WHAT IS A TOPIC SENTENCE A topic sentence is the most important
sentence in a paragraph. Sometimes referred to as a focus sentence,
the topic sentence helps organize the paragraph by summarizing the
information in the paragraph. In formal writing, the topic sentence
is usually the first sentence in a paragraph.
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PURPOSE OF THE TOPIC SENTENCE A topic sentence essentially
tells what the rest of the paragraph is about. All sentences after
it, have to give more information about the sentence. For example,
if the topic sentence concerns the types of endangered species that
live in the ocean, then every sentence after that needs to expound
on that subject. Topic sentences also need to relate back to the
thesis of the essay. The thesis statement is like a road map that
will tell the reader or listener where you are going with this
information or how you are treating it.
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Example Topic sentence: There are many reasons why pollution in
Chinatown is the worst in the world. The topic is pollution in
Chinatown Town is the worst in the world and the controlling idea
is many reasons. TOPIC SENTENCES AND CONTROLLING IDEAS Every topic
sentence will have a topic and a controlling idea. The controlling
idea shows the direction the paragraph will take.
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Example Topic Sentence: Dogs make wonderful pets because they
help you to live longer. The topic is "dogs make wonderful pets"
and the controlling idea is "because they help you to live longer."
TOPIC SENTENCES AND CONTROLLING IDEAS Each topic sentence will
surely have a controlling idea that guides the statement or
question.
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Example During the 1990s, I really enjoyed watching Friends on
television every Thursday night. I really wanted Rachels haircutI
think every girl wanted Rachels haircut back then! Rachels haircut
went really well with the Guess Jeans that were so popular in the
1990s. I remember all the advertisements for Guess and Calvin Klein
Jeans that were in each months Sassy magazine. I dont think Sassy
magazine exists anymore, but it was one of the most popular
magazines for young women in the 1990s. TOPIC SENTENCES The topic
sentence should not be too general or too specific. When
considering the options, look for a topic sentence that is general
enough to show the paragraphs main idea instead of just one of its
details.
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Answer Thinking about the 1990s brings back a lot of memories
for me about fashion and popular culture. TOPIC SENTENCES The bold
sentence is one possible topic sentence for the example paragraph.
Note: This is just one possible topic sentence. You may have
thought of others that are also appropriate.
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Example Canada has an excellent health care system. All
Canadians have access to medical services at a reasonable price.
Moreover, Canada has a high standard of education. Students are
taught by well-trained teachers and are encouraged to continue
studying at university. Finally, Canada's cities are clean and
efficiently managed. Canadian cities have many parks and lots of
space for people to live. As a result, Canada is a desirable place
to live. HOW WRITE A TOPIC SENTENCE? You need to summarize the main
idea of your paragraph. And indicate to the reader what your
paragraph will be about.
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Answer There are three reasons why Canada is one of the best
countries in the world. HOW WRITE A TOPIC SENTENCE? After reading
the paragraph the student will know what is the central idea of the
paragraph.
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ACTIVITY 1 Americans relaxing at home, for example, may put on
kimonos, which is a Japanese word. Americans who live in a warm
climate may take an afternoon siesta on an outdoors patio without
even realizing that these are Spanish words. In their gardens, they
may enjoy the fragrance of jasmine flowers, a word that came into
English from Persian. They may even relax on a chaise longue, while
sipping a drink made with vodka, words of French and Russian
origin, respectively.
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ANSWER TO ACTIVITY 1 Although the majority of Americans may not
be aware of it, many features of their culture and their language
are in fact imports from other cultures.
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ACTIVITY 2 In European universities, students are not required
to attend classes. In fact, professors in Germany generally do not
know the names of the students enrolled in their courses. In the
United States, however, students are required to attend all classes
and may be penalized if they do not. Furthermore, in the European
system, there is usually just one comprehensive examination at the
end of the students' entire four or five years of study. In the
American system, on the other hand, there are usually numerous
quizzes, texts, and homework assignments, and there is almost
always a final examination in each course at the end of the
semester.
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ANSWER TO ACTIVITY 2 University systems and syllabi can vary
considerably from country to country and particularly from
continent to continent
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SUPPORTING SENTENCES Sequence of episodes Develops ideas and
arguments Targets the main point Some background information about
the topic
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SUPPORTING SENTENCE They come after the topic sentence, making
up the body of a paragraph. They give details to develop and
support the main idea of the paragraph. You should give supporting
facts, details, and examples.
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TYPES OF SUPPORTING SENTENCE 1. MAJOR SUPPORTING SENTENCE 2.
MINOR SUPPORING SENTENCE
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Example: Topic sentence: Golden week in Japan is combined
celebration of four holidays Major Supporting Sentence: The first
takes place on April 29 th, the birthday of emperor Showa and
commemorates the 64 years of his power. Minor supporting sentence:
It is a time for the Japanese to remember the important period of
their history. TYPES OF SUPPORTING SENTENCE Major supporting
sentence tells us about the topic sentence. Minor supporting
sentence tells more about the major supporting sentence..
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Example Martin Luther King, Jr. was a strong leader. He was
born on January 15, 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia. He went to college to
become a minister, like his father was. Dr. King became a leader
and civil rights advocate. His non- violent leadership and powerful
speeches gained him respect from the American people. On April 4,
1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was shot and killed. Today we
honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by celebrating his birthday as a
national holiday. HOW TO WRITE A SUPPORTING SENTENCE The supporting
sentences need to be about the idea presented in the topic
sentence. In a paragraph, every sentence should support the topic
sentence. If a sentence does not support the main idea of the
paragraph, it does not belong in that paragraph and it should be
moved to a new paragraph.
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ACTIVITY 1: Fill in the blank with the correct supporting
sentence: Harriet Tubman was a runaway slave from Maryland who
became known as the "Moses of her people." ____________________.
The Underground Railroad was a secret network of safe houses where
runaway slaves could stay on their journey north to freedom. She
later became a leader in the abolitionist movement, and during the
Civil War she was a spy with for the federal forces in South
Carolina as well as a nurse.
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ACTIVITY 1: Fill in the blank with the correct supporting
sentence. Options are: 1.Over the course of 10 years at a great
personal risk she led hundred of slaves to freedom along the
underground railroad. 2.There should be a national holiday to
celebrate her achievements. 3.As a small child, she was a slave and
frequently subjected to sever whipping.
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ANSWER TO ACTIVITY 1: Option 1 is correct The first sentence is
correct because it supports the supports the topic of Harriet
Tubman as a person who helped free slaves.
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ACTIVITY 2: Fill in the blank with the correct supporting
sentence: Born Edward Kennedy Ellington, Duke Ellington was one of
the founding fathers of jazz music. __________________________. A
pianist, bandleader, arranger, and composer, Ellington and his band
played together for 50 years. Some of Ellington's most famous songs
include "Don't Get Around Much Anymore," "Sophisticated Lady" and
"In a Sentimental Mood."
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ACTIVITY 2: Fill in the blank with the correct supporting
sentence: Options are: 1.While vacationing in Asbury park, Duke
heard of a hot pianist named Harvey Brooks. 2.He played for the
royalty and common people and by the end of his fifty-year career,
he had played over 20,000 performances worldwide. 3.He stated
playing piano at the age of seven, and by the time he was fifteen
he was composing.
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ANSWER TO ACTIVITY 2: Option 3 is correct The third sentence is
correct because it adds details to the topic sentence. The first
sentence is off topic and the second sentence confuses the
reader.
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IRRELEVANT SENTENCES Looks like a supporting sentence Are off
topic Are random opinions or statements Do not prove the
controlling idea they might actually disprove it Repeat facts
Incomplete sentences (missing subject or verb or incomplete
thoughts)
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Example The disappearance of Amelia Earhart remains a mystery.
Earhart, who was the first woman pilot to fly across the Atlantic
Ocean, crashed into the Pacific Ocean while attempting to fly
around the world. She was born in Atchison, Kansas, in 1897. Some
researchers believe that she survived the crash into the Pacific,
because radio distress calls were received. An intensive search for
the source of the signals was made. Searchers were not able to find
her, however. Finally, the distress signals ceased. In spite of
continued searches by airplane and ship, no clue about what became
of Amelia Earhart has yet been found. IRRELEVANT SENTENCES Usually
irrelevant sentence will destroy the unity of the paragraph and
will sound odd for the topic.
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Example Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809 in a log
cabin in Kentucky. When he was a child, he moved to Indiana and as
a young man moved to Illinois. While he was living in Illinois, he
became a lawyer and served in the state House of Representatives.
He later served in the U.S. House of Representatives and eventually
ran for president. Abraham Lincoln wore a stovepipe hat. He was
elected president in 1860 and led our country through the Civil
War. Sadly, he was assassinated in April of 1865. Abraham Lincoln
was very tall. IRRELEVANT SENTENCES Sometimes paragraphs contain
sentences that have information that do not match its theme or
interrupt its flow. These sentences are called irrelevant
sentences.
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Example Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809 in a log
cabin in Kentucky. When he was a child, he moved to Indiana and as
a young man moved to Illinois. While he was living in Illinois, he
became a lawyer and served in the state House of Representatives.
He later served in the U.S. House of Representatives and eventually
ran for president. Abraham Lincoln wore a stovepipe hat. He was
elected president in 1860 and led our country through the Civil
War. Sadly, he was assassinated in April of 1865. Abraham Lincoln
was very tall. IRRELEVANT SENTENCES A careful reading is required
before straightaway coming to a conclusion. Sometimes sentences can
be confusing.