MAIN IDEAS (TOPIC SENTENCES)
The main idea of a paragraph is presented as a "topic sentence". This is the most important part of a paragraph that introduces the reader to the topic. Put a, b or c inthe blank given.
Exercise 1. Choose the best topic sentence for each group of supporting sentences.
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.
Exercise 2: 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 favorite 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.
Source: Blanchard, K. in Root, C. 2003. Ready to Write. NY: Pearson Education - Longman.
