WRITING 2

UNIT 2: PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE

NGUYEN TRAN HOAI PHUONG

THREE PARTS OF A PARAGRAPH
 THREE PARTS OF A PARAGRAPH
Exercise: Put a check (√) next to the group of sentences that makes a good paragraph. Why are
the other groups of sentences not good paragraphs?
 THREE PARTS OF A PARAGRAPH
Exercise: Put a check (√) next to the group of sentences that makes a good paragraph. Why are
the other groups of sentences not good paragraphs?
 THREE PARTS OF A PARAGRAPH
Exercise: Put a check (√) next to the group of sentences that makes a good paragraph. Why are
the other groups of sentences not good paragraphs?
 TOPIC SENTENCE
1. Definition:
The topic sentence is the most important sentence in a paragraph. It has two parts: a topic and a
controlling idea.
• The topic names the subject of the paragraph.
• The controlling idea tells what the paragraph will say about the topic. It is called the
controlling idea because it controls or limits the topic to a very specific points or points.
1. Many language students prefer bilingual dictionaries to monolingual dictionaries.
Explanation: The reader expects the paragraph to explain why this statement is true.
2. The best season for kids is winter.
Explanation: The reader expects the paragraph to give reasons and examples of why winters is
the best season for children.
 TOPIC SENTENCE
2. Features of a good topic sentence:
1. It controls or guides the whole paragraph.
When you read the topic sentence, you know what to expect in the paragraph.
2. A good topic sentence is not a fact that everyone accepts as true.
For example, a bad topic sentence would be, “Librabries have books”. The information
in this sentence is true, but it is a a fact and is not a good choice for a topic sentence.
3. A good topic sentence is specific.
“Tea is delicious” is not a good topic sentence because the information in the sentence is
too general. The reader does now know what to expect in the paragraph. If you want to write a
paragraph about tea, make your topic sentence more specific, such as “Green tea has many
health benefits”.
 TOPIC SENTENCE
4. However, a good topic sentence is not too specific.
“This dictionary contains more than 42.000 words” limits the topic too much – there is
nothing else for the writer to say.
5. A good topic sentence has a controlling idea.
It includes words or phrases that help guide the flow of ideas in the paragraph. The
controlling ideas focuses the content of the following sentences.
 TOPIC SENTENCE
Exercise: Circle the topic of the sentence. Underline the main idea about the topic.
1. Indonesia is very interesting country to visit.
2. Dogs make excellent pets.
3. A really good place to study is the library at my school.
4. Leaning a second language creates job opportunities.
5. Soccer is my favorite sport because it is exciting to watch.
6. One of the most valuable tools for students is the computer.
7. My sister and I have very different personalities.
8. Summer is the best time to travel in my country.
9. My hometown is a friendly place to live.
10. Although buying a house may seem appealing, renting an apartment has many advantages.
TOPIC SENTENCE
 TOPIC SENTENCE
Exercise 3: For each of these paragraphs, write a good topic sentence that is connected
to the information in the paragraph.
 TOPIC SENTENCE
Exercise 3: For each of these paragraphs, write a good topic sentence that is connected
to the information in the paragraph.
 TOPIC SENTENCE
Exercise 3: For each of these paragraphs, write a good topic sentence that is connected
to the information in the paragraph.
 TOPIC SENTENCE
Exercise 3: For each of these paragraphs, write a good topic sentence that is connected
to the information in the paragraph.
 TOPIC SENTENCE
Exercise 3: For each of these paragraphs, write a good topic sentence that is connected
to the information in the paragraph.
 TOPIC SENTENCE
Exercise: Write a topic sentence for three of these topics.

a. a favorite place to relax

b. a grandparent

c. a pet I have known

d. a favorite food to eat

e. playing musical instrument

 SUPPORTING SENTENCES
1. Definition:
Supporting sentences give information that explains and expands the topic of the paragraph.
They answer questions – who? what? when? where? why? and how? – give details. Good
writers think of these questions when they write supporting sentences for the topic sentence.
 SUPPORTING SENTENCES
2. Kinds of Supporting Sentences:
Good supporting sentences have different goals. Writer vary them to:
explain: The family moved from the village to the capital for economic reasons.
describe: She lived in a lovely three-story castle surrounded by a forest.
give reasons: Lukas finally quit his job because of the stressful working conditions.
give facts: More than ten percent of the university’s student population is
international.
give examples: Oranges and grapefruits grow in California.
define: Many tourists visit Bangkok, which is the capital and largest city in
Thailand.
Exercise :
Topic sentences
TS1: Low-fat diets are an excellent wat to stay healthy and trim.
TS2: High-protein diets are favored by athletes and competitors.
Supporting sentences
a. ___2____ These foods help build muscles and increase energy. (fact)
b. ___1____ They are preferred by the general public because they help with weight reduction. (reason)
c. _______Low-fat diets are recoq by most physicians. (fact)
d. _______Many athletes eat high-protein foods, such as meat, beans, and nuts. (example)
e. _______ Low fat-food include fruits, vegetables, and pasta. (example)
f. _______ Because they are easy to find in stores, low-fat food are convenient. (reason)
g. _______ Athletes generally eat high-protein diets to give them more energy. (reason)
h. _______ Crispy steamed vegeq and grilled fish and chicken are all tasty parts of a low-fat, heart-friendly diet.
(description)
Exercise 3: Read each topic sentence. Then fill in the blanks with additional supporting sentences.
Add as many supporting sentences as you can, but you do not have to fill in all of the blanks.

1. Owning a small car has several advantages.

a. A small car is easier to park.

b. ______________________________

c. ______________________________

2. To keep your teeth healthy and your smile bright, do the following things.

d. Don’t eat sugary food.

b. _____________________________

c. _____________________________
Exercise 3: Read each topic sentence. Then fill in the blanks with additional supporting sentences.
Add as many supporting sentences as you can, but you do not have to fill in all of the blanks.

3. Consider these three / four / five factors when planning a family vacation.

a. Consider the interest of everyone.

b. ___________________________

c. _____________________________

4. A good friend has two / three / four important qualities.

d. He / She can keep secrets.

e. ________________________

f. ________________________
 CONCLUDING SENTENCE
A concluding sentence signals the end of the paragraph and reminds the reader of the main idea.
Here are three tips to help you write a good concluding sentence:
1. Begin with a conclusion signal. Most conclusion signals have commas after them; others
do not.
Followed by a comma No comma
1. All in all In summary, 2. It is clear that ………..
In brief To conclude, These examples show that ……..
In conclusion To summarize, You can see that ………..
Indeed To sum up,
In short,
1. To summarize, Japanese food is both beautiful to look at and delicious to eat. Indeed, many U.S. cities and
regions have a special food for everyone to enjoy.
2. It is clear that fad diets don’t work and may even damage a dieter’s health.
 CONCLUDING SENTENCE
2. Remind your reader of the main idea by one of the following methods.
 Repeat the idea in the topic sentence in different words. Do not just copy the topic sentence.
Topic Sentence: Successful bidding on eBay requires patience and strategy.
Concluding Sentence: In conclusion, wait patiently and place your bid with precision timing,
and you will be the winning bidder every time.
 Summarize the main point or points of the paragraph.
Concluding sentence: In conclusion, follow the steps I have outlined, and you will be the
winning every time.
3. NEVER end a paragraph by introducing a new idea!
x In conclusion, you can spend a lot of money on eBay.
.
 CONCLUDING SENTENCE
Exercise 1: On the line at the end of each paragraph, write a concluding sentence. Be sure
to begin with a conclusion signal.
The college cafeteria is an inexpensive place to eat. For example, you can get a cheese
burger, French fries, and a soda for only $3.00. A slice of pizza is only $1.50, and a cup of
coffee is only 50 ¢. There is a daily special for about $2.50. It includes entrée, rice or potatoes,
and a vegetable. The salad bar is the best dear of all. You get all you can eat for $20.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________.
 CONCLUDING SENTENCE
2.
Watching children’s program on television is a good way to learn a foreign language.
First, the actors speak slowly and repeat often. Also, the vocabulary is not difficult. Finally,
there is always a lot of action, so you know what is happening even if you don’t understand the
words.
____________________________________________________________________________
3.
Cell phones have taken over! Any time of the day or night, you see automobile drivers
chatting away at 65 miles per hour (mph) on the highway. On sidewalks, in restaurants, and even
in office building elevators, cell phone users carry on the most private conversation. Many
places of business now have signs asking people to turn off their cell phones, and phones are
 CONCLUDING SENTENCE
Exercise 2: The following sentences are a scrambled paragraph. Put the sentences in order.
This is how to proceed.
Step 1: Find the topic sentence. Give it the number 1.
Step 2: Find the concluding sentence. Give it the number 9.
Step 3: Then decide which sentences are supporting points and put them in order. Look for the
words First, Second, Third and Finally.
Step 4: Decide which examples support which points.
Step 5: Copy the sentences into the appropriate boxes.
 FAST FOOD, UNHEALTHY FOOD

______ a. For example, a 6-inch Pizza Hut Personal Pan pepperoni pizza has 660 calories, and a McDonald’s Big Mac has 560
calories.

______ b. In conclusion, a quick meal at a fast-food restaurant may be delicious, and convenient, but it is definitely not a
healthy way to eat.

______ c. Second, a lot of the calories from fast food are from fat.

______d. Third, fast-food items such as hamburgers and French fries contain high amounts of salt.

______ e. Fast food is extremely popular in the United States, but it is not very good for you.

______ f. First of all, most fast food is very high in calories.

______ g. A typical meal at MacDonald’s contains as much as 1.370 milligrams of sodium.

______ h. Finally, add a sugary soft drink to your fast-food meal, and you pound the last nail into the heart of any nutritionist.

______ i. For instance, a portion of Nachos Supreme from Taco Bell contains 26 grams of fat, and a Big Mac contains 30 grams.