Bab VI

A.   PARAGRAF CONTOH, PERBANDINGAN DAN PROSES

Menulis adalah sebuah kegiatan menuangkan gagasan yang diberi bentuk dengan rangkaian kalimat sehingga pembaca memahami ide yang dituangkan. Penuangan ide yang  diwujudkan ke dalam sebuah paragraf memiliki ciri masing- masing sesuai karakter paragraf tersebut. Pada pembelajaran ini, Anda akan berlatih mengenali paragraf contoh, perbandingan, dan proses.

Berikut ini akan disajikan ketiga paragraf tersebut, baca dan pahami isinya!

1.       Pencemaran menimbulkan berbagai macam dampak. Dampak tersebut dapat menimpa lingkungan sekitar bahkan manusia itu sendiri. Salah satu contoh sebuah peristiwa di daerah Bandung. Peristiwa tersebut berupa tanah longsor yang disebabkan terjadinya penumpukan sampah. Musibah itu memakan korban ratusan jiwa.

2.       Rita dan Nita adalah kakak beradik. Setiap hari keduanya terlihat sangat akrab. Rita adalah anak yang pandai dan berprestasi. Dia selalu mendapat rangking pertama di sekolahnya. Lain halnya dengan Nita adiknya. Dia sama sekali tidak memiliki prestasi seperti kakaknya. Tiap hari ia hanya menghabiskan waktu dengan bermain.

3.       Hari ini Endah akan memasak sayur sup. Dia baru mulai belajar memasak. Seluruh bahan-bahannya telah tersedia. Mulailah dia memasak. Pertama-tama dia membuat bumbunya yaitu bawang putih, merica, dan garam. Kemudian dia menggoreng bumbu tersebut. Bumbu yang telah digoreng diberi air secukupnya. Lalu bahan-bahan yang telah dipersiapkan tadi dimasukkan dalam air yang telah bercampur  bumbu. Sekarang masakannya telah siap dihidangkan.

Setelah Anda pahami ketiga paragraf di atas, kerjakanlah soal-soal di bawah ini!

1. Jelaskan gagasan pokok yang terdapat pada paragraf pertama!

2. Sebutkan ide pokok paragraf kedua!

3. Pada paragraf ketiga, jelaskanlah yang menjadi gagasan utamanya!

4. Menurut Anda, manakah dari ketiganya yang termasuk paragraf perbandingan, proses, dan contoh? Jelaskan!

5. Sebutkan kata kunci yang menjadi indikasi paragraf contoh, proses atau pun perbandingan dari ketiga paragraf tersebut!

1.       Menyusun Paragraf Contoh, Perbandingan dan Proses

a.       Paragraf Contoh

Kalimat utama dikembangkan dengan cara memberi contoh. Contoh yang diberikan harus konkret dan langsung memberikan gambaran nyata kepada pembaca serta tidak menimbulkan pertanyaan.

 Perhatikan paragraf berikut!

Menjaga kesehatan sangatlah perlu bagi kelangsungan hidup manusia, misalnya dari setelah bangun tidur, membersihkan kamar sendiri, mandi, menggosok gigi, mencuci rambut, mencuci pakaian. Keadaan rumah yang nyaman dan bersih juga akan mendukung aktivitas keseharian. Untuk itu, halaman rumah, lingkungan sekitar harus dibersihkan agar tidak menimbulkan penyakit.

Berdasarkan contoh di atas sangat jelas bahwa untuk menjelaskan gagasan utamanya, penulis harus menggunakan beberapa contoh yang lebih konkret dan mudah dipahami.

b.      Paragraf Perbandingan

Kalimat utama yang mengandung pokok pikiran dapat dijelaskan dengan cara membandingkannya dengan masalah yang lain. Hal yang dipakai sebagai pembanding  harus lebih konkret atau setidak-tidaknya dipahami secara umum.

Perhatikan contoh berikut!

Pernahkah Anda berbelanja di swalayan? Tentunya Anda akan menjawab sering karena swalayan adalah pasar modern yang berada di tengah kota dengan memberikan pelayanan yang baik dan kebersihan yang terjamin. Mungkin Anda bisa berlama- lama walau yang dibeli hanya satu atau dua barang.

Akan berbeda halnya dengan pasar tradisional. Anda pasti tidak akan berlama-lama berada di pasar karena keadaan yang kotor dengan sampah yang berserakan, lalat di sana-sini yang menimbulkan berbagai penyakit seperti diare, penyakit kulit, types, dan sebagainya.

Berdasarkan contoh di atas, penulis menggunakan sesuatu yang berbeda yang memiliki kemiripan dengan apa yang dikemukakan sehingga gagasan yang masih kabur mudah dipahami pembaca.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

c.       Paragraf Proses

Paragraf yang bertujuan memaparkan proses terjadinya peristiwa atau cara melaksanakan sesuatu yang tersebut pada kalimat utama.

Perhatikan Contoh berikut!

Anda tahu cara menanam bibit mangga? Pertama-tama buatlah lubang berukuran 1x1x1m, kemudian biarkan lubang tersebut selama tujuh hari. Tanamlah bibit mangga di dalam lubang itu, setelah diberi pupuk kandang secukupnya. Setelah sepuluh hari, pupuklah bibit mangga itu dengan NPK dan setiap enam bulan sekali pupuklah dengan campuran urea dan NPK. Siramlah dengan air secukupnya apalagi di musim kemarau. Mudah bukan bila Anda ingin mencobanya.

 Berdasarkan contoh tersebut dapat dipahami bahwa sederetan kalimat penjelas berisi proses yang menjelaskan gagasan utamanya. Pembaca akan mudah untuk memahaminya. Jadi, bagaimana cara menyusun ketiga paragraf tersebut?

Coba Anda perhatikan hal-hal berikut!

1)      Kalimat yang Anda gunakan harus saling berkaitan dan mendukung satu tema.

2)       Janganlah membuat paragraf yang hanya berisi satu kalimat yang panjang,

3)      Jadikanlah kalimat yang panjang menjadi dua kalimat yang pendek dan efektif hingga memudahkan pemahaman.

4)      Buatlah kerangka paragraf agar lebih terarah dan sistematis.