A paragraph is usually composed of a topic sentence ...



What Is a Paragraph?

A paragraph is usually composed of a topic sentence, supporting sentences and a concluding sentence.

I A Topic Sentence:

A topic sentence states what the entire paragraph is about. A good topic

sentence should be a general sentence that presents the topic clearly.

Example: The underlined sentence is the topic sentence.

My mother is neither tall nor heavy, but she’s the biggest person in my life. There has been no other person with a greater influence on me. Most mothers feed, wash, and clothe their children, and my mother is no exception. But more than this, she made sure that I received the finest education possible. This education was not at expensive schools or famous universities, but at home, by her knee, patiently. My mother explained to me the difference between right and wrong; the virtues of generosity, honesty, and hard work; and the importance of family and social ties. From her I understood who I was, where I belonged, and how I should spend my energy. No matter how big I might grow to be, I hope to be as great as my mother.

Exercise: Fill in the blank with the topic sentence.

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If you are a resident of Taipei and travel overseas, one of the first things you will notice is that cities seem to close their doors during the evening hours when the night has just begun. Supermarkets, department stores, and drugstores close before 9: 00 p.m.. Movies stop playing and buses and subways stop running before midnight. The sidewalks are nearly empty, and few cars venture forth on the streets. In Taipei, however, one can play 24 hours every day. Movies run until the early hours of the morning, KTVs and MTVs operate 24 hours, and crowded discos and pubs play loud music to dancers and drinkers until dawn. In Taipei, the nights are as busy as the days.

Ⅱ Supporting Sentences:

Supporting sentences help support a topic sentence by providing facts, examples

or explanations.

Example: The underlined sentences are supporting sentences.

Writing a good composition in English is not different from writing a good composition in Chinese. Both require good control of the topic. Before starting to write in either language, however, one should have a strong thesis or main point as well as a careful outline. The thesis keeps one’s mind on the topic while an outline guides the writer through each important major point. An introduction which informs the reader of the thesis is important, too. An introduction should not only introduce the topic statement but also catch the reader’s attention. Finally, every well-written composition ends with a strong concluding paragraph. This paragraph reviews the major ideas and explains why the topic is important. If a writer follows these few simple steps, a successful composition is sure to result.

Exercise: Underline the supporting sentences.

Should KTVs be off-limits to junior and senior high school students? Many parents and educators think so. They claim that these businesses are unhealthy and even dangerous. They are unhealthy because they are dark, not well air-conditioned, and serve junk food. They can be dangerous because they sometimes burn down and are sometimes the meeting place for gangsters. However, these cases are few in number. KTVs are actually a good place for students. They are an inexpensive source of entertainment for students. They allow students to socialize in positive group activities like singing and dancing. They are also a good place for teachers to relax with their own students. Since the usual benefits are more important than the occasional disadvantages, I do not think KTVs should be off-limits to students.

Ⅲ A Concluding Sentence:

A concluding sentence provides a logical conclusion based on the information found in the supporting sentences.

Example: The underlined sentence is the concluding sentence.

Should teachers use physical punishment on their students? This question has always caused a great debate among parents, teachers, and students themselves. I support the use of physical punishment as a means of controlling student behavior, but only as a final means to control a dangerous situation or as a means of last resort. Would any fair-minded person criticize a teacher for hitting a student in order to defend himself? Then why would anyone find fault with a teacher for hitting a student who was ready to hurt other students, or a student who, despite the teacher’s many warnings, continued to behave badly? In these cases, then, teachers should be allowed to use physical force as a punishment.

Exercise: Fill in the blank with the concluding sentence.

Cellular phones are more of a nuisance than a help. In classrooms, movie theaters, and restaurants, we can hear their annoying ringing when instead we should have quiet surroundings. Drivers have accidents by using cellular phones in their cars because they pay attention to their phone rather than to the traffic around them. Finally, people who have recently purchased a cellular phone—and that is an awful lot of people—make many unnecessary calls just to play with their new “toy,” which is a bother to everyone else.

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