Name: Tangcalagan, Ethel C.

Schedule: M-TH 4:30-6:30 ; Fri 4:30-5:30

Topic: Topic Sentences

Identify and Highlight the Topic Sentence in each of the given paragraph.
Paragraph 1

Good manners are important in all countries but ways of expressing good manners are different from
country to country. Americans eat with knives and forks; Japanese eat with chopsticks. Americans say “Hi”
when they meet; Japanese bow. Many American men open doors for women; Japanese men do not. On the
surface, it appears that good manners in America are not good manners in Japan, and in a way this is true.
But in any country, the only manners that are important are those involving one person’s behaviour toward
another person. In all countries it is good manners to behave considerately toward others and bad manners
not to. It is only the way of behaving politely that differs from country to country.

Paragraph 2

Anthony sighs as he thinks about his humanities test on Friday. How should he prepare for the test?
He has never taken a test in college, and now he faces studying three chapters on the history of Rome.
Fortunately, his instructor provided a review sheet with key terms and concepts from each chapter. Anthony
finds each term and concept in his textbook and highlights the related information. Then he reads through his
class notes. Finally, he makes an index card for each item on the review sheet and records the information he
wants to recall on the test. Afterward, he spends several hours reciting and reviewing the details on his note
cards. Even though Anthony has never taken a college test, he has already discovered the importance of
reviewing his textbook and his class notes and preparing study cards before each test.

Paragraph 3

One important study skill critical for college success is doing homework completely. Students who are
working for academic success know that it is important to follow the directions for each exercise. For example,
if the math instructor has asked students to show all their work on a homework assignment, then the
students should complete all steps of each problem. Successful students also attempt to answer all the
questions in every homework assignment. If a problem is easy, the student can place a check mark next to it
in the margin. If one of the problems is especially difficult, the student can place a question mark next to it as
a reminder to ask the instructor for help. All in all, students who work hard to complete their homework to the
best of their ability are well on their way to success in the classroom.

Paragraph 4

Some people fall asleep easily. They drop off as soon as their heads hit the pillows. Others are not so
lucky. They toss and turn well into the night. Fortunately, there are solutions to sleeplessness. In many cases,
one can avoid sleep problems by a following a few simple guidelines. First sleepless people should refrain
from drinking alcoholic beverages or drinks with caffeine before bedtime. Next, they should not exercise
within three hours of bedtime. Finally, they need to plan a sleep routine. Every day, they should go to bed at
the same time and get up at the same time.

TOPIC: INTRODUCTIONS & CONCLUSIONS

The following summarizes the six kinds of introductions. Read the introductions that come after it and, in the space
provide, write the letter of the kind of introduction used in each case on the blanks.

A. General to narrow D. Incident or story

B. Starting with an opposite E. Questions
C. Start with a startling fact F. Quotation

_D__The other day I was watching a Reebok commercial. It was about a young male who, after purchasing
a pair of sneakers, was walking down the street to a smooth jazz tune. As this “pretty boy” walked in his
new pair of sneakers, he drew the attention of all in his path, especially the females. For a second I was
envious of this “dude.” I’ve been purchasing sneakers for over eighteen years, and I haven’t had one girl
look at me the way they did him during his thirty second stroll down some dark and filthy sidewalk. As I
 watched this ad and others like it, I started to analyze the ads’ underlying message. I wondered
why the majority of sneaker ads are geared to inner-city youth, especially ads for brand-name
sneakers.

—Saladin Brown, Student, “The Illusion of Ads”

_A__Few Americans stay put for a lifetime. We move from town to city to suburb, from high
school to collee in a different state, from a job in one region to a better job elsewhere, from the
home where we raise our children to the home where we plan to live in retirement. With each
move we are forever making new friends, who become part of our new life at that time.

—Margaret Mead and Rhoda Metraux, “On Friendship,” in A Way of Seeing

_B__When I became an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), I was excited by the opportunity to
assist others and save lives. Like most people, I didn’t think of an EMT job as dangerous. After all,
EMTs arrive after the accident or crime has occurred, so the riskiest part of our work would seem
to be the high-speed ambulance ride to or from the scene. I never expected to encounter a
situation that put my life and my partner’s life in danger when we answered someone’s call for
help. But one night a year ago, responding to a 911 call to aid a gunshot victim, we found
ourselves in a situation that soon turned deadly dangerous.

—Marlena Torres Ballard, Student

__F__“All glory comes from daring to begin,” according to an old saying. The last two-and-a-half-
year chapter of my life shows just how true this saying is. It started when I got laid off from my
job at the furniture manufacturing plant in Morganton, North Carolina. I had worked there for ten
years after high school and assumed I always would. The chapter ended with me wearing a light
blue cap and gown, walking across the stage to receive my college degree in dental assisting as
my family and friends cheered me on. By daring to find a new path and stay on it through the
hardships, I have changed my life for the better.

—Sam Chaich, Student

__C___Millions of law-abiding Americans are physically addicted to caffeine—and most of them

don’t even know it. Caffeine is a powerful central nervous system stimulant with substantial
addiction potential. When deprived of their caffeine, addicts experience often severe withdrawal
symptoms, which may include a throbbing headache, disorientation, constipation, nausea,
sluggishness, depression, and irritability. As with other addictive drugs, heavy users develop a
tolerance and require higher doses to obtain the expected effect.

—Tom Ferguson and Joe Graedon, “Caffeine,” Medical Self-Care

Match each of these introduction thesis statements (left column)with its rewritten
version for a conclusion (right column). Write the number on the blanks.

_3___a. Supermarkets are the best places

to buy food because of their convenience and lower
prices. 1. People can learn many things by travelling to
other countries.
_1___b. Travelling abroad is a valuable 2. Despite the challenges, being an entrepreneur
learning experience. can offer more benefits than other types of
employment.
_5___c. Learning to play a musical 3. The fact that larger supermarkets offer cheap
instrument is very beneficial for children. prices and a large selection of products makes
them the best place for shoppers.
_2___d. Creating and owning a business 4. The World Wide Web gives access to a huge
offers more advantages than working as an amount of knowledge, but users shouldn't
employee in a company. believe everything they read there.
5. When children are exposed to music and are
__6__e. More houses should be adapted taught to play instruments such as the piano or
to use solar energy because it is clean and violin, there are many positive effects.
renewable. 6. The sun gives a constant, free supply of clean
energy, which more homes should take
_4___f. The World Wide Web can be advantage of.
very useful for research, but it also contains a lot
of incorrect information.
TOPIC: OUTLINING: IDENTIFYING THE STRUCTURE OF AN ESSAY

Put the items into logical order by filling in the outline that follows each list. The thesis statements for each number are
given for your guidance. In numbers 3 and 4, one of the three major idea is missing and must be added. The outline is
inside a text box. Please answer inside it. You may delete the blanks.

1. Thesis: My high school had three problem area.

Involved with drugs I. Student

Leaky ceilings a. Involved with drugs
Students b. Formed cliques
Unwilling to help after class II. Teachers
Formed cliques a. Too strict
Teachers b. Unwilling to help after class
Buildings III. Buildings
Ill-equipped gym a. Leaky ceilings
Too strict b. Ill-equipped gym

2. Thesis: Working as a dishwasher in a restaurant was my worst job.

Ten-hour shifts I. Working conditions

Heat in kitchen a. Heat in Kitchen
Working conditions b. Noisy work area
Minimum wage II. Hours
Hours changed every week a. Ten-hour shifts
No bonus for overtime b. Hours changed every week
Hours III. Pay
Pay a. Minimum wage
Noisy work area b. No bonus for overtime

3. Thesis: Joining an aerobics class has many benefits.

Make new friends I. Social Benefits

Reduces mental stress a. Make new friends
Social benefits b. Meet interesting instructors
Strengthens heart II. Mental Benefits
Improves self-image a. Reduces mental stress
Mental benefits b. Improves self-image
Tones muscles III. Physical Benefits
Meet interesting instructors a. Strengthens heart
B. Tones muscles

4. Thesis: My favourite times in school were the days before holiday vacations.

Lighter workload I. Examination period

Teachers more relaxed a. Teachers more relaxed
Pep rallies b. Less homework
Less work in class II. Pep rallies
Friendlier atmosphere a. Friendlier atmosphere
Less homework b. Less work in class
Holiday concerts III. Holiday concerts
Students happy about vacation a. Students happy about vacation
b. Lighter workload