EXERCISES ON PARAGRAPH WRITING

A) TOPIC SENTENCES
1. CHOOSING TOPIC SENTENCES :Choose the best topic sentence for each
group of supporting sentences.
Write it on the line provided. Example: ___________b_____________. I
usually go skiing every weekend in the winter even though it is expensive. I love the
feeling of flying down a mountain. The views are beautiful from the top of a mountain
and along the trails. Even the danger of falling and getting hurt can’t keep me away
from the slopes on a winter day.
a) Skiing is expensive.
b) Skiing is my favourite sport.
c) Skiing is dangerous.
1.) _________________________________________________. North
Americans send cards for many occasions. They send cards to family and friends on
birthdays and holidays. They also send thank-you cards, get well cards, graduation
cards, and congratulation cards. It is very common to buy cards in stores and send
them through the mail, but turning on the computer and sending cards over the Internet
is also popular.
a) Sending cards is very popular in North America.
b) Birthday cards are the most popular kind of card.
c) It is important to send thank-you cards.
2.) _____________________________________________ . I enjoy summer
sports like water skiing and baseball. The weather is usually sunny and hot, so I can go
to the beach almost every day. Gardening is my hobby and I spend many summer days
working in my garden. Unfortunately, the days pass too quickly in summer.
a) I like to garden in summer.
b) Summer is my favourite season.
c) Summer is to short.
3.) ________________________________________ . First of all, we need
money to repair old roads and build new roads. We also need more to pay teachers’
salaries and to pay for services such as trash collection. Finally, more tax money is
needed to give financial help to the poor citizens of the city. It is clear that the city will
have serious problems if taxes are not raised soon.
a) We should raise city taxes.
b) City taxes are too high.
c) City taxes pay for new roads.
4.) _________________________________________ . For example, a person
can have breakfast in New York, board an airplane, and have dinner in Paris. A
businesswoman in London can instantly place an order with a factory in Hong Kong
by sending a fax. Furthermore, a schoolboy in Tokyo can turn on a TV and watch a
baseball game being played in Los Angeles.
 a) Airplanes have changed our lives.
b) Advances in technology have made the world seem smaller.
c) The fax machine was an important invention.
5.) ___________________________________________ . One thing you must
consider is the quality of the university’s educational program. You also need to think
about the school’s size and location. Finally, you must be sure to consider the
university’s tuition to make sure you can afford to go to school there.
a) It is expensive to attend a university in the United States.
b) There are several factors to consider when you choose a university to
attend.
c) You should consider getting a good education.
3 2. WRITING A TOPIC SENTENCE Write a topic sentence for each
paragraph. Make sure your topic sentence expresses the main idea of the paragraph.
Example: Miami is the perfect place to take a vacation. It is always sunny and
warm. The beaches are gorgeous, with soft white sand and beautiful water. There are
many fine restaurants in the Miami area, and most of the hotels offer terrific
entertainment nightly. It’s no wonder that Miami is my first choice for a vacation
destination.
1.) ___________________________________________________ . He has
collected stamps and coins ever since he was a child. He is very proud of his valuable
collections. Paul also enjoys painting and drawing. Recently he has become interested
in gardening. Out of all his hobbies, Paul’s favourite one is reading. He usually reads
at least one book every week. Paul keeps busy with all of his hobbies.
2.) _________________________________________________ . I can’t wait
to come home from school and eat the delicious meals she has prepared. She is famous
for her desserts like peach pie and chocolate soufflé. She is always experimenting with
new recipes and trying different ingredients. No one in the world can cook the way my
mother does.
3.) _________________________________________________ . It never
starts in cold weather. The horn and the left turn signal don’t work properly. Worst of
all, the radio only gets one station and the CD player is completely broken. I wish I
could get a new car.
4.) __________________________________________________ . First and
most importantly, the work is very interesting. I learn new things every day and I get
to travel a lot. In addition, my boss is very nice. She is always willing to help me when
I have a problem. I have also made many new friends at my job. Last, but not least, the
salary is fantastic.
5.) ____________________________________________________ . To start
things off, my plane was six hours late. When I finally got to my hotel, I was very
disappointed. It was small and dirty. On the third day, my wallet was stolen, and I lost
all my credit cards. It rained very day except one, and on that day I got a terrible
sunburn. All in all, it wasn’t a vacation to remember. B) SUPPORTING SENTENCES
The supporting sentences develop the main idea in the topic sentence. They add details
to the topic.
 3. RECOGNIZING SUPPORTING SENTENCES Read the following
paragraphs and underline the supporting sentences.
1.) Use of the internet has grown very quickly. In 1983, there were 562
computers connected to the Internet. By the turn of the century, there were 72.3
million computers in 247 countries on-line. Experts say that the Internet is now
growing at a rate of approximately 40 percent a year. As time goes on, the Internet is
becoming more and more popular.
2.) There are many reasons I hate my apartment. The plumbing doesn’t work
properly and the landlord refuses to fix it. I also have noisy neighbours who keep me
up all night. Furthermore, there are so many bugs in my apartment that I could start an
insect collection. I really want to move.
3.) Vegetables and fruits are an important part of a healthy diet. First, fruits and
vegetables are packed with the vitamins and minerals you need to keep your body
functioning smoothly. In addition, they give you the carbohydrates you need for
energy. Fruits and vegetables have lots of fiber to help your digestive system work
properly. Finally, many scientists believe that the nutrients in fruits and vegetables can
help fight diseases. If you eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, you’ll be on the road
to better health.
C) IRRELEVANT SENTENCES Every supporting sentence in a paragraph
must relate to the main idea stated in the topic sentence. A sentence that does not
support the main idea does not belong in the paragraph, thus such a sentence should be
omitted. When a sentence does not belong in a paragraph, it is called an irrelevant
sentence.
Example: The students in the class come from many different party of the
world. Some are from European countries, such as France, Spain, and Italy. Others are
from Middle Eastern countries like Saudi Arabia and Israel. Still other students were
born in Asian countries, including Japan and Korea. Korean food is delicious. The
largest number of students is from Latin American countries like Mexico, Venezuela
and Peru. The class is an interesting mix of people from many different countries.
4. RECOGNIZING IRRELEVANT SENTENCES There is one irrelevant
sentence in each paragraph that follows. Find that sentence and cross it out.
1.) There are several ways people can conserve natural resources. One way is
to turn lights off and appliances when they are not in use. Another way is to drive cars
less. My favourite kind of car is convertible. People can also insulate their houses
better. Finally, by reusing things like bottles and plastic bags, people can reduce the
amount of waste. By practicing these simple guidelines, we can save our natural
resources.
2.) Cats make wonderful house pets. They are very loving and friendly. Cats
are also clean. They don’t eat much, so they are not expensive. Unfortunately, some
people are allergic to their hair. Cats look beautiful and they’re fun to have in your
home.
3.) The capital city of a country is usually a very important city. The
government offices are located in the capital city and political leaders usually live
there nearby. There are many different types of governments in the world. The capital
may also be the center of culture. There are often museums, libraries, and universities
in the capital. Finally, the capital city can serve as a center of trade, industry and
commerce, so it is often the financial center of the country.
4.) The Japanese automobile industry uses robots in many stages of its
production process. In fact, one large Japanese auto factory uses robots in all of its
production stages. Some Japanese universities are developing medical robots to detect
certain kinds of cancer. Another automobile factory in Japan uses them to paint cars as
they come off the assembly line. Furthermore, most Japanese factories use robots to
weld the parts of the finished car together.
5.) The packaging of many products is very wasteful. Often the packaging is
twice as big as the product. Packaging is used to protect things that are breakable.
Many food items, for example, have several layers of extra packaging. Most of these
extra layers could be eliminated.
D) CONCLUDING SENTENCES Some paragraphs end with a concluding
sentence. This sentence states the main idea of the paragraph again using different
words. It summarizes the main points of the paragraph, or makes a final comment on
the topic. Concluding sentences are not always necessary. In fact, short paragraphs
that are part of longer pieces of writing often do not have concluding sentences.
5. WRITING CONCLUDING SENTENCES Write a concluding sentence
for each paragraph.
1.) There are many reasons why I like wearing a uniform to school. First of all,
it saves time. I don’t have to spend time picking out my clothes every morning.
Wearing a uniform also saves money. It’s cheaper to purchase a new uniform than to
go out and buy lots of school clothes. In addition, I don’t have the pressure of keeping
up with the latest styles. Most importantly, wearing a school uniform gives me a sense
that I belong. I really think that it adds to the feeling of school spirit and community.
_____________________________________________ .
2.) There are many reasons why I am against wearing a school uniform. For
one thing, I don’t like they style of the uniform. The navy blazer and plaid skirt are too
conservative for me. Secondly, the uniform isn’t comfortable. I prefer to wear baggy
pants and a sweater instead of a skirt and a jacket. Finally, I want the freedom to
express my individuality through my style of dressing.
____________________________________ .
3.) Credit cards have a lot of advantages. First of all, credit cards are
convenient because you don’t have to carry a lot of cash around. You can buy the
products and services you need even if you do not have cash in your pocket. In
addition, credit cards are very helpful in emergencies. Finally, you can become a
better money manager as you learn to use credit cards responsibly.