Topic Sentencesa DR eee : arning something new?A topic sentence tells about the main idea of a paragraph, Its usually found at the beginning of a paragraph. In this unit, you will learn: + the function of atopic sentence + what a good topic sentence looks like + how a good contcolling idea guides the flow of the information in the paragraph Discuss the Preview Questions with your classmates. Then read the opinion paragraph and answer the questions that follow. Preview Questions 1, How did you learn to drive a car? 2. Can you tell someone how to drive a car? 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A good paragraph has a very clear organizaticn that you must learn, Underline the three sentences that introduce the three benefits of a manual transmission. |. What is the purpose of the sentence that comes immediately after each of your three underlined sentences? 5. ‘The following expressions are important to the organization of the paragraph. What does each one ‘mean? What isthe purpose of each expression? a. first ofall . Inaddition 10 finally Recognizing Effective Topic Sentences What do you already know about topic sentences? Read each set of sentences. Write the general topic that the sentences share. Then puta check mark V on the line next to the best topic sentence. Be prepared to explain your answers. 1. General Topic: _wittter Winter is a good season. Winter weather is cold, and it snows. —¥ The best season for kids is winter. 2. General Topic: —— Soccer is popular for many reasons. ‘You need a leather ball to play soccer. Soccer isa nice game. 3. General Topic: There are many people in Los Angeles. People from many different cultures live in Los Angeles. Los Angeles is a big city in California 50 UNIT3 + Topic Sentences4, General Topic: —— Monolingual dictionaries have only one language, but bilingual dictionaries have two languages. — Many language students prefer bilingual dictionaries to monolingual dictionaries. —— Dictionaries that have two languages, such as French and English, are called bilingual dictionaries. 5. General Topic: _—— French perfumes are expensive for a number of reasons, _— My mother’s perfume smells flowery. —— You can purchase perfumes in expensive blue crystal bottles. 6. General Topic: _—— An American Education has 540 pages. A woman graduates in An American Education, An American Education is an excellent historical novel. How did you decide which sentences were the best topic sentences? What were you looking for? Discuss your ideas with your classmates. Features of a Good ‘A good topic sentence has the following features: 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, ‘Libraries have books” The information in this sentence is true, but itis a fact and is not a good choice fora 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 not 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 benehts. 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. Itincludes words or phrases that help guide the flow of ideas in the paragraph. The controlling idea focuses the content of the following sentences. 31Controlling Ideas Here are some example topic sentences with controlling ideas. The controlling ideas have been underlined. 1. Many language students prefer bilingual dictionaries to monolingual dictionaries. Explan: : The reader expects the paragraph to explain why this statement is true. 2. The best season for kids is winter Explan: ‘The reader expects the paragraph to give reasons and examples of why winter is the Dest seasun for childsen, 3. People from many different cultures live in Los Argeles. Explanation: ‘The reader expects the paragraph to include information about various groups of| peaple who make up the population of Las Angeles 4. Soccer is popular for many reasons, Explanation: ‘The reader expects the paragraph to give a variety of information about soccer and why it is popular around the world. PR ERR ecRecognizing Controlling Ideas in Topic Sentences Read the following topic sentences. The main idea for each sentence has been circled. Underline the controlling idea. Then explain what information you expect to find in the paragraph. 1. (The SAT Reasoning Test™)contains three distinct sections that deal with three important skill Explanation: 2. (The shocking crash of a 747 jumbo jet)off the coast of New York baffled investigators. Explanation: 3, Crossword puzzlesjare not only educational and fun but also addictive. Explanation: 4, Recent research has confirmed that(Gating dark green, leafy vegetables) uch as broccoli and cabbage, ‘may reduce the risk of some types of cancer. Explanation: 5, Although buying a house may seem appealing (eating an apartment has many advantages. Explanati Building Better Sentences: For further practice with the sentences and paragraphs in this part of the unit, {90 to Practice 4 on page 286 in Appendix 1. More Practice Recognizing Controlling Ideas Read the three sentences in each item and then put a check mark / next to the best topic sentence. Underline the controlling idea in that sentence. Be prepared to explain your selections. L “Most ofthe girls in the class get higher grades in English than the boys. Research has shown that girls are better at languages than boys. Many students like languages very much.Cats are better pets than goldfish for many reasons. Cats and goldfish are both animals. Cats cannot swim very well, but goldfish can. 3, Yesterday I did not have lunch with my coworkers. Yesterday I went to work late. Yesterday was the worst day of my life, 4, —____. Some people call Paul Cézanne the father of modern art. —— Paul Cézanne, the father of modern art, made important contributions to the history of art. —— Paul Cézanne's art was not recognized until the end of his career, but he is often called the father of medern art. — Many Canadians speak French, and some of them speak Chinese and Japanese. The current population of Canada isa reflection of the international background of its citizens and immigrants. A large nur-ber of new immigrants live in the western province of British Columbia, but not many of them speak German. rari) Kalaattie Nunaat ranland) enya Cron) PY re 54 UNIT3 © Topic SentencesAdding Controlling Ideas to Create Better Topic Sentences All of these topic sentences are too general. Rewrite each sentence and add a controlling idea. Compare your sentences with other students’ sentences, Example: Flowers are beautiful Flowers are the best gift to receive when you are feeling down. OR Only four kinds of flowers grow during the short summers in Alaska. 1. Cats are nice. 2, Paris isthe capital of France. 3. The English alphabet has twenty-six letters. 4, Reading blogs is interesting. 5. Running is an enjoyable hobby. Studying a Topic Sentence in a Paragraph “Answer these questions about haw a topic sentence is -elated to the information in the body of the paragraph. 1. Copy the topic sentence from Paragraph 14 (page 49) here. 2, Underline the controlling idea(s) in that topic sentence, 3. Give at least three examples of how the controlling idea(s) in the topic sentence are directly connected to the information in the paragraph.Sentences EGIRED Writing To) Read each paragraph on pages 56-60. Then writea good topic sentence that is connected to the information in the paragraph. Be sure to end each topic sentence with correct punctuation Example Paragraph 15 os Reasons for Playing Instruments ‘Some people choose to learn how to play a musical instrument because they want to have fun. They want to play it with their friends or maybe in a band. Another reason people play an instrument is that it is their hobby ‘They learned how to play ita long time ago, and now it is a way to occupy their time, Other people learn to play an instrument because itis part of their culture. Certain instruments are popular in one culture, such as the | such as: or example guitar in Spain or the oud in the Middle East. In some cases, however, the oud: a stringed instrument people learn how to play an instrument because they think it will make them smarter. A great deal of research suggests that studying music can | a great deal of: much a lot of improve a person's brain function and intelligence. In sum, there is not ’ just one main reason that people play a musical instrument.Example Paragraph 16 Differences Between Reptiles and Dinosaurs One is size. Most modern reptiles are small, Dinosaurs were much, much larger than any reptile that we have on earth today. Second, the legs of most reptiles today are oa the sides of their body. However, dinosaurs’ legs were on the bottom of their body. In this way, dinosaurs could stand up on their back legs. Third, today’s reptiles use the environment to control their body temperature. In contrast, dinosaurs controlled their own body temperature. “hey did not depend on their surroundings. While reptiles and dinosaurs may seem very similar, they are actually quite differentExample Paragraph 17 Reasons for Exercise First, your body will look better. Exercise is perfect for st ig trim and healthy looking, and 1t does not have to take a long time. 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 healt A good, strong heart is necessary ‘ora long, healthy Ife. Finally, exercise reduces stress and keeps your mind in shape. Therefore, if you want to improve your overall health, you should exercise three or four times cach week to accomplish this goal. 58 UNIT3 « Topic SentencesExample Paragraph 18 Popular Popcorn Itis one ofthe easiest foods to eat. You can eat it with your fingers, and it docs not have to be served piping hot lie come foods do. In addition, it is both a filling and with only 20 calories per cup and almost no fa a heart-friendly snack. Furthermore, it can be an important source of a source: a place of natural fiber, a cubstance that is important in limiting certain types of ee cancer. Based on this information, can anyone be surprised that sales of popcorn are soaring in many countries? to soar: rise quicklya A Method for Learning New Words In this method, learners form their own sound association between the foreign language word they ae trying to learn and any word in their native language. Tn the second stage, learners form an image link between the target word aad the native language word For example, a Japanese learner of English might look at the English word hatchet and connect it to the Japanese word hachi, ‘Which means “eight” In this case, the learner might remember that he can use a hatchet eight times cut down a tree. For many language students, this particular method is effective in learning new vocabulary in a foreign language. Ruilding Batter Sentences: For further practice with the centences and paregraphs in this part of the unit, 40 to Practice 5 on page 27 in Appendix 1. Using Commas in Sentences ‘Commas are very important for clarity of meaning, but commas also represent the grammar ofa sentence, Remember: Telia elm Ug A comma separates alist of three or more things. | speak English, Spanish, and Japanese. ‘A comma separates tw sentences when there isa combining word | speak three languages, but Adam speaks five ‘A.comma separates an introductory word or phrase from the rest of the sentence First, you will need to get a pencil ‘comma separetes 0 dependent clouse thet cares at the beginning of a sentence. Devouse | speak tnee languages, | can communicate with meny people. ‘A.comma separates an appositve from the rest Cf the sentence. (An appositve is a group of words that names or explains the noun before it) Fiber, a substance that is important in limiting certain types of cancer, is found in popcorn, ‘A.comma separates extra information that is provided in adjective clauses. The history of Korea, which is on the teacher's desk, is the book for the course. For more information and examples, review the section on “Commas” in the Brief Writers Handbook with Activities, pages 258-260. 60 UNIT3 + Topic SentencesGRD Comma Practice Insert commas in these sentences where necessary. Be prepared to explain your choices. Some sentences are correct with no commas. Malaysia and Thailand Because Malaysia and Thailand are located next to each other we might conclude that these two nations share many similarities. To a certain extent this conclusion is true. For example both countries have temperate climates throughout the year. Thailand's economy is growing and so is Malaysia’. In addition Malaysia has many miles of beautiful beaches that attract tourists and Thailand does too. However there are also several important differences, Malaysians and Thais speak completely different languages. The population of Malaysia i about 29 million but the population of Thailand is about 69 million. ‘Thailand has a national king but Malaysia does not. Finally Malaysia was a British colony but Thailand was never a British colony. Thus the | thus: therefoce, for ths fact that two countries are near each other does not always mean they |“ are similar.Avoi ‘Three common mistakes in Grammar for Writing ig Three Common Sentence Errors ig are sentence fragments, run-on sentences, and comma splices. These mistakes can prevent the reader from understanding the writer’ message, {tis usually missing either a subject ora verb, or it is 2 dependent clause. A dependent clause is never a complete sentence. To correct a sentence fragment: + add a subject or verb, or = combine two clauses A sentence fragment is not a complete sentence. | X | went to Italy last summer. Was a wonderful tri Was 2 wonderful tip. Y went total last summer twas a wonderful trip. dda subject) X Only 120 students majored in art. Because they are worried about job opportunities. 7 Only 120 students majored in art because they {are worried about job opportunites. (combine two causes) ‘Arun-on sentence is two sentences incorrectly joined without a comma or a coordinating conjunction (and, of, but, 50, yet, nor, for) To comect a run-on sentence: * add a comma and a connecting word, or * separate the sentences into two with a period X | went totaly and saw Rome | didn't get to see Milan 7 | went to Italy and saw Rome, but | didn’t get to see Milan. (add comma and connecting word) 7 went to Italy and saw Rome. | didn't get to see Milan. (Separate into two sentences) ‘A.comma splice occurs when two or more sentences or independent clauses are connected wath a comma, Tocorrect a comma splice: * add a connecting word after the comma, * create two sentences from the one, or + combine the most important words from the two sentences into one sentence and ‘add a subordinating conjunction (because, since, although) X | went to Italy last summer, it was a wonderful trip. | went to Italy ast summer, and it was a wonderful trip. (add connecting word) 7 | went to italy last summer. It was a wonderful trip. (create two sentences) X only 120 students majored in art, because they ‘are worried about job opportunities. of Only 120 students majored in art because they are worried about job opportunities. W Because they are worried about job ‘opportunities, only 120 students majored in art. (edd a subordinating conjunction) 62 UNIT3 + Topic SentencesCorrecting Sentence Fragments Read each group of words, Ifit is a complete sentence, write Con the line. Ifit is a sentence fragment, write SF on the line. Then write a correct sentence. More than one correction may be possible. __SF _ One of the most common reasons that people make a decision to become a vegetarian. One of the most common reasons that people make a decision to become a vegetarian is to improve their health, 2, _____ Because the wind and rain were so incredibly strong between noon and 4 p.m. yesterday. Although the price of gasoline is extremely high, people just complain and pay the high prices. 4 In order to cash a check at a bank where you do not have an account and no one there knows you. Of course the main ingredient that you have to have in order to make chicken soup is chicken. 6 For some teachers, a sentence fragment is a very serious type of mistake because it shows a lack of understanding of what a sentence is. 7 “Although the economic forecast for the housing market does not contain any especially right news for those who wish to buy a house in the near future. ‘When the vice-president was sworn in as the new number two person in the entire country; her husband and her children as well as her grandchildren attended the ceremony.Comma Splices Read each sen nce or set of sentences. If it is correct, write C on the line. If there is an error, circle it and indicate the type of error by writing SF for a sentence fragment, RO for run-on sentence, or CS for a comma splice. Then write the correct sentence(s). More than one correction may be possible 1, £2 __ A whales ore of the largest animals on the(flanet, feW) people have seen one in person. 2, —____ Yesterday's weather caused problems for many travelers. Most of the flights were canceled. Due to the torrential rains and high winds. . —____ Computer programs can help students learn a foreign language, many students use the \guage programs in the computer center. 64 UNIT3 © Topic Sentences4, _____ It was definitely a nervous time for many people, When we had the economic crisis, prices and unemployment soared. The government did 2verything possible to make oure that people did not panic. 5. ______ Dancing with the Stars is an internationally known television show, the dancing is very exciting, ‘This magazine won several awards last year: For the content and the style ofits stories. sue had two superb short stories that were written by distinguished authors. 7, —_____ Lizaro Cirdenas was the president of Mexica from 1934 to 1940 inal goal was to become a teacher the political situation in Mexico at that time caused him to change his mind. 8, ____ Despite all ofthe extremely depressing news that we recently heard from that part of the world. Building Better Sentences: For further practice with the sentences and paragraphs in this part of the unit, {90 to Practice 6 on pages 287-288 in Appendix 1.Building Better Vocabula Word Associations Circle the word or phrase that is most closely elated to the word or phrase on the left. Ifnecessary, use a dictionary to check the meaning of words you do not know. A 1. areptile animal 2. utensils people 3. distinguished known brakes you use them to start a car 5. to reduce to become smaller 6. anaxle wheels 7. a device” a person 8. to purchase” tobuy tobafile to confuse 10. up to six things four or five things 11, while after 12, an appealing idea people hate it 13, arisk adanger 14, asnack akind of animal 15. the source* ‘where something came from disease things secret ‘you use them to stop a car to become bigger windows athing to sell to decide seven or eight things although people like it a product akind of food why someone did something *Words that are part of the Academic Word List. See pages 275-276 for a complete list. Using Cellecations Fill in each blank with the word on the left that most naturally completes the phrase on the right. If necessary, use a dictionary to check the meaning of words you do not know. 1, by / with handicrafts are made 2. car / fiber an economy 3. from / with, interact 66 UNIT3 + Topic Sentences hand4. first / next ofall 5. bilingual / soaring prices 6. as/ for vegetables such________onions 7. than / that ‘one thing ie easier _____ another 8. by/of one thing isa reflection _____another thing 9. in/on depend_____agood friend 10, filling / trembling amet Brainstorming Ideas for a Paragraph ‘Choose one of the general topics below: Brainstorm your ideas about it in the space provided. When you have finished, circle the ideas that you think are best to include in a paragraph, Topics: 1, animal communication: 3. pollution 2. international flights 4. smart phones Brainstorming area:Original Writing Practice Use your brainstorming rotes from Activity 13 on page 67 to write a paragraph. + Make sure that your paragraph has the four features explained on page 12. + Use atleast two of the vocabulary words or phrases presented in Activity 11 and Activity 12. Underline the words and phrases in your paragraph. If you need ideas for words and phrases, see the Useful Vocabulary tor Better Writing on pages 277-281. ESIMAMED Peer Editing Exchange papers from Activity 14 with a partner. Read your partner's paragraph. ‘Then use Peer Editing ‘Sheet 3 on page NGL.Cengage.com/GW2 to help you comment on your partner’s paragraph, Be sure to offer positive suggestions and comments that will help your partner improve his or her writing. ‘Consider your partner’s comments as you revise your own paragraph. Additional Topics for Writing Here are more ideas for writing. Start by brainstorming. When you write your paragraph, be sure to include the four features of a paragraph, PHOTO ‘TOPIC: Look at the photo on pages 46-47. Write about learning something new. What would you learn? Would you learn about it inside or outside? What would you do with the new information or skill? TOPIC2: Write about your daily rontine What de you do and when? How many things do you do in a day? What is the best part of your day or week? ‘TOPIC 3: Write about a famous person you would like to meet. What has this person done that is interesting to you? What would you talk about? What would you hope to learn from the experience? TOPIC 4: Write about two vacation destinations. Which is better? Compare the sights. What is similar, and what is different? What are some activities you can do while in each of these places? ‘TOPIC 5: Write about your favorite relative, Who is this person? What qualities make this person special? How coes this person make athers feel? 68 UNIT3 + Topic SentencesTimed Writing How quickly can you write in English? There are many times when you must write quickly, such as on test. Itis important to feel comfortable during those times. Timed-writing practice can make ‘you feel better about writing quickly in English. 1. Take out a piece of paper. 2. Read the writing prompt 3. Brainstorm ideas for five minutes. 4, Write a short paragraph (six to ten sentences). 5. You have 25 minutes to write your paragraph. In your opinion, why do so many people want to learn English? Give a few strong examples to support your answer.