Chapter 2: Paragraphs & Topic Sentences
What you will do in this chapter:
1. Learn about paragraph structure
2. Learn about topic sentences and practice writing them
Learn It!
Organization and Format of English Paragraphs
Exercise 1: Examine the paragraph organization and discuss the questions below with classmates.
Paragraphs you write in English normally have three main parts. Begin with a space, or indentation, to indicate where a paragraph begins (e.g., use the tab key). The left margin should be aligned. In order to make one continuous block of text, do not touch the return/enter key until the end of the paragraph.
Discussion Questions
a. Why is there a space at the start of a paragraph?
b. How big should the space be?
c. How is this space made using word-processing software?
d. Is it necessary for students to put their names and student numbers on writing assignments?
e. Are there other things the teacher expects regarding writing assignments? (Ask your teacher!)
Exercise 2: One way to remember the organization (shape) of a paragraph is to compare it to that of a hamburger. Work with a classmate to label the parts below.
Exercise 3: Read the paragraph below and label the topic sentence (TS), supporting sentences (S1, S2, etc.), and concluding sentence (CS).
( ) A walk along the Kamo River is both mentally and physically refreshing. ( ) To begin with, the natural beauty of the place is extremely relaxing. Walkers feel calmed by the variety of trees, plants, and birds along the banks of the river. Notably, in spring, the fluffy clouds of pink and white cherry blossoms are always impressive. ( ) Furthermore, when walking, rather than when riding a bicycle, it is easier to observe things in detail. In addition to getting exercise, the rhythm of moving slowly on foot allows walkers to become mentally absorbed and can make time seem to pass by quickly. When immersed in the flow of natural movement, people forget about the effort of walking, lower their stress, and feel energized. ( ) In short, walking along the Kamo River is beneficial for maintaining good health.
Learn It!
Topic Sentences
To understand topic sentences better, learn their location, function, and features.
- Location – usually the first sentence of each paragraph
- Function – introduces the topic and the controlling (main) idea of the paragraph
- Features – 1) not too specific nor too general; 2) commonly indicates that there are several supporting points that follow it
The topic sentence tells readers the topic and the controlling/main idea (or focus). The topic introduces the general subject while the controlling idea controls the topic by limiting the scope to one main idea. For example, the topic in Exercise 3 is a walk along the Kamo River. The controlling idea is both mentally and physically refreshing.
Here are examples of various controlling ideas with the topic Kamo River:
A suitable topic sentence should give readers some idea about the content of the paragraph without giving too many details. In other words, it should not be too general nor too specific. Too general: The Kamo River is a nice place.
This topic sentence is too general because readers cannot determine the main idea of the paragraph.
Too specific: People should avoid walking along the Kamo River during the early part of July because of the danger of flooding.
This topic sentence is too specific because there is not much more to add to this idea. This sentence could be used as a supporting detail in a paragraph.
Suitable: The Kamo River is great to visit in all seasons of the year.
This sentence gives some idea of the topic without stating all of the details. Readers know that the paragraph will give information about the river and its characteristics according to the yearly calendar or seasons.
Practice It!
Exercise 4: Read the example topic sentences below. Work with a partner to answer the following questions about their function and features:
a. What is the topic and controlling idea for each topic sentence?
b. Does each topic sentence seem suitable? If not, why not?
c. For each topic sentence, how many supporting points are indicated?
Example: 1. Interest in the sport of rugby is growing for several reasons.
a. Topic: the sport of rugby Controlling idea: growing interest
b. Yes
c. several reasons
2. Winter driving can be done safely if people take a few simple precautions.
a) Topic: _____________________________Controlling idea: ___________________________
b) _______________________________________________________________________________
c) _______________________________________________________________________________
3. My hometown is in Kyoto Prefecture.
a) Topic: _____________________________Controlling idea: ___________________________
b) _______________________________________________________________________________
c) _______________________________________________________________________________
4. Pollution is a really big problem in the world.
a) Topic: _____________________________Controlling idea: ___________________________
b) _______________________________________________________________________________
c) _______________________________________________________________________________
5. There are a number of reasons why Shohei Ohtani is such a popular athlete around the world.
a) Topic: _____________________________Controlling idea: __________________________
b) ______________________________________________________________________________
c) ______________________________________________________________________________
6. Television is beneficial for children because there are educational programs such as Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.
a) Topic: ____________________________ Controlling idea: __________________________
b) _____________________________________________________________________________
c) _____________________________________________________________________________
7. Bilingual children have advantages over their monolingual counterparts.
a) Topic: _____________________________Controlling idea: _________________________
b) _____________________________________________________________________________
c) _____________________________________________________________________________
Exercise 5: Choose the best topic sentences for the two paragraphs below.
Paragraph 1
________________________________________________________________________________
After UNESCO recognized washoku as an Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2013, people around the world who had never tried Japanese food became curious about it. To begin with, this recognition encouraged the Japanese government to put more effort into promoting washoku. In addition, after people began eating and cooking Japanese foods, they learned about its aesthetic beauty, as well as delicious taste and health benefits. There is an emphasis on using fresh, seasonal ingredients, and presenting dishes on the plate beautifully. For these reasons, once people try some washoku dishes they are likely to be pleasantly surprised by this refined cuisine.
a. Japanese cuisine is washoku and is famous around the world.
b. The cuisine of Japan, known as washoku, has steadily gained popularity in recent years for two main reasons.
c. There are some reasons why foreigners might be hesitant to eat Japanese food.
Paragraph 2
First of all, universities are easily accessible through public transportation. For example, many bus routes stop near the Kyoto University Yoshida campus, and Doshisha University is a short walk from the subway. Moreover, getting around the city is easy because it is designed on a grid with numbered main roads. This feature can help students new to Kyoto to quickly become familiar with the layout of the city. Finally, the city has many delicious and cheap options for food. There are numerous noodle shops and cafes all over town. To sum up, students enjoy living in Kyoto for its many conveniences.
- The city of Kyoto is an easy place for students to live.
- Kyoto has been described as a city of universities.
- Kyoto’s public transportation system is easy for university students to use.
Write It!
Exercise 6: Write topic sentences for three of the themes listed below. Afterwards, ask a classmate to read your sentences and identify the topic and controlling idea for each.
1. Japanese animation
_______________________________________________________________________________________
2. High school education
_______________________________________________________________________________________
3. Climate change
_______________________________________________________________________________________
4. Workplace discrimination
_______________________________________________________________________________________
5. Artificial Intelligence (AI)
_______________________________________________________________________________________
6. Olympic games
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Preview It!
In the next chapter, you will learn about supporting sentences. Generally speaking, these sentences introduce points to support the controlling idea of the topic sentence.
Preview Exercise: Add one or two points to support the controlling idea of your topic sentences from Exercise 6.
a. Topic sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
Supporting point: _______________________________________________________________________
Supporting point: _______________________________________________________________________
b. Topic sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
Supporting point: _______________________________________________________________________
Supporting point: _______________________________________________________________________
c. Topic sentence: ________________________________________________________________________
Supporting point: _______________________________________________________________________
Supporting point: _______________________________________________________________________
