Post 5

In the earlier posts, we have studied the structure of a paragraph.

A paragraph is usually built up by three types of sentences.

·        Topic sentence

·        Supporting sentences

·        Concluding sentence (not all paragraphs have a concluding sentence)

We have learned to construct topic sentences in the previous exercises. Now we will practise writing supporting sentences for a paragraph.

THE SUPPORTING SENTENCES

The supporting sentences develop the main idea in the topic sentence. They add details to the topic. Every supporting sentence in a paragraph must relate to the main idea stated in the topic sentence. A sentence that does not support the main idea should not be included in the paragraph.

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Do the following exercises in your personal blog.

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Exercise 1

Read the following paragraphs carefully and underline the supporting sentences.

Example

Of all the fruits I like, I like apple most. Apples have many points to score over other fruits. It is tasty. It is juicy. It has more iron. It has more vitamins. It is easily digestible. It can be eaten before or after meal.

1.)  Cats make wonderful house pets. They are very loving and friendly. They don’t eat much, so they are not expensive. Cats are also clean and look beautiful. They’re fun to have in your home.

2.)  There are many reasons I hate my apartment. The plumbing doesn’t work properly and the landlord refuses to fix it. I also have noisy neighbours who keep me up all night. Furthermore, there are so many bugs in my apartment that I could start an insect collection. I really want to move.

3.)  Use of the internet has grown very quickly. In 1983, there were 562 computers connected to the Internet. By the turn of the century, there were 72.3 million computers in 247 countries on-line. Experts say that the Internet is now growing at a rate of approximately 40 percent a year. As time goes on, the Internet is becoming more and more popular.

4.)  Vegetables and fruits are an important part of a healthy diet. First, fruits and vegetables are packed with the vitamins and minerals you need to keep your body functioning smoothly. In addition, they give you the carbohydrates you need for energy. Fruits and vegetables have lots of fiber to help your digestive system work properly. Finally, many scientists believe that the nutrients in fruits and vegetables can help fight diseases. If you eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, you’ll enjoy a better health.

Source: Blanchard, K. in Root, C. 2003. Ready to Write. NY: Pearson Education - Longman

Exercise 2

Select the items in the following list that you think would make good supporting details for the topic sentence. (There may be more than three supporting details.)

Some people think tsunamis are the worst type of natural disaster that can hit a region. (Topic sentence)

1.     The huge wave of water does damage twice, when first coming in, and then going out again.

2.     Their main weapon is the high wind that accompanies them.

3.     They may assault an area already devastated by a coastal earthquake.

4.     The shaking occurs when a fault in deep rock layers slips or gives way.

5.     They can lift an entire house and twirl it around in the air.

6.     The massive weight of water can sweep away protective barriers as well as buildings.

Exercise 3

A major supporting sentence is missing from the paragraphs below.

Three possible major supporting sentences are given in the list. Fill in the blank in the paragraph with the most suitable major supporting sentence.

1.     Even when we live far away, there are still many ways to help people in a country that suffers a natural disaster. ... [missing sentence] … We can also organize community events to raise money and supplies to send through the Red Cross. And almost everyone has clothes and blankets they can donate, to help people who have lost their homes. Even students in school can do a lot to help people across the world who are in need.

a.            One of the best ways to start is to raise money through a school fundraiser.

b.           All go over as tourists to view the damage, and take lots of pictures.

c.            The question is whether it’s our job to help other people or not.

2.     Every good friend you have should show some important qualities. Strong loyalty is one of the best traits of a friend, because that means he or she will always stand up for you. ... [missing sentence] … And most of all, a friend is willing to forgive you if you make a mistake and are sorry about it. When you both show these important attitudes to each other, you will be friends for many years.

a.            Friendships sometimes don’t last, because people change.

b.            Honesty is another good quality. It creates trust and confidence between friends.

c.             Competing with a friend will often create hard feelings.

3.     Computers and tablets are being used more and more for studying in school for several reasons. One reason is that students will grow up in a world where they will be using computers for most jobs. So they need to learn to use computers as early as they can. ... [missing sentence] … And some companies are even making textbooks into files that can be used on tablets. Computers are now being used all through society, so it’s not surprising that their use in schools is also growing.

a.            People can learn computers later in life and still find jobs.

b.            There’s nothing students enjoy more than using interactive multimedia text during class.

c.             Computer games are also used to help students learn thinking and reasoning skills.

Source: http://www.time4writing.com/writing-paragraphs/supporting-details/

Exercise 4

Write a suitable major supporting sentence for the paragraphs below.

1.)   In my opinion, children should grow up in the big city for three reasons._______________________________________________________________. For example, when I was a child, I used to live in a big apartment, so I had many friends in my apartment. The second reason why children should grow up in the city is that children can gain more cultural experience. City children go to the museums, theatres and cinemas. In addition, they have a better opportunity to see movies, shows and other kinds of entertainment. The third reason is there are more opportunities for city children to involve in activities. For example, city children can join sports teams, dance classes or take an art course after school because there are many such programs in a big city for children of all ages. In conclusion, the city is the best place a child to grow up.

2.)   It is easy to save money if you follow these three steps. To begin with, keep a record of your expenses. For example, keep a small notebook with you at all the times and write every expense. Secondly, _____________________________________. It is easier to overspend when you’re pulling from a credit card account because you don’t know exactly how much is in there. If you have cash, you can see your money running low. Lastly, open a savings account. It’s an easy way to keep track of your savings if you have them separate from your spending money. To sum up, you can even be a millionaire if you follow these three steps.

Source: http://busyteacher.org

Exercise 5

Which supporting sentence is not related to the main idea stated in the topic sentence (red coloured sentence)?

A) A paragraph without a topic sentence is like a ship without a captain. (B) Ships need direction, and so do paragraphs. (C) The captain of a ship chooses the direction, and then uses the crew, wind, and rudder as support. (D) In bad weather, the ship rolls back and forth. (E) Similarly, the topic sentence establishes the direction for the paragraph. (F) Then the other sentences of the paragraph provide the support to stick to that course. 

Answers to Post 4 Exercises (Topic Sentence)

Exercise 1

A.

Possible topic sentences are #2 and #4.

#1 merely announces the writer's plan,

#3 is a title and not a complete sentence, and

#5 is too general.

B.

Possible topic sentences are #4 and #5.

#1 and #2 are not complete sentences and

#3 relies on the vague word "interesting."

Exercise 2

1.     a

2.     b

3.     a

4.     b

5.     b

Exercise 3

A.

Regardless of how we spend our time, there are only 24 hours in a day. In order to do well later in life, students must develop sound time-management skills early in their academic careers. The first step is to get enough sleep at night. Students are less able to accomplish anything if they’re just too tired. But then they need to set priorities. Is one assignment due tomorrow, while another is due next week? Do tomorrow’s assignment first. It’s useful to create a schedule of upcoming tasks a few days ahead of time, and then stick to it. Each evening, the student can create a to-do list to accomplish the next day. By staying on top of school work this way, students will develop time-management skills they can use in their jobs, and even use to manage a family schedule.

Bicycle tours provide tourists with a wonderful way to visit Paris. Riding a bike instead of getting around by car or bus gives visitors the chance to talk to shop owners or stop at little bistros and meet Parisians. Visiting this way lets tourists see more of the real life of the city, rather than just the big tourist attractions. Many travel companies now offer bicycle tours, with guides who lead riders to interesting sites. For those adventurous travellers, renting a bike (and buying a map!) is a great way to find the truly out-of-the-way places. Of course, no visitor to Paris should miss attractions like the Louvre or Eiffel Tower, but only a bike tour will afford a closer view of real Paris life.

B.

(A topic sentence can be written in many different ways.)

1.) Paul has many hobbies. (Instead of many you can use: a lot of, several)

2.)

a.     My mother is great cook. (Instead of ‘great’ you can use similar adjectives: very good, fantastic).

b.     My mother’s cooking is very good.

3.)

a.     I have (got) problems with my car.

b.     I have difficulties / troubles with my car.

4.)

a.     I have (got) a great job.

b.     I have (got) a fantastic / perfect / a very good job.

 5.)

a.     My holidays / vacations were a disaster.

b.     My vacations / holidays were disastrous / terrible.

6.)

a.     There are some important considerations on gift giving.

b.     Before we give a present to someone, it is important to consider where the person comes from.

7.)

a.     I love the many wonderful things brought by autumn. (Instead of wonderful, you can use amazing.

b.     Autumn is the season I like most.

Post 4

PARAGRAPH WRITING

We have learned that a paragraph is a group of about 6-12 sentences developing the main idea about a topic. Every sentence in a good paragraph is related to the same topic. All the sentences are arranged logically to explain the main idea about that topic so that the reader can easily understand what the writer wants to say.

A paragraph is usually built up by three types of sentences.

·        Topic sentence

·        Supporting sentences

·        Concluding sentence (not all paragraphs have a concluding sentence)

Today we will continue to work on writing a paragraph. We will practice writing the topic sentence for a paragraph.

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THE TOPIC SENTENCE

A topic sentence states the topic of the paragraph and the controlling idea of the topic.

Example:

Exercise regularly can bring many benefits to the body.

Topic                                      controlling idea

Exercise 1

Some of the sentences given in the list are suitable to be used as topic sentence for the paragraph. Which of them are suitable topic sentences for the paragraph that you plan to write?

A.   (A paragraph on how to train a cat)

1.     This paragraph is about how to train a cat.

2.     Before a cat learns anything, it first teaches its owner a lesson in humility.

3.     Everything you wouldn't have thought to ask about training a cat.

4.     Training a cat takes physical stamina.

5.     Animal training is a complicated subject.

B.   (A paragraph about scuba diving)

1.     The excitement of scuba diving.

2.     My childhood fascination with scuba diving.

3.     It is very interesting to experience scuba diving.

4.     The sport of scuba diving has always excited me.

5.     Since I was a child, I've been fascinated by scuba diving.

Source: http://www.ccc.commnet.edu/sensen/part3/sixteen/techniques_topic.html 

Exercise 2

Choose the best topic sentence from the three given sentences for each group of supporting sentences. Write it on the line provided.

Example:

___________(b)_________. I usually go skiing every weekend in the winter even though it is expensive. I love the feeling of flying down a mountain. The views are beautiful from the top of a mountain and along the trails. Even the danger of falling and getting hurt can’t keep me away from the slopes on a winter day.

a) Skiing is expensive.

b) Skiing is my favourite sport.

c) Skiing is dangerous.

1.) _____________________. North Americans send cards for many occasions. They send cards to family and friends on birthdays and holidays. They also send thank-you cards, get well cards, graduation cards, and congratulation cards. It is very common to buy cards in stores and send them through the mail, but turning on the computer and sending cards over the Internet is also popular.

a) Sending cards is very popular in North America.

b) Birthday cards are the most popular kind of card.

c) It is important to send thank-you cards.

2.) ________________________. I enjoy summer sports like water skiing and baseball. The weather is usually sunny and hot, so I can go to the beach almost every day. Gardening is my hobby and I spend many summer days working in my garden. Unfortunately, the days pass too quickly in summer.

a) I like to garden in summer.

b) Summer is my favourite season.

c) Summer is too short.

3.) ______________________. First of all, we need money to repair old roads and build new roads. We also need more to pay teachers’ salaries and to pay for services such as trash collection. Finally, more tax money is needed to give financial help to the poor citizens of the city. It is clear that the city will have serious problems if taxes are not raised soon.

a) We should raise city taxes.

b) City taxes are too high.

c) City taxes pay for new roads.

4.) _______________________ . For example, a person can have breakfast in New York, board an airplane, and have dinner in Paris. A businesswoman in London can instantly place an order with a factory in Hong Kong by sending a fax. Furthermore, a schoolboy in Tokyo can turn on a TV and watch a baseball game being played in Los Angeles.

a) Airplanes have changed our lives.

b) Advances in technology have made the world seem smaller.

c) The fax machine was an important invention.

5.) ________________________ . One thing you must consider is the quality of the university’s educational program. You also need to think about the school’s size and location. Finally, you must be sure to consider the university’s tuition to make sure you can afford to go to school there.

a) It is expensive to attend a university in the United States.

b) There are several factors to consider when you choose a university to attend.

c) You should consider getting a good education.

Exercise 3

Write a topic sentence for each paragraph. Make sure your topic sentence expresses the main idea of the paragraph.

Example:

Miami is the perfect place to take a vacation. It is always sunny and warm. The beaches are gorgeous, with soft white sand and beautiful water. There are many fine restaurants in the Miami area, and most of the hotels offer terrific entertainment nightly. It’s no wonder that Miami is my first choice for a vacation destination.

1.) ___________________________________________________ . He has collected stamps and coins ever since he was a child. He is very proud of his valuable collections. Paul also enjoys painting and drawing. Recently he has become interested in gardening. Out of all his hobbies, Paul’s favourite one is reading. He usually reads at least one book every week. Paul keeps busy with all of his hobbies.

2.) _________________________________________________ . I can’t wait to come home from school and eat the delicious meals she has prepared. She is famous for her desserts like peach pie and chocolate soufflé. She is always experimenting with new recipes and trying different ingredients. No one in the world can cook the way my mother does.

3.) _________________________________________________ . It never starts in cold weather. The horn and the left turn signal don’t work properly. Worst of all, the radio only gets one station and the CD player is completely broken. I wish I could get a new car.

4.) __________________________________________________ . First and most importantly, the work is very interesting. I learn new things every day and I get to travel a lot. In addition, my boss is very nice. She is always willing to help me when I have a problem. I have also made many new friends at my job. Last, but not least, the salary is fantastic.

5.) ____________________________________________________ . To start things off, my plane was six hours late. When I finally got to my hotel, I was very disappointed. It was small and dirty. On the third day, my wallet was stolen, and I lost all my credit cards. It rained every day except one, and on that day I got terrible sunburn. All in all, it wasn’t a vacation to remember.

Source:

http://www3.pef.uni-lj.si/~tuji jeziki/rp/1_letnik/exercises_on_paragraph_writing.pdf

6.) ___________________________________________________. They sometimes express this with their words and sometimes with concrete things. In most cases, the best way to do that is giving a gift to that person. However, this trend has different meaning in Malaysia and Paraguay disapproves of giving gifts because they may consider it to be bribe. In Malaysia, you can’t give a gift if you don’t have a personal relationship with that person. Yet, in some countries like Japan, Indonesia and the Philippines, exchanging gifts is related to tradition. It is important for them to give gifts to each other. When someone decides to show his/her respect or love for someone with a present, he/she has to consider where this person comes from.

7.) _______________________________________________________. I love the autumn weather. The weather has a moderate temperature. It is never exceedingly hot or cold. Therefore, you can spend time outside without sweating too much. Also, I love the way the trees turn to colour. They change from green to yellow, red and orange. When leaves change colour, from green to yellow, orange and red, you can understand trees are beginning their long winter’s rest. As a last thing I also like autumn because school starts. I get excited when   I think about going back to school and seeing my teachers and friends again. To sum up, autumn is a time of great season with its weather, colour of the trees and school season.

Have fun!