ENGLISH SEM 2 / 3.1.2 STUDY GUIDE A paragraph is a: small unit of writing made up of one or many sentences about one main idea. Paragraphs are important because: they make it easier for readers to understand what they read. A small piece of writing made up of one or many sentences about one main idea is a _____. PARAGRAPH Which of the following choices is the best definition for paragraph? A small unit of writing made up of one or many sentences about one main idea. The parts of a basic paragraph are: the topic sentence, the supporting sentences, and the clincher sentence. The topic sentence, the supporting sentences, and the clincher sentence are all parts of the _____. basic paragraph A good topic sentence: answers the question "What is this paragraph about?" A topic sentence: summarizes what the paragraph will be about. The correct meaning of topic sentence is: a sentence that describes the main point of the paragraph. A sentence that explains the topic sentence of the paragraph is called a _____. SUPPORTING SENTENCE The clincher sentence: RESTATES THE MAIN IDEA The meaning of clincher sentence is: a sentence that uses as few words as possible to restate the main points and main idea of the argument. In a paragraph about laughter and health, which of the following would be a good topic sentence? ***Laughing is good for people. It is healthy to eat vegetables. As you can see from what I've said so far, laughing is good for people. Some people laugh every day. In a paragraph about sunshine and health, which of the following would be a good topic sentence? ****It is healthy for people to get a safe amount of sun. Some scientists say all you need is 15 minutes a day to get enough vitamin D. You can also get vitamin D from fish. As you can see, getting enough vitamin D is a good way to improve overall health. In a paragraph about exercising while being sad, which of the following would be a good topic sentence? ****When people are sad, sometimes exercising can help them feel better. As you can see, studies show that exercise can help people feel better. Some studies have shown that exercise is just as good at improving a low mood as medication. Running in a race is very difficult. In a paragraph with the topic "exercise and stress," which of the following would be a good supporting sentence? Exercise can help make stress better. ****Some studies show that exercise helps get rid of the hormones that cause stress. Playing basketball is a good form of exercise. It is stressful when your team is losing to the other team. In a paragraph with the topic sentence "Having pets can keep older people from getting too lonely," which of the following would be a good supporting sentence? Babies need their parents. ****Older people who have pets say they are less lonely than before they got their pets. Cats don't like dogs. Older people who have strong friendships stay healthier. In a paragraph with the topic "fear of flying," which of the following would be a good supporting sentence? Some people are afraid of flying. ****The fear people feel when they fly has very little to do with their actual safety. Jets fly higher than small planes. Some people are afraid of spiders In a paragraph about stress and breathing, which of the following sentences would make a good clincher sentence? Breathing deeply can help with stress. Eating well can help with stress. ****Breathing deeply can help with stress by balancing the level of oxygen in the bloodstream, helping to lower blood pressure and heart rate, and increasing calm feelings. Loud noises are stressful. In a paragraph about TV and sleep, which of the following sentences would make a good clincher sentence? It is harder for people to sleep after they have been watching TV. ***Since TV shows and movies can excite the brain, and the light from the TV can send a signal to the eyes to stay awake, it is difficult to sleep after watching TV. The light from the TV can signal the eyes to stay awake, just as if it were the sun. Movies are better than TV shows. In a paragraph about cell phones and driving, which of the following sentences would make a good clincher sentence? It is not good to drive while talking on the cell phone. Studies show that driving while talking on the cell phone is similar to driving after drinking alcohol. ****It is not good for people to talk on the phone while driving, because when they use their hands to dial or hold the phone, they are thinking about the call, not the road. People can keep addresses in their phones.
