1 What is a Paragraph? Lesson 9 Kinds of Paragraphs Paragraph Organization The Topic Sentence Supporting Sentences The Concluding Sentence 2 What is a Paragraph? It’s a group of sentences about a topic. Kinds of Paragraph ✖ ✖ ✖ ✖ ✖ Descriptive Paragraph Process Paragraph Narrative Paragraph Opinion Paragraph Example Paragraph 3 Paragraph Organization ✖ The topic sentence ✖ Supporting sentences ✖ Concluding sentence 4 5 The Topic Sentence The topic sentence is usually the first or second sentence in a paragraph, and it introduces an idea. The topic sentence has two parts. it gives you the topic that the writer wants to talk about, and it also gives you something called the controlling idea. This controlling idea tells you what the writer will say about the topic. The topic sentence gives your readers an idea of what they will be reading about. This way they can understand the paragraph more easily. 6 Topic Controlling idea My friend is a wonderful father. My friend is the most honest person I know. My friend has a terribly dangerous job. Some jobs are perfect for students. College students drop classes for three reasons. text messaging has become popular among teenagers. My uncle had a terrible and frightening experience as a young man. effective management requires four steps. These are good topic sentences because they give the reader an idea of what the paragraph will discuss. They give the reader an idea about the content of the paragraph but they don’t give any details. A good topic sentence is neither too general nor too specific. Video games are good. (too general because there is no specific controlling idea) Video games teach children to identify critical elements of a problem and create a problem model. (too specific because it gives you information that should come later in the paragraph) Video games teach children problem-solving strategies. Exercise 1: Good, too general, or too specific? 1. Exercise benefits health. 2. Exercise has three important health benefits. 3. Exercise improves circulation and helps with weight management. 4. Printed books have several advantages over PDFs. 5. Mountain climbing is a kind of sport. 6. Mountain climbing is one of the most difficult sports. 7. There are three main types of computers on the market. 8. Computers changed the way we do things. 9. Smartphones can be used as computers as well as GPS units. 10. Smartphones can perform a variety of useful tasks. 11. There are four simple steps to make a cake. 12. Cats are different from dogs. 13. Cats have certain characteristics that make them perfect family pets. 14. Cats are perfect family pets because they are completely independent creatures. 15. Travelling to a foreign country is a good thing. 16. Travelling to a foreign country helps people learn about different cultures. 7 8 Barefoot Boy _________________________. One evening while my parents were eating dinner, I was playing barefoot in the yard with my toys. Even now I still remember the perfume of the flowers and the moisture of the grass. While I was sitting on the grass and playing with a truck, I looked up at the sky, and my attention was distracted by the beauty of the stars. Then I felt something cold and smooth slide over my feet. Then I saw a snake slowly slithering over my toes. I felt terrible afraid, and my heart beat very fast. After the snake moved away, I screamed to my parents for help. They captured the snake and took it away. The experience frightened me, and I never went outside barefoot again. a. I was scared when I was little. b. I had a scary experience when I was a young boy. c. I was scared when I was attacked by snake. Why Everyone Should Try Yoga _______________________. First, it is easy to get started. Unlike other forms of exercise, yoga does not require a lot of special equipment or clothing, and everyone can do it almost anywhere. Next, yoga is a good form of exercise regardless of people’s age or physical condition when they start. It improves body strength and flexibility, which is an excellent way to relieve stress. Yoga is an easy-to-do and beneficial way to get exercise. a. Yoga is a way to strengthen the body and the mind. b. Yoga is becoming popular with people of all ages. c. Yoga is an excellent form of exercise for several reasons. 9 Writing Topic Sentences Think before you start writing anything. My hobbies Writing books Reading books playing video games watching movies playing chess Reading books Helps with improving English level Gives me knowledge about different topics Protects memory Improves thinking skills Reading books is my favorite hobby for three reasons. 12 Supporting Sentences Supporting sentences add information about the topic and the controlling idea. They can include examples and explanations. 13 [topic] Reading books [controlling idea] is my favorite hobby for three reasons. 3 Main Points 1- Reading English texts helps me expand my vocabulary base. 2- It also helps me gain knowledge about different topics. 3- It prevents cognitive decline, and it benefits the brain. You can write the paragraph now. Reading books is my favorite hobby for three reasons. First, reading English texts helps me expand my vocabulary base. Also reading helps me gain knowledge about different topics. As a result, it benefits me greatly as a teacher. Next, Reading is a good way to protect the brain because it prevents cognitive decline. ______ [concluding sentence]______. Exercise: for each set of sentences, write TS next to the topic sentence. Write SS next to the supporting sentences. 1. __ a. Mosquitoes are attracted to heat. __ b. Mosquitoes will fly several miles to find food. __ c. Only the female mosquito bites. __ d. Mosquitoes are interesting insects for many reasons. __ e. Mosquitoes have poor eye-sight but use heat to find blood. 2. __ a. The first type of hotel is an airport hotel. __ b. Many airport hotel guests are passengers whose flights were delayed on cancelled. __ c. There are two types of hotels in most major cities. __ d. The second type of hotel is a downtown hotel. __ e. Guests of downtown hotels include tourists and business people. 3. __ a. part-time jobs teach students skills they need to for the future. __ b. They also learn about job responsibilities. __ c. Students learn how to be on time. __ d. They learn about working with others. __ e. Students learn about business. 4. __ a. The collection includes music from Spain, Ethiopia, and Egypt. __ b. I also enjoy going to concerts by musicians from different countries. __ c. Last month I went to a concert by a famous musician from Korea. __ d. I have a large collection of world music on my phone. __ e. One of my hobbies is listening to international music. 14 Exercise: Read each topic sentence and the main point provided. Then add three more main points. 1. Reading helps English language learners improve their English. A. Reading English texts help learners expand their vocabulary. B. ______________ C. ______________ D. ______________ 2. Avoid stress when studying for a big test by taking the following actions. A. Begin studying days ahead of time. B. __________________ C. __________________ D. __________________ 15 Exercise: Read each topic sentence and the main point provided. Then add three more main points. 1. Reading helps English language learners improve their English. A. Reading English texts help learners expand their vocabulary. B. Reading English texts help learners perform better academically. C. Reading also improves writing. D. Reading can have great effects on memory retention. 2. Avoid stress when studying for a big test by taking the following actions. A. Begin studying days ahead of time. B. Don’t let other things distract you. C. Stick to a routine by eating and sleeping at around the same time every day. D. try out some relaxation activities like deep breathing, meditation or listening to music. 16 17 Concluding Sentence It’s also called the final sentence. It usually reminds the reader of the topic and controlling idea. It emphasizes the main idea of the paragraph. It may also include what the writer has learned or why the topic is important. Sometimes, the concluding sentence offers a prediction, a request, or a warning. 18 Topic Sentence Learning a new language can be beneficial for three reasons. Concluding Sentence In conclusion, being able to speak a second language has many advantages. The concluding sentence may: Warn the reader. If you do not limit your sugar intake, you may suffer from heart conditions. Make a prediction. Soon everyone will be vaccinated against COVID-19. Give an opinion about the topic. Some people might disagree with the study because it was done on animals not humans. Do NOT introduce a new idea in the concluding sentence. In conclusion, learning a new language can cost a small fortune. Conclusion phrases that are followed by a comma In conclusion, … In short, … All in all, … To summarize,… To sum up, … Indeed, … Conclusion phrases that are NOT followed by a comma You can see that … It is clear that … These examples show that … 19 20 Exercise: Read each topic sentence. Then identify the sentence that would make the best conclusion. 1. There are four steps to finding a cheap airline ticket online. __ a. Airline tickets will be more expensive in the future. __ b. Following these steps will help you find the best price. __ c. Everybody wants to save money on airline tickets. 2. Video games can benefit children. __ a. Some video games teach children decision-making strategies. __ b. In addition to playing video games, watching some educational programs on TV is good for children. __ c. These benefits can have lasting effects on children. 3. The government can encourage people to recycle by taking the following steps. __ a. Without these measures, people are less likely to recycle. __ b. The government should pick up the recycling from people’s houses at least once a week. __ c. The government should do more to protect the environment. 21 Exercise : Circle the word that best describes each of the concluding sentences. 1. If you follow these steps, you will never lose your keys again. A. prediction B. opinion C. warning 2. Students who are not careful with credit cards can go into debt quickly. A. prediction B. opinion C. warning 3. Paris, France is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. A. prediction B. opinion C. warning 4. You will be able to fold a beautiful paper crane with only a little practice. A. prediction B. opinion C. warning 5. The desert is a beautiful but dangerous place to hike, so do your research, and prepare carefully. A. prediction B. opinion C. warning 22 Getting Involved in Campus Life Students who participate in activities outside of class receive a number of advantages. To begin with, joining a club or attending a campus event can provide a much-needed break from studying. In addition, getting involved in student activities is a good way to make new friends. This is especially important for students who are feeling alone during their first days at a new school. Another advantage is learning new skills. For example, students who belong to a psychology club can learn more about their major and develop leadership skills that will be valuable later in life. ______________ a. In conclusion, students can have a lot of fun when they join campus activities. b. In conclusion, students who are involved in campus life get more out of school. c. In conclusion, students will not feel lonely if they join a club with other students. 23 Thank you for watching the lesson. Stay tuned for our next lessons.
