Unit 2 The Structure of a Paragraph

Index

1. What is a paragraph? 

2. Understanding a paragraph

3. Paragraph Organisation

• 3.1 The topic Sentences
• 3.2 The supporting sentences
• 3.3 The concluding sentence

4. The topic and the main idea

5. Writing Topic sentences 

1.What is a paragraph? 

A paragraph is a group of sentences about a single topic. These sentences explain the writer's main idea about the topic. In academic writing, a paragraph is usually between five to ten sentences long. 

2. Understanding a paragraph 

Pg 11 Ex 1 

a. What is the topic paragraph? The topic paragraph is Switzerland

b. what is the main idea about the topics? It is a country with beautiful mountains, delicious food, wonderful places to go sightseeing and polite people

c.  What ideas help explain the main idea? 

• Many mountains - climbing them and skiing down them is fun 
• Border with five countries - France, Germany, Italy, Austria, and Liechenstein
• Four languages - German, French, Italian and Romansch
• Many cities and interesting places to visit 

3. Paragraph Organisation

A paragraph has three basic parts which are; 

3.1.The topic sentence

This is the main idea of the paragraph. It is usually the first sentence of the paragraph.

3.2.The supporting sentences 

These sentences talk about or explain in more detail the topic sentence. The supporting sentences are more detailed ideas that follow the topic sentence. 

3.3.The concluding sentences

This is found at the end of a paragraph and it can finish a paragraph by giving a main idea about what it was just said or by just giving a final comment about the topic.

Pg 13 Ex 3 

4.The topic and the main idea 

The topic sentence....

• Usually comes first in a paragraph 
• gives the writer's main idea about the topic and helps the reader understand what the paragraph will be about

Pg 14 Ex 4+5a

Pg 15 Ex 5b

5. Writing Topic sentences 

a. favourite place to relax

Topic sentence: When going to your favourite place to relax, it help you to fresh up your mind

b. a grandparent

Topic sentence: Grandparents are always very helpful and always there for you

c. a pet I have known

Topic sentence: I have always loved my tortoise, because he was very special to me.