3 Topic Sentences

Name of members: Albertus Danang T.

Young boys play basketball after
(191224041) school in Havana, Cuba.

Rizal Ugahari (191224046)

Dafit Nugroho (191224076)
Maximus Edgar (191224090)

OBJECTIVES • Analyze a paragraph FREEWRITE Look at the photo and write a story about one or all of the boys. Use
• Study and write effective topic your imagination. Begin Every day after school,... Write five to ten
sentences sentences.
• Use commas correctly in sentences
• Identify and write complex sentences
• Write a paragraph
44 45
 ELEMENTS OF GREAT WRITING 1. What is the topic sentence? Write it here.

What Is a Topic Sentence?  There are many excellent reasons for exercising several times each week.

A topic sentence states the main idea of a paragraph. It is usually found at the beginning of a
2. What do you expect to read about based on the topic sentence?
paragraph. A topic sentence has several important jobs. It:

• introduces the main idea  Benefit doing exercising several times each week.
• limits or focuses the topic
3. These words or expressions are very important to the organization of the paragraph.
• often tells the reader how the information will be organized in the paragraph
Number them in the same order that they are in the paragraph.
ACTIVITY 1 | Analyzing a paragraph 3 finally 1 first 2 in addition 4 for these reasons
Discuss the questions. Then read the paragraph and answer the questions that follow.
4. Read the last sentence carefully. What do you think the purpose of this sentence is? Begin your answer
1. Can you name three benefits of exercising regularly? with The purpose of this sentence is to . . .
2. What are three reasons that people do not exercise regularly?
 The purpose of this sentence is to improve your health.
WORDS TO KNOW Paragraph 3.1
climb: (v) to go up in good shape: (idiom) having good physical condition
improve: (v) to make better reduce: (v) to make less ACTIVITY 2 | Recognizing good topic sentences
Read each set of sentences. Write the general topic that the sentences share. Then check (✓) the
sentence you think is the best topic sentence. Discuss your reasons with the class.

PARAGRAPH 3.1
Winter is a good season.

Reasons for Exercise 1. General topic: Winter weather is cold, and it snows.
mple, a person who exercises can walk up stairs or climb hills more easily. People who exercise have a healthier heart, too. Finally, exercise reduces stress and ✓ mind. Too much stress can cause you to worry a lot, and that is not good for you
helps you have a clear
winter
The best season for children is winter.
✓ Soccer is popular for many reasons.

2. General topic: For a soccer game, players need a special leather ball.
Soccer
Soccer is a nice game.
✓ There are many people in Los Angeles.

3. General topic: People from many different cultures live in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles
Los Angeles is a big city in California.
Monolingual dictionaries have only one language, but
bilingual dictionaries have two languages.
✓ Many language students prefer bilingual dictionaries to
4. General topic:
monolingual dictionaries.
Dictionaries
Dictionaries that have two languages, such as French and
English, are called bilingual dictionaries.
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An “anti-gravity” yoga class, where students use silk hammocks to lift themselves off the floor

46UNIT 3 • Topic Sentences

 Features of a Topic Sentence 3. Crossword puzzles are not only educational and fun, but also addictive.
A topic sentence has these important features.
Expectation: Explanation why crossword puzzel is addictive.
1. It has a controlling idea that limits the topic and guides the flow of the paragraph.
The controlling idea tells the reader what you will say about your topic. Here are two
topic sentences. The topic is circled and the controlling idea is underlined.
4. Recent research has shown once again that eating dark green, leafy vegetables such as
• Soccer is popular for many reasons. broccoli and cabbage may reduce the risk of some types of cancer.
Explanation: The reader expects the paragraph to explain why soccer is popular.
Expectation: explanation why eating dark green, leafy vegetabels may reduce the risk of
• Many language students prefer bilingual dictionaries to monolingual dictionaries. some types of cancer
Explanation: The reader expects the paragraph to explain why this statement is true.

2. It is not a fact. For example, “Libraries have books” is not a good topic sentence. The
information in this sentence is true, but it is a fact and there is little to say about it. 5. Although buying a house may seem like a good idea, renting an apartment has many advantages.

Expectation: explanation why renting an apartment may advantages even buying house.
3. It is specific. “Tea is delicious” is not a good topic sentence because the information in the
sentence is too general. If you want to write a paragraph about tea, make your topic sentence
more specific, such as “Green tea has many health benefits.”
ACTIVITY 4 | Recognizing good topic sentences and
4. It is not too specific. “This dictionary contains more than 42,000 words” limits the topic controlling ideas
too much. There is nothing else for the writer to say, so the paragraph cannot continue. Read the three sentences. Check (✓) the best topic sentence. Underline the controlling idea in
that sentence. Be prepared to explain your selections.
ACTIVITY 3 | Recognizing controlling ideas in topic sentences
WORDS TO KNOW Activity 4
Read each topic sentence. The topic is circled. Underline the controlling idea. What
contribution: (n) what someone does to help make something successful
information do you expect to find in the paragraph? Share your answers with a partner. immigrant: (n) someone who comes to live in a different country
recognize: (v) to give attention or notice to

WORDS TO KNOW Activity 3

addictive: (adj) having qualities that make you want to do something again and again advantage: (n) a good or desirable quality or feature
confuse: (v) to mix up mentally so one cannot understandeducational: (adj) describes something that teaches or involves learning
investigator: (n) a person who tries to learn how something happened
1. In an English class, most of the female students receive higher grades
than the males.
Research has shown female students like learning languages more than males do.
Many students like languages very much.

1. The new test has three sections dealing with three important skills. 2. Cats are better pets than goldfish for many reasons.
Expectation: the readers expect the paragraph to explain what is newest three sections. Cats and goldfish are both animals.
Cats cannot swim very well, but goldfish can.

2. The shocking crash of the airplane off the coast of Florida confused investigators. 3. The people in my office eat lunch from 11:30 to 12:30.
Expectation: the readers expect the paragrah to explain what caused the plane to crash. Yesterday I went to work late, and my boss was of course very angry.
Yesterday was the worst day of my life.

48 UNIT 3 • Topic Sentences 49

 4. Paul Cézanne was born in France in the last century.
ACTIVITY 7 | Writing topic sentences in paragraphs
Paul Cézanne, the father of modern art, made important contributions to the
history of art. Read the paragraphs and write a topic sentence for each. Be sure to indent the first line.
Many of the museum visitors recognized Paul Cézanne's work immediately.
WORDS TO KNOW Paragraphs 3.2 to 3.4
connection: (n) an association
5. Many Canadians speak French, and some of them speak Chinese. control: (v) to manage effective: (adj) useful
culture: (n) the beliefs and actions of a group imagine: (v) to make a picture in your head
The current population of Canada includes immigrants from all over the world. in sum: (connector) in conclusion
depend (on): (v) to need
A large number of new immigrants live in British Columbia, Canada, but not
many of them speak German.
PARAGRAPH 3.2

ACTIVITY 5 | Adding controlling ideas

Reasons for Playing Instruments
These topic sentences are too general. Using the same topic, write a topic sentence with a clear
controlling idea. Then compare your sentences with a partner’s.

1. Flowers are beautiful.

Some people learn to play a musical instrument because they want to have fun. They want to play it with t
Flowers are the best gift to receive when you are feeling down. 1oud: a stringed instrument that is popular in the Middle East

OR Only four kinds of flowers grow during the short summers in Alaska.

2. Cats are nice.

3. Paris is the capital of France.

4. Reading blogs is interesting. PARAGRAPH 3.3

Differences between Modern Reptiles and Dinosaurs

5. Running is a hobby.

One is size. Most modern reptiles are small. Dinosaurs were much larger than any reptile on Earth now. Second,
ACTIVITY 6 | Studying the controlling idea of a paragraph on their back legs. Third, today’s reptiles use the environment to control their body temperature. In contrast, d
Answer the questions.

1. Write the topic sentence from Paragraph 3.1 here.

2. Underline the controlling idea(s) in that topic sentence.

A saltwater crocodile, the world’s largest reptile
3. How is the controlling idea connected to the information in the paragraph?

50 UNIT 3 • Topic Sentences

51
 PARAGRAPH 3.4 ACTIVITY 8 | Identifying types of sentences
Identify each sentence. Write simple, compound, or complex. Be ready to explain your answers.
A Method for Learning New Words
A hatchet 1. When I walked into the room, I was very nervous.

2. Beijing has many famous tourist attractions, such as the

Imperial Palace, Tian’anmen Square, and the Lama Temple.

3. Central Park has a zoo and many other interesting places to visit,
but sometimes it is too cold to visit in the winter.
In the Keyword Method, language learners make a connection between the sound of the word they are trying to learn and a word in their first language. For example, a Japanese learner of English might connect the Engli
4. A good writer learns to create longer, more detailed sentences from
simple ideas.

5. Some families do not have the extra time that pets require.

6. Although Bolívar’s name is not as well-known outside Latin

America, many people there consider him the most important
historical person.

7. Brazil and Chile are near each other, but these two South
American countries are very different in geography, population, and
language.
Grammar: Complex Sentences
8. Like most countries in South America, the majority of people in
Three kinds of sentences are important for your writing: simple, compound, and complex.
Chile speak Spanish.
• a simple sentence has one independent clause. An independent clause has one
subject-verb relationship, and it can stand alone as a sentence. 9. Before e-readers were invented, students had to carry several heavy
books with them each day.
People from many different cultures live in Los Angeles.
10. E-readers are wireless, so students can carry them anywhere.
• a compound sentence has two independent clauses that can stand alone. The two
clauses are connected with words such as and, but, so.
The weather there is hot, and it often rains. ACTIVITY 9 | Identifying types of complex sentences
• a complex sentence has one independent clause and one dependent clause Each clause has Underline the dependent clause in each sentence. Write Adj if it is an adjective clause or Adv if
it is an adverb clause.
a subject-verb relationship. A dependent clause cannot stand alone. Here are two
common types of dependent clauses.
1. People who live in glass houses should not throw stones.
TYPE OF DEPENDENT CLAUSE EXAMPLES OF COMPLEX SENTENCES
An adjective clause gives more information about People who exercise regularly are healthier.
2. If your photocopies cost 21 cents, your change should be four cents.
a noun it follows. It begins with a relative pronoun Dictionaries that have two languages are useful.
(who/whom, that, or which).
3. Gumbo is a thick soup that is made with shrimp and vegetables.

An adverb clause begins with a connecting word, They play the guitar because they enjoy it. Before 4. Bush became president after Clinton was president for eight years.
such as because (reason); before, after, when (time); they start working, they check email.
if (condition); although (contrast). 5. The season that many young children enjoy a lot is summer.

6. Because they do not go to school in summer, children often like summer

more than other seasons.

7. Most people become angry when their computer freezes.

8. In class, we discussed problems that were common in the 1990s.

52 UNIT 3 • Topic Sentences 53
 Mechanics: Commas ACTIVITY 11 | Comma practice in a paragraph
Commas are very important in writing because they help the reader understand the writer’s Insert six commas in the paragraph where necessary. Be prepared to explain your choices.
message more easily. Some sentences are correct with no commas.
EXPLANATION EXAMPLES
WORDS TO KNOW Paragraph 3.5
Lists:
economy: (n) the production of a place
A comma shows that a list has three or more things. We I speak English, Spanish, and Japanese. I therefore: (connector) as a result
do not use a comma with two things. We use and instead speak English and Spanish.
of a comma.

Compound sentences: PARAGRAPH 3.5

A comma separates two independent clauses when there
I speak three languages, but Adam speaks five.
is a coordinating conjunction, such as and, but, so, or. Malaysia and Thailand
Because Malaysia and Thailand are next to each other we might think that these two countries share many similari
Introductory words or phrases:
A comma separates the subject from:
• prepositional phrases (In the winter of 1995, . . .) Last summer, the beach lost a lot of sand.
• sequence words (first, next, finally) First, you will need to get a pencil.
• transition words or phrases (However, Therefore, In Therefore, we will not complete the project.
addition)
Adverb clauses:
Because I speak three languages, I can
When the adverb clause is at the beginning of a
communicate with many people.
sentence, use a comma after it.
I can communicate with many people because I speak
Do not use a comma if the adverb clause is at the end
three languages.
of a sentence.
Note: For more information on commas, see Capitalization and Punctuation” in the Writers Handbook.

ACTIVITY 10 | Comma practice in sentences

Insert commas where necessary. Write the number of the comma rule/(s) (1, 2, 3, 4) on the line.
Sometimes more than one rule is possible. Food vendor selling h

1. 2 Brazil is surrounded by Spanish-speaking countries, but most people in Brazil

speak Portuguese.

2. The flags of Chile France and Norway have blue white and red sections.

3. Fortunately no one was hurt in the accident that happened yesterday.

4. Italian French Spanish and Portuguese came from Latin.

5. My friend has an e-reader and she convinced me to buy one.

6. In the summer of 1940 German soldiers entered France.

7. Because English came from German there are many similar words in the two
languages.

8. If you want to make cookies you need flour sugar oil and vanilla.

54 UNIT 3 • Topic Sentences 55

 BUILDING BETTER VOCABULARY advantage connection culture depend imagine

6. to have an
WORDS TO KNOW
addictive (adj) advantage (n) climb (v) confuse (v) connection (n) 7. a between two things
contribution (n) AW improve
culture (n) AW depend (on) (v) economy (v) educational (adj) effective (adj) imagine (v) immigrant (n) AW
(n) AW
control (v) in good shape (idiom) in sum (connector) AW investigator (n) AW recognize (v)
reduce (v)
8. on your parents for a place to live
therefore (connector)
9. being in a car with no driver

10. normal in my

| Word associations ACTIVITY 14 | Word forms

ACTIVITY 12
Complete each sentence with the correct word form. Use the correct forms of the words.
Circle the word or phrase that is more closely related to the bold word on the left.

1. climb go down go up NOUN VERB ADJECTIVE ADVERB SENTENCES

connection connect connected 1. A conjunction such as and
2. confuse get it right make a mistake
two clauses.
3. depend need try
2. After you have the
4. economy food money
wire to the TV, it should work.
5. effective useful useless
3. Argentina and Mexico share a historical
6. imagine speak think
.
7. improve better worse
culture cultural culturally 4. Argentina and Mexico may share a language, but
8. in sum long short
they differ
9. recognize know not know
5. Many different exist
10. therefore but so
around the globe.

ACTIVITY 13 | Collocations dependence depend dependent 6. Success in school

Fill in the blank with the word that most naturally completes the phrase. on many people.

climb contribution effective reduce sum effect effective effectively 7. One of the new law
1. waste
is that teachers’ salaries will not increase.

2. a to science 8. What are strategies

for learning new vocabulary?

3. a tree
imagination imagine imaginary 9. In winter, I I am in a
4. a very leader
warmer place.
5. in 10. Experienced teachers encourage students

to use their .
56 UNIT 3 • Topic Sentences 57
 ACTIVITY 15 | Vocabulary in writing ACTIVITY 17 | Writing sentences
Choose five words from Words to Know. Write a complete sentence with each word. Use Write an original sentence using the words listed. You may change the form of the nouns
because, if, before, after, when, while, or although in two of your sentences. Remember to use (singular/plural) and verbs (tenses).
commas correctly.
1.
(politician / years) One of the local politicians has been in office for 18 years.
1.

2. (a new car / because)

2.

3. (if / cancel)
3.

4. (famous / France)
4.

5. (average / price)
5.

6. (one / most difficult)

BUILDING BETTER SENTENCES

ACTIVITY 18 | Combining sentences
| Editing Combine the ideas into one sentence. You may change the word forms, but do not change or
ACTIVITY 16
omit any ideas. There may be more than one answer.
Each sentence has (x) number of errors. Find and correct them.
1. A condition requires attention.
1. Although some politicians in this country believes that the new law will make a The condition is a medical condition.
The condition is serious.
difference in electricity costs most people think there will be no change. (2)
The attention is immediate.
2. In the sum, gasoline prices will continue to rise each year, because companies want make
more money on gasoline sales. (3)

3. Although some teachers retire when they are 55 year old the normal retirement age for a 2. Canada is a
country. Canada is
teacher in U.K. is 60. (3) large.
The population of Canada is very small.
4. Brazil ranks fifth in population and it is the fifth most big country in the world. (2)

5. According to the article people thought their dinner tasted better, when they did not
use social media. (2)

6. When a airplane take off the pilot and other crew are very busy. (3)
58 UNIT 3 • Topic Sentences 59
 3. The assignment is to write a paper.
ACTIVITY 21 | Peer editing
The assignment is the last one.
The assignment is for our history class. Work with a partner. Read your partner’s paragraph from Activity 20. Use Peer Editing Form 3
The class is British History. in the Writer's Handbook. Offer positive suggestions to help your partner write a better
The paper should explain how the War of 1812 started. paragraph. Consider your partner’s comments as you revise your paragraph.

Additional Topics for Writing

Here are more ideas for writinga paragraph. When you write your paragraph, follow the
guidelines for Activity 20.
WRITING TOPIC 1: Look at the photo at the beginning of the unit. Write about a childhood memory
of playing outside. Who were you with? How did you feel?
ACTIVITY 19 | Brainstorming ideas for a paragraph TOPIC 2: Write about your daily routine. What do you do, and when? How many things do
Choose one of these topics. Brainstorm ideas about it and write your ideas in a list or on a you do in a day? What is the best part of your day or week?
diagram. When you have finished, circle the ideas that you think are best to include in a
paragraph. TOPIC 3: Write about a famous person you would like to meet. What has this person done

• animal communication that is interesting to you? What would you talk about? What would you hope to
• learning a language learn from the experience?
• international flights
• smartphones
TOPIC 4: Write about two vacation destinations. Which is better? Compare the sights. What
ACTIVITY 20 | Writing a paragraph is similar, and what is different? What are some activities you can do while in each
of these places?
Use your brainstorming notes from Activity 19 to write a paragraph. Follow these guidelines.
TOPIC 5: Write about your favorite relative. Who is this person? What qualities make this
1. Begin your paragraph with a topic sentence that has a clear controlling idea. person special? How does this person make others feel?

2. Use at least two of the vocabulary words or phrases presented in Words to Know.
3. Make sure that your paragraph has the four features as outlined in Unit 1. TEST PREP
Elephants touching, to greet each other, Addo Elephant National Park, South Africa
You should spend about 25 minutes on this task. Write about the following topic:
In your opinion, why do so many people want to learn English?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your knowledge
or experience. Remember to include a topic sentence with a controlling idea. Write at
least 150 words.

TIP
Be sure that your topic sentence has a logical controlling idea. Remember that your topic sentence
guides your paragraph. If the topic sentence is not clear, the reader will have difficulty following
your supporting ideas.

60UNIT 3 • Topic Sentences

61