topic sentence & paragraphs

8/15/2019 Topic Sentence & Paragraphs

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Topic Sentence

What is the topic sentence?

The topic sentence is the first sentence in a paragraph.

What does it do?

It introduces the main idea of the paragraph.

How do I write one?

Summarize the main idea of your paragraph. Indicate to the reader what your

paragraph will be about.

Example:

There are three reasons why Canada is one of the best countries in the

world. First, anada has an excellent health care system. !ll anadians ha"e

access to medical ser"ices at a reasonable price. Second, anada has a high

standard of education. Students are taught by well#trained teachers and are

encouraged to continue studying at uni"ersity. Finally, anada$s cities are clean

and efficiently managed. anadian cities ha"e many par%s and lots of space for

people to li"e. !s a result, anada is a desirable place to li"e.

Supporting Details

What are supporting sentences?

They come after the topic sentence, ma%ing up the body of a paragraph.

What do they do?

They gi"e details to de"elop and support the main idea of the paragraph.

How do I write them?

&ou should gi"e supporting facts, details, and examples.

Eample!

There are three reasons why anada is one of the best countries in the world.

"irst# Canada has an ecellent health care system. $ll Canadians ha%e access


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to medical ser%ices at a reasonable price. Second# Canada has a high

standard of education. Students are taught by well&trained teachers and are

encouraged to continue studying at uni%ersity. "inally# Canada's cities are

clean and efficiently managed. Canadian cities ha%e many par(s and lots of

space for people to li%e. !s a result, anada is a desirable place to li"e.

Closing Sentence

What is the closing sentence?

The closing sentence is the last sentence in a paragraph.

What does it do?

It restates the main idea of your paragraph.

How do I write one?

'estate the main idea of the paragraph using different words.

Eample!

There are three reasons why anada is one of the best countries in the world.

First, anada has an excellent health care system. !ll anadians ha"e access to

medical ser"ices at a reasonable price. Second, anada has a high standard of

education. Students are taught by well#trained teachers and are encouraged to

continue studying at uni"ersity. Finally, anada$s cities are clean and efficiently

managed. anadian cities ha"e many par%s and lots of space for people to li"e.

$s a result# Canada is a desirable place to li%e.


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)rewriting )aragraphs

What is the prewriting stage?

The prewriting stage is when you thin% carefully and organize your ideas foryour paragraph before you begin writing.

Si )rewriting Steps!

*. Thin( carefully about what you are going to write. !s% yourself: What

+uestion am I going to answer in this paragraph or essay? (ow can I best

answer this )uestion* +hat is the most important part of my answer* (ow can I

ma%e an introductory sentence or thesis statement- from the most important part

of my answer* +hat facts or ideas can I use to support my introductory

sentence* (ow can I ma%e this paragraph or essay interesting* o I need more

facts on this topic* +here can I find more facts on this topic*

,. -pen your noteboo(. +rite out your answers to the abo"e )uestions. &ou do

not need to spend a lot of time doing this/ 0ust write enough to help you

remember why and how you are going to write your paragraph or essay.

. Collect facts related to your paragraph or essay topic. 1oo% for and writedown facts that will help you to answer your )uestion. Timesa"ing hint: ma%e

sure the facts you are writing are related to the exact )uestion you are going to

answer in your paragraph or essay.

/. Write down your own ideas. !s% yourself: +hat else do I want to say about

this topic* +hy should people be interested in this topic* +hy is this topic

important*

0. "ind the main idea of your paragraph or essay. hoose the most important

point you are going to present. If you cannot decide which point is the most

important, 0ust choose one point and stic% to it throughout your paragraph or

essay.

1. -rgani2e your facts and ideas in a way that de%elops your main idea. 2nce

you ha"e chosen the most important point of your paragraph or essay, you must

find the best way to tell your reader about it. 1oo% at the facts you ha"e written.

1oo% at your own ideas on the topic. ecide which facts and ideas will bestsupport the main idea of your paragraph. 2nce you ha"e chosen the facts and

ideas you plan to use, as% yourself which order to put them in the paragraph.


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+rite down your own note set that you can use to guide yourself as you write

your paragraph or essay.

Writing )aragraphs

What is the writing stage?

The writing stage is when you turn your ideas into sentences.

"i%e Writing Steps!

3. 2pen your noteboo% and word processor.

4. +rite the topic sentence, supporting sentences, and closing sentence.

5. +rite clear and simple sentences to express your meaning.

6. Focus on the main idea of your paragraph.

7. 8se the dictionary to help you find additional words to express your

ideas.

Editing )aragraphs

What is the editing stage?

The editing stage is when you chec% your paragraph for mista%es and correct

them.

3rammar and Spelling

3. hec% your spelling.

4. hec% your grammar.

5. 'ead your essay again.

6. 9a%e sure each sentence has a sub0ect.

7. See if your sub0ects and "erbs agree with each other.

. hec% the "erb tenses of each sentence.;. 9a%e sure that each sentence ma%es sense.


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Style and -rgani2ation

3. 9a%e sure your paragraph has a topic sentence.

4. 9a%e sure your supporting sentences focus on the main idea.

5. 9a%e sure you ha"e a closing sentence.

6. hec% that all your sentences focus on the main idea.

7. See if your paragraph is interesting.

)ublishing )aragraphs

What is the publishing stage?

The publishing stage is when you produce a final copy of your paragraph to hand in.

Three )ublishing Steps!

3. 9a%e a paper copy of your paragraph.

4. Show your wor% to your teacher, tutor, or parents.

5. !s% them for hints on how to impro"e your writing.

Definition )aragraph

+hen writing a definition paragraph, you ta%e a thing or an idea and explain

what it is.

Example: +rite a paragraph gi"ing the definition of a pest.

The following words can help you to write a good definition paragraph!

*. 4is defined as4

Example

:

! pest is defined as any animal or plant that damages crops,

forests, or property.

,. 4is a (ind of4

Example

:

! pest is a (ind of animal or plant that damages crops, forests, or

property.


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Classification )aragraph

+hen writing a classification paragraph, you group things or ideas into specific

categories.

Example: +rite a paragraph discussing two types of energy resources.

The following words can help you to write a good classification paragraph!

Helper Words!

is a %ind of

can be di"ided into

is a type of

falls under

belongs to

is a part of

fits into

is grouped with

is related to

is associated with

Description )aragraph

In a description paragraph, you are writing about what a person, place, or thing is

li%e. Sometimes, you may describe where a place is located.

Examples: +rite a paragraph describing what a polar bear loo%s li%e.

escribe where anada$s industry is located.

The following words can help you to write a good description paragraph!

Helper Words!


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purpose speed beside

near

north=east=south=west

Compare and Contrast )aragraph

In a compare and contrast paragraph, you write about the similarities and

differences between two or more people, places, things, or ideas.

Example: +rite a paragraph comparing the weather in >ancou"er and (alifax.

The following words can help you to write a good compare and contrastparagraph!

Helper Words!

Similarities Differences

is similar to the other hand

both howe"er

also but

too in contrast

as well differs from

while

unli%e

Se+uence )aragraph

In a se)uencing paragraph, you are writing to describe a series of e"ents or a

process in some sort of order. 8sually, this order is based on time.

Example: +rite a paragraph outlining how a person becomes the prime minister.

The following words can help you to write a good se+uence paragraph.

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Helper Words!

-rder Time

first, second, third, etc. recently

in the beginning pre"iously

before afterwards

then when

after after

finally

at last

subse)uently

Choice )aragraph

In a paragraph where you ha"e to ma%e a choice, you need to choose which

ob0ect, idea, or action that you prefer. 2ften, you will need to gi"e your opinion

on a choice of actions or e"ents.

Example: +rite a paragraph stating whether you would prefer to play hoc%ey

or lacrosse.

The following words can help you to write a good choice paragraph!

Helper Words!

)oint of 5iew )ersonal -pinion

in my opinion li%e=disli%e

belief hope

idea feel

understanding

I thin% that

I consider

I belie"e

it seems to me

I prefer

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Eplanation )aragraph

In an explanation paragraph, you need to explain how or why something

happens. >ery often in social studies class, you will be as%ed to explore

causes and effects of certain e"ents.

Example: +rite a paragraph explaining why so many Europeans

mo"ed to anada during the nineteenth century.

The following words can help you to write a good eplanation

paragraph!

Helper Words!

Cause Effect

because therefore

since thus

as a result of conse)uently

is due to hence

it follows that

if . . . then

E%aluation )aragraph

In an e"aluation paragraph, you ma%e 0udgments about people, ideas, and

possible actions. &ou need to ma%e your e"aluation based on certain criteria that

you de"elop. In the paragraph, you will state your e"aluation or recommendation

and then support it by referring to your criteria.

Example: +rite a paragraph e"aluating whether pesticides should be used on

farms.

The following words can help you to write a good e%aluation paragraph!

Helper Words

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Criteria for E%aluation 6ecommendation

good = bad suggest

correct = incorrect recommend

moral = immoral ad"ise

right = wrong argue

important = tri"ial

Criteria

good 7 badExample: The use of pesticides such as T is bad for the en"ironment.

correct 7 incorrect

Example: The belief that pesticides must be used is incorrect.

moral 7 immoral

Example: The use of pesticides to control pests is immoral because it harms the

en"ironment.

right 7 wrong

Example: It is wrong to use pesticides because they harm the en"ironment.

important 7 tri%ial

Example: The issue of pesticides is an important one because it affects the

en"ironment.

6ecommendation

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suggest

Example: I suggest that pesticides should not be used to control pests.

recommend

Example: I recommend that pesticides should not be used because they areharmful to the en"ironment.

ad%ise

Example: I would ad%ise farmers not to use pesticides if possible.

argue

Example: I would argue that pesticides should not be used because they harm

the en"ironment.

Paragraphs

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