Paragraph Writing

Paragraph Writing

Function: The Topic Sentence

The topic sentence of a paragraph is the one that announces the content of the paragraph and makes a brief statement about it. Because the entire paragraph is constructed around the topic sentence, this sentence is the most important one in the paragraph. The topic sentence is also important because it conveys the controlling idea of the paragraph, or what aspect of the topic the writer will focus on.

Features of a Topic Sentence

When developing a good topic sentence for your paragraph, make sure it has the following features: it

a.      States one main p0int clearly.

b.      Prepares readers for the rest of the paragraph.

c.      Gives shape and purpose to your writing.

d.     Allows the reader to follow the argument.

e.      Is always a sentence.

Identifying Topics and Main Points

In each of the following topic sentences, underline the topic and put parentheses around the main point about the topic.

Example: Aging airplanes have (increased the likelihood of plane crashes).

1.       There are three kinds of book owners.

2.      The level of nicotine in cigarettes is kept high by the tobacco industry.

3.      The oldest child in a family is often the most independent and ambitious child.

4.      The city’s new mayor has promised to renovate Karachi.

5.      Some song lyrics have serious messages for people of all ages

Controlling  ideas

Example: People from many different cultures live in Karachi.

Explanation: ‘many different cultures’ is the controlling idea. The reader expects the paragraph to include information about various groups of people who make up the population of Karachi.

Practice 1

Recognizing Controlling Ideas in Topic Sentences

1.       The entrance test contains two distinct sections that deal with two different skills.

2.      Though buying a house may seem appealing, renting an apartment has many more advantages.

3.      There are four key steps to running the office photocopy machine.

Practice 2

Choose the best Topic Sentence

1.       ------------Most of the girls in the class get higher grades in Arabic than the boys.

------------Research has shown that girls are better at languages than boys.

------------Many students like languages very much.

2.      ------------Cats are better pets than dogs for many reasons.

------------Cats and dogs are both mammals.

------------Cats can’t swim very well, but dogs can.

3.      ------------Yesterday I didn’t have lunch with my friends.

------------Yesterday I went to work late.

------------Yesterday was the worst day of my life.

Practice 3

Telling Topic Sentences from Titles

Because a topic sentence and a title both express the main point of a paragraph, you might wonder what the difference is. A topic sentence is a sentence. A title is a group of words but not a sentence. Make sure your topic sentence is a sentence and not a title.

Example:

Title                           The Agonies of the Oral Presentation

Topic Sentence     The thought of giving an oral presentation turns me into a                                                      nervous wreck.

Each of the following pairs contains one topic sentence and one title. (For the purpose of practice, sentences have no punctuation and important words in titles have not been capitalized.)

Circle the topic sentence in each pair.

1.       a. Communication problems between men and women.

b. Men and women often experience communication problems.

2.      a. The difficulties of working and going to college

b. Many students find it difficult to work and go to college

3.      a. California residents experience a constant threat of  an earthquake

b. The constant threat of an earthquake in California

Practice 4

All of these topic sentences are too general. Write each sentence again with controlling ideas.

Example. Flowers are beautiful.

Flowers are the best gift to receive when you are feeling down.

1.       Cigarette smoking.

2.      Islamabad is the capital of Pakistan.

3.      It costs four rupees to send a letter from Karachi to Lahore by ordinary mail.

Practice 5

Recognizing Topic Sentences within the Paragraphs

Step 1.  Decide, which of the following sentences is the topic sentence of the paragraph.

Step2.  Write TS on the line next to that sentence.

Step 3.  Decide the order of the supporting sentences and number them SS1, SS2, SS3 or SS4

Paragraph 1

a.      It enables customers to do several banking transactions twenty-four hours a day.

b.      In addition, a customer can transfer funds between accounts or get a cash advance on credit card.

c.      An automated teller machine (ATM) is a convenient miniature bank.

d.     For example, a customer can use an ATM to deposit money and withdraw a limited amount of cash.

Paragraph 2

a.      One example: A University of Minnesota study of 59 men and women found that weight loss increased in direct proportion to the consistency with which participants monitored their food intake.

b.      Hence research has shown that people who are tracking and monitoring their food are more likely to be successful at weight loss and at keeping off unwanted pounds.

c.      Studies show that keeping track of food is key for both achieving and maintaining a healthy weight.

d.     This means that when people track what they eat, they are much more accountable to themselves.

Practice 6

Now it’s time for you to provide the topic sentences.

Here are two paragraphs with the topic sentences removed. Try to develop topic sentences that relate directly to the content.

1.       First, your body will look better. Exercise is perfect for staying trim and health-looking, and it’s more fun than dieting. Second, you will actually have more energy. A person who exercises will have fewer problems walking up stairs or climbing hills. In addition, your heart will be healthier. A good, strong heart is necessary for a long, healthy life. Finally, exercise reduces stress and keeps your mind n shape. So, if you want to improve your overall health, exercise is an excellent method.

2.      She came to Pakistan from India during partition in 1947. Soon after landing at Karachi, she began working as a seamstress in Malir. My grandmother survived the partition, deaths of two of my uncles, and a long list of illness. Moreover, she had to very quickly understand the people of her adopted country. Today, Amma Jan is still strong and vivacious as ever, and I love to talk to her and hear her stories every chance I get.

Practice 7

Complete any two of the following unfinished sentences to make a good topic sentence. Then choose one topic sentence, and add three or four additional sentences to develop a unified paragraph in the space provided below.

1.       School canteen has three . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2.      Everyone should have a chance to ………………………………………for ……………………………reasons.

3.      There are only ……………………………………..ways of …………………………………………………….

4.      Being a ……………………………has certain advantages, it is………………………………………………………….

5.      ………………………………………………..is harmful for three/four reasons.

Now let’s develop a paragraph. We can begin by:

1.       Choosing one of the sentences from practice 7.

2.      Writing down a few facts, beliefs and /or opinions, reasons that are directly related to your topic sentence-details that will help to support or explain it.

3.      Using the facts and ideas from step2, develop the topic sentenced into a full paragraph. This is your first draft.

4.      Thinking about unity as you read what you have written. Revise as necessary and then write your final draft.

The paragraph

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