© Capital Community College The paragraph is a series of sentences developing one topic.
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Transcript of © Capital Community College The paragraph is a series of sentences developing one topic.
© Capital Community College
The Topic Sentence
• The topic of a paragraph is stated in one sentence. This is called the topic sentence.
© Capital Community College
The rest of the paragraph consists of sentences that develop or
explain the main idea.• Through the centuries rats
have managed to survive all our efforts to destroy them. We have poisoned them and trapped them. We have fumigated, flooded, and burned them. We have tried germ warfare. Some rats even survived atomic bomb tests conducted on Entwetok atoll in the Pacific after World War II. In spite of all our efforts, these enemies of ours continue to prove that they are the most indestructible of pests.
main idea
concludingsentence
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He collects books that were written over a hundred years ago. But he is also interested in the best sellers of today. If I ever need to get him a present, I know I can always please him by buying him a book.
• Which of the following topic sentences is the best one for the above paragraph?
• A. Reading is fun.
• B. Books are my father’s hobby.
• C. My father was a main influence in my life.
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The most beautiful flower is the rose because it comes in so many different colors. Another beautiful flower is the daisy which sometimes grows wild. Spring flowers like tulips, daffodils, and crocuses are also very pretty.
• Which of the following topic sentences is the best one for the above paragraph?
• A. Don’t you just love spring?
• B. The rose is the most loved flower the world over.
• C. There are many lovely flowers to consider for your garden.
© Capital Community College
• A. Canada is our friendly neighbor to the north.
• B. There are three reasons why Canada is one of the best countries of the world.
• C. Choose Canada as a great place to vacation.
Which of the following is the topic sentence for the paragraph above?
First, Canada has an excellent health care system. All Canadians have access to medical services at a reasonable price. Second, Canada has a high standard of education. Finally, Canada’s cities are clean and efficiently managed.
© Capital Community College
Developing a ParagraphA topic sentence may be developed using any of the following strategies:
FactsStatisticsAnecdotesExamplesSensory Details
DefinitionsComparisonsCause and EffectPersonal ExperiencesExpert OpinionQuotes from Others
Turn to page 312 and look with me at an example.
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Unity in the ParagraphEvery sentence in a paragraph should support the main idea expressed in the topic sentence.
main idea
sentence
sentence
sentence
sentence
Turn to page 302 and do Exercise 4. Which sentences destroy the paragraphs unity?
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The concluding or clincher sentence
• Restate the topic sentence in different words.
• A clincher sentence or concluding sentence clinches the point made in the paragraph.
• It summarizes the paragraph.
• Turn to page 300 and do Exercise 3.
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Coherence in a ParagraphCoherence in a Paragraph
• Stick to the point: The ideas have a clear and logical relation to each other.
• Put details or examples or incidents in logical order.
43
2
1chronological
in relation to each other
in order of importance
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Order of Importance . . .
Begin a paragraph with the topic sentence, and then follow with your least forceful idea and ending it with your strongest one.
Turn to page 307 and do number 1,2, or 3 of Exercise 7.
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Logical OrderLogical order involves arranging supporting
details into related groups to help the reader make connections between your ideas.
For example, a writer of a paragraph about wolves might decide to group details about their diet in the first three to five sentences and about their behavior in the last several sentences
Turn to 308 and do 1, 2, or 3 of Exercise 8.
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TransitionsIn order to move between your ideas, you
need to have smooth transitions.
Turn to page 309-310 and write the transitions that can be used when organizing ideas by order of importance or logic.
Next, do Exercise 9 on page 311.
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Connecting Sentences Within the Paragraph
chronological order
first
meanwhile
later
afterwards
finally
objects in relation to one another
next to
in front of
beside
between
behind
in order of importance
however
furthermore
as a result
in fact
yet
Transition words
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The Topic Sentence (Top Bun)
• Very first sentence of your paragraph.
• Tells what your paragraph is going to be about.
There are many reasons that I love to teach. First of all, I love to teach because I love being at school. Another reason I love teaching is that the days go by quickly. A third reason I love to teach is because I love seeing a student understand something new. Finally, I love to teach because I love to be around kids. These are just a few reasons I love to teach.
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The First Detail (Lettuce)
• Should not be the most important detail.
• Needs to follow directly after the topic sentence.
• Needs to be full of good “lettucy” details!
There are many reasons that I love to teach. First of all, I love to teach because I love being at
school. Another reason I love teaching is that the days go by quickly. A third reason I love to teach is because I love seeing a student understand something new. Finally, I love to teach because I love to be around kids. These are just a few reasons I love to teach.
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© Capital Community College
The Second Detail (Tomato)
• Still should not be the most important detail.
• Needs to follow directly after the lettuce sentence.
• Needs to be full of good “juicy” details!
There are many reasons that I love to teach. First of all, I love to
teach because I love being at school. Another reason I love teaching is that the days go by quickly. A third reason I love to teach is because I love seeing a student understand something new. Finally, I love to teach because I love to be around kids. These are just a few reasons I love to teach.
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© Capital Community College
The Third Detail (Cheese)
• Still not be the most important detail.
• Needs to start differently than other sentences.
• Needs to be full of good “cheesy” details!
There are many reasons that I love to teach. First of all, I love to
teach because I love being at school. Another reason I love teaching is that the days go by quickly. A third reason I love to teach is because I love seeing a student understand something new. Finally, I love to teach because I love to be around kids. These are just a few reasons I love to teach.
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© Capital Community College
The Last Detail (Meat)
• Finally!! The most important detail.
• Should start differently than most of the other sentences.
• Needs to be full of good “meaty” details!
There are many reasons that I love to teach. First of all, I love to
teach because I love being at school. Another reason I love teaching is that the days go by quickly. A third reason I love to teach is because I love seeing a student understand something new. Finally, I love to teach because I love to be around kids. These are just a few reasons I love to teach.
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© Capital Community College
The Closing Sentence (Bottom Bun)
• Should look a lot like the topic sentence.
• Needs to summarize the topic.
• Needs to be an obvious end to the sentence.
There are many reasons that I love to teach. First of all, I love to
teach because I love being at school. Another reason I love teaching is that the days go by quickly. A third reason I love to teach is because I love seeing a student understand something new. Finally, I love to teach because I love to be around kids. These are just a few reasons I love to teach.
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