentence in paragraphs, the 'theme' at the beginning of each sentence helps to structure the flow of information and show how the topic is being developed. The theme (or sentence focus) consists of every word at the beginning of the sentence up to the first finite verb.

eg: a) One day Jane, Tom and Spot went out for a walk. They took a ball.
  b) The kangaroo is a marsupial. It lives in Australia.
  c) Analysis of current literacy practices in primary schools reveals a marked improvement in overall reading levels.
a) This is a typical theme for a narrative or a recount where a time connective (to show the sequence of events) and the characters of the story (the focus of the whole story) are in the theme position.
b) In information reports the theme is typically the topic of the report.
c) The long, complex theme is typical of an exposition. The use of nominalisation ('Analysis', instead of 'If we analyse') allows the focus of the sentence to be on the ideas and arguments being presented, the important information, rather than on the people carrying out the actions.
[NOTE: Using the passive is another way to alter the focus of a sentence and these devices are typical of the language of school textbooks and tertiary level writing when presenting ideas and information.]