Module 2Supporting Sentences

Information taken from: Butler, L. Fundamentals ofAcademic Writing. Longman & Hogue, A. (2008).First Steps in Academic Writing. Longman.

In Module 1 you learned about topic sentences. In thismodule you will learn about supporting sentences.

Parts of a Paragraph

A paragraph has 3 main parts:1. Topic sentence2. Supporting sentences3. Concluding sentence

Supporting SentencesThe middle sentences in a paragraph aresupporting sentences.

Supporting sentences explain or prove theidea in the topic sentence.

The supporting sentences are the biggest part ofa paragraph, just as the filling is the biggest partof a hamburger. They are the filling in ourparagraph “hamburger”.

Important!

Here is an important rule to remember whenyou write supporting sentences:

A paragraph must follow the rule of unity. Allthe sentences in a paragraph are about ONEmain idea.

Activity

Look at the followingparagraphs and decide ifthey are good or badparagraphs.

Paragraph #1Is this a good or a bad paragraph?

Are all sentences related to the topic sentence?

Employers look for three qualities in their employees. First of all,employers want workers to be dependable. My friend John isvery dependable and I am dependable, too. Second,employers want workers who are responsible. Can the boss givethe worker a Project to do and know that it will be done well?Everybody should be responsible, even when you are at schoolor at university. Third, employers look for workers who can workwell with others. I had a friend who couldn’t work with otherpeople and we always left him to work alone. To sumarize,employers look for dependable, responsible team players.

Paragraph #2Is this a good or a bad paragraph?

Are all sentences related to the topice sentence?

Employers look for three qualities in their employees. First of all,employers want workers to be dependable. That is, they wantworkers who come to work every day. Second, employerswant workers who are responsible. Can the boss give theworker a Project to do and know that it will be done well?Third, employers look for workers who can work well with others.The ability to get along with coworkers is important to besuccessful of a business. To sumarize, employers look fordependable, responsible team players.

AnswerThe good paragraph is:Paragraph 2.All sentences are related to the main idea.

The bad paragraph is:Paragraph 1.The following sentences do not support the topic sentence:• My friend John is very dependable and I am dependable, too.• Everybody shoudl be responsible, even when you are at school

and at university.• I had a friend who couldn’t work with other people and we

always left him to work alone.

Even though they seem to be related to being dependable,responsible and working with other people, these sentences do notrelated to qualities in workers. They are comments from the authorsexperience, and do not fit the paragraph.

OutliningMaking an outline, is a part of pre-writing. Onceyou have your ideas about your topic, you needto organize them. An outline helps you do this.

Model of SimpleOutlineFlight Attendants

Topic Sentence Employer look for three qualities intheir employees.

First main point A. To be dependableSecond main point B. To be responsibleThird main point C. To work well with othersConcluding Sentence To sumarize, employers look for

dependable, responsible teamplayers.

Writer’s Tip

When you write an outline, try to make themain points (A, B, C and so on) the same – alladjectives, all nouns, all verb phrases, or allsentences.