GAP Writing/Grammar
Shinsuke Tsuchiya
Topic sentence
Shinsuke Tsuchiya
Features of good topic sentences
1. It controls or guides the whole paragraph. When you read the topic
sentence, you know what to expect in the paragraph.
2. A good topic sentence is not a general fact that everyone accepts
as true.
*Libraries have books is not a good topic sentence. The reader does
not know what to expect in the paragraph.
*Green tea has many health benefits is a good topic sentence
because it is specific.
3. A good topic sentence is not too specific.
*This monolingual dictionary contains more than 42,000 words limits
the topic too much--there is nothing else for the writer to say.
4. A good topic sentence often has controlling ideas--words or
phrases that help guide the flow of ideas in the paragraph.
Example:
Why do people study in college?
________________________________
________________
_________________________. For
example, some people want to be to go
on a further study after they graduate
from the college; some people hope to
find a good job after their studying in the
college and also some people wish to
exchange their present situation through
studying in the college. In my opinion, no
matter what reason people study in the
college for, studying in the college is just
a preparation for their future’ life.
College is a place that the students can
learn more and new knowledge and
experience in it. Of course, different
people have different reason to study in
college.
First of all, students can learn new
knowledge and experiences from the
studying in the college.
Secondly, students can learn how to
arrange their own time reasonably.
Thirdly, studying in the college make
students having opportunity to live with
other student and learn how to
cooperate with other people.
Example:
Why do people study in college?
________________________________
____________________________.
There are many teachers, professors
with abundant teaching experience who
teach students lots of new knowledge
and help them to solve the problems in
their study. With their help, student can
learn a lot of useful basic and
professional knowledge which is very
helpful for their future’ work. and study.
After they finish their study in the
college, students go to work in the
society and contribute to the different
fields.
College is a place that the students can learn
more and new knowledge and experience in it.
Of course, different people have different reason
to study in college.
First of all, students can learn new knowledge
and experiences from the studying in the
college.
Secondly, students can learn how to arrange
their own time reasonably.
Thirdly, studying in the college make students
having opportunity to live with other student and
learn how to cooperate with other people.
Example:
Why do people study in college?
________________________________
______________. Before their studying
in college, their life often arranged by
their parents and their study often
arranged by their teachers. It is very
different for them to live and study in
college, because students studying in
college have to arrange their life and
study by themselves. They have right to
arrange their part time, such as when to
get up, when is the sport-time, when to
finish the assignment etc. This is very
important experience for students’ work
and life in the future.
College is a place that the students can
learn more and new knowledge and
experience in it. Of course, different
people have different reason to study in
college.
First of all, students can learn new
knowledge and experiences from the
studying in the college.
Secondly, students can learn how to
arrange their own time reasonably.
Thirdly, studying in the college make
students having opportunity to live with
other student and learn how to
cooperate with other people.
Example:
Why do people study in college?
_______________________________
__________________. Usually, people
often have uncomfortable feeling to live
with a stranger, because they do not
know each other and perhaps their habit
and personality are different. But for the
long run, it is good for them. They have
to cooperate with each other and solve a
lot of problems they will face together.
Gradually, they can learn how to care
and understand other people. It is a
preparation for students to go to
cooperate with other people in the
society.
College is a place that the students can
learn more and new knowledge and
experience in it. Of course, different
people have different reason to study in
college.
First of all, students can learn new
knowledge and experiences from the
studying in the college.
Secondly, students can learn how to
arrange their own time reasonably.
Thirdly, studying in the college make
students having opportunity to live with
other student and learn how to
cooperate with other people.
Example:
Why do people study in college?
Conclusion:
All in all, students not only can learn lots
of new knowledge from the books but
also can learn much more necessary
experience such as how to arrange time
and how to cooperate with other people.
It is very important for their future work
and life.
College is a place that the students can
learn more and new knowledge and
experience in it. Of course, different
people have different reason to study in
college.
First of all, students can learn new
knowledge and experiences from the
studying in the college.
Secondly, students can learn how to
arrange their own time reasonably.
Thirdly, studying in the college make
students having opportunity to live with
other student and learn how to
cooperate with other people.
Features of good topic sentences
Options:
too specific. specific, controls, controlling, general fact
1. It _______ or guides the whole paragraph. When you read the topic sentence, you
know what to expect in the paragraph.
2. A good topic sentence is not a ___________ that everyone accepts as true.
*Libraries have books
*Green tea has many health benefits
3. A good topic sentence is not _________.
*This monolingual dictionary contains more than 42,000 words
4. A good topic sentence often has _________ ideas--words or phrases that help
guide the flow of ideas in the paragraph.
Practice
Why do people study in college?
________________________________
_____________. I think the most
important reason is to gain more
knowledge and learn more skills. Of
course, there are also many other
reasons that people study in college
such as to get more friends, and
increase one's self-confidence.
A. Some people who study in college or
university want to make more friends
and increase their interpersonal skills.
B. People study in college or university
for many different reasons.
C.In today's society, people need more
knowledge and skills to be adapted.
D. The people who graduate from
college seem more confident in our
community. These people are more
respected by society.
E. These days, most jobs require
people who are educated and have
good job skills.
Practice
Why do people study in college?
________________________________
___________. They enjoy their lives in
university or college and tend to
socialize a lot. They can meet more
people who have the similar interests
with themselves. They can go to uni ball
after school and make more friends who
they trust.
A. Some people who study in college or
university want to make more friends
and increase their interpersonal skills.
B. People study in college or university
for many different reasons.
C.In today's society, people need more
knowledge and skills to be adapted.
D. The people who graduate from
college seem more confident in our
community. These people are more
respected by society.
E. These days, most jobs require
people who are educated and have
good job skills.
Practice
Why do people study in college?
________________________________
____________. They enjoy their lives in
university or college and tend to
socialize a lot. They can meet more
people who have the similar interests
with themselves. They can go to uni ball
after school and make more friends who
they trust.
A. Some people who study in college or
university want to make more friends
and increase their interpersonal skills.
B. People study in college or university
for many different reasons.
C.In today's society, people need more
knowledge and skills to be adapted.
D. The people who graduate from
college seem more confident in our
community. These people are more
respected by society.
E. These days, most jobs require
people who are educated and have
good job skills.
Practice
Why do people study in college?
________________________________
_____. Many people want to be
respected and to be important by family,
friends, their bosses, and others in their
lives. They find that most of them can
confidently talk and do their jobs as they
are more educated. Therefore, most
people want to get the confidence
through the university or college study.
A. Some people who study in college or
university want to make more friends
and increase their interpersonal skills.
B. People study in college or university
for many different reasons.
C.In today's society, people need more
knowledge and skills to be adapted.
D. The people who graduate from
college seem more confident in our
community. These people are more
respected by society.
E. These days, most jobs require
people who are educated and have
good job skills.
Practice
Why do people study in college?
________________________________
_____________. The university and
college study is a good way to
achieve this.
A. Some people who study in college or
university want to make more friends
and increase their interpersonal skills.
B. People study in college or university
for many different reasons.
C.In today's society, people need more
knowledge and skills to be adapted.
D. The people who graduate from
college seem more confident in our
community. These people are more
respected by society.
E. These days, most jobs require
people who are educated and have
good job skills.
Good topic sentences?
1. It _______ or guides the whole paragraph. When you read the topic sentence, you
know what to expect in the paragraph.
2. A good topic sentence is not a ___________ that everyone accepts as true.
*Libraries have books
*Green tea has many health benefits
3. A good topic sentence is not _________.
*This monolingual dictionary contains more than 42,000 words
4. A good topic sentence often has _________ ideas--words or phrases that help
guide the flow of ideas in the paragraph.
Cool beans?
Expressing Habitual Present with
When- Clauses
Find ‘when’
When my son comes home from school,
he plays Third World Farmer every afternoon.
Third World Farmer is a computer game for
learning about farm life in other countries. The
goal of the game is to be a successful farmer.
When you are successful, you plant more crops
and buy animals. When you aren’t successful,
you don’t have enough food to feed your family,
and they can die.
Independent clause vs.
dependent clause
1. When my son comes home from school, he plays Third
World Farmer every afternoon.
2. When you are successful, you plant more crops.
Q. Which sentence can stand by itself? Which one cannot?
Q. Can we switch the independent and dependent clauses?
Q. What do you notice about the verb form? Present? Past?
Why?