How to Write a Paragraph

The Topic Sentence (主題句)： main idea of the paragraph 明示段落的主題方向

Supporting Sentences (支持句)：adding details to the topic 支持或解釋主題
The Concluding Sentences (結論句)：summarizing the main idea 綜合段落的重點下結論

**Try to identify the topic sentence, developing sentences and the concluding sentence.

(1)
My favorite movie is Goodfellas, directed by Martin Scorsese. I like it for various reasons.
Firstly, it is extremely entertaining. You never feel bored. Secondly, the characters are interesting.
The movie is about gangsters, and all of the characters are criminals. When they kill people, it is
very realistic. Finally, the movie is well directed and filmed. and every detail of the period, the
1970s, is perfect. It is exciting, frightening, and brilliant, which is what I think a good movie
should be.

(2)
Swimming has many benefits. For one thing, after I swim, I feel refreshed. When I swim
regularly, I have more energy. For another, unlike a lot of other exercise, swimming works the
muscles in my entire body. Not only does this help build muscles, but it also burns calories. Most
importantly, swimming itself is enjoyable. The cool water feels great, and the motions of
swimming relax me. In short, swimming is good therapy for the body, mind, and soul.

I.The Topic Sentence: controlling the rest of the paragraph

** Underlining the topic sentence.

There are many reasons why millions of Americans move every year. Some move to find
better jobs or to advance their careers. Others are attracted to places with better weather. Still
others want to move to a place with less crime. Finally, many people want to move to a place with
a lower cost of living. (56 words)

** Choosing the most suitable topic sentence.

(1) a. Skiing is expensive.
b. Skiing is a popular sport.
c. Skiing has many advantages.
. Many people enjoy it even though it is expensive and
dangerous. A lot of people spend every winter weekend skiing, and many families go on winter ski
vacations. Neither the high cost of equipment nor the severe cold keeps skiers away from the
slopes.

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(2) a. Airplanes have changed our lives.
b. Advances in technology have made the world seem smaller.
c. The telephone was an important invention.
. For example, a person can have breakfast in New York
City, board an airplane, and have dinner in Paris. A businessman in London can instantly place an
order with a factory in Hong Kong by picking up the telephone. Furthermore, a schoolboy in Tokyo
can turn on a TV set and watch a baseball game being played in Los Angeles.

** Writing a topic sentence.

EXAMPLE:
Miami is a nice place to take a vacation to. It is always sunny and warm. The beaches are
gorgeous with soft, white sand and beautiful, blue water. There are many fine restaurants in the
Miami area, and most of the big hotels offer terrific entertainment nightly.

(1) .
My plane was six hours late. The hotel was horrible. On the third day my wallet was stolen, so I
lost all my credit cards. It rained every day except for one day, and on that day I got a terrible
sunburn.

(2) .
I can’t wait to come home from school to eat the delicious meals she has prepared. She is always
experimenting with different ingredients and recipes. No one in the world can cook the way my
mother does.

II. Supporting Sentences: supporting the main idea of the paragraph

**Recognizing irrelevant sentences. (The following paragraphs each contain one sentence that is
irrelevant. Cross out that sentence and explain why it does not belong in the paragraph.)

(1) Cats make wonderful house pets. They are very loving and friendly. They are also clean. They
do not eat much, so they are not expensive. Many people are allergic to their hair. They look
beautiful.

(2) Running has many positive effects on the body. First of all, it increases the efficiency of the
heart and lungs. Running also helps the body develop greater physical endurance. However,
many people prefer swimming. Finally, it helps the body become more mechanically efficient.

**Identifying topic and supporting sentences.

A. Read the following sentences about San Francisco. Two of the sentences are topic sentences,
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 and the rest are supporting sentences. Put a T in front of each topic sentence, and an S in front
of each supporting sentence.
1. San Francisco is usually warm and pleasant during the day.
2. Some of the country’s most famous restaurants and hotels are in San Francisco.
3. There are many things to see and do in San Francisco.
4. The city has many interesting tourist attractions.
5. There are many excellent art galleries.
6. The weather in San Francisco is very pleasant.
7. It is never too hot or too cold.
8. The nightlife is exciting.
9. San Francisco has a ballet company, an opera house, and a symphony orchestra.
10. It is cool and breezy at night.
11. The winters are mild and it rarely snows.

B. Write the two topic sentences on the lines provided. Then list the relevant supporting sentences
under the topic sentences.

Topic sentence 1:
Supporting sentences:

Topic sentence 2:
Supporting sentences:

C. Now write the sentences from group 1 in paragraph form. Notice that the first sentence is
indented.

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D. Now write the sentences from group 2 in paragraph form.

III. The Concluding Sentence: summarizing the main idea of the paragraph

**Underlining the concluding sentence.

1. Why are fast-food restaurants so popular? In fact, there are three main reasons. First, they are
convenient. In today’s fast-moving society, the ability to get a quick bite to eat is vital for busy
people, and the waiting time in fast-food stores is short. In addition, the prices are low. A satisfying
meal can be bought for a reasonable amount of money. Third, standards of hygiene in fast-food
chain stores are generally high, and that is important in today’s health-conscious society. In sum,
fast-food restaurants are popular because they are convenient, cheap, and clean. (94 words)

2. What is Internet addiction? The problem has a variety of symptoms. Internet addicts often think
about the last time they were on-line or look forward to the next session. They feel irritable, and
cannot sleep well, if they are trying to cut down on Internet use. Most importantly, they may have
problems with their work, studies, or personal relationships because of their habit. There is no
denying the advantages that the Internet has brought to our world, but we need to be careful how we
use it.

** Choosing the most suitable concluding sentence.

1. The topic sentence: I usually read the same four sections of a newspaper.
Supporting sentences: First, I turn to the local news to find out what is going on in the country.
After that, I look over the comics to cheer myself up after reading all the
bad news. When I am ready for something serious again, I go back to the
news section and look at the international pages. Finally, I check the
sports pages to see how my favorite teams and athletes have been
performing.
The concluding sentence:
a. Of course, I also look at my horoscope every day to see what is going to happen.
b. Reading the newspaper thoroughly is something I like to do every day.
c. To sum up, I do not have a lot of time to read the newspaper, so I only look at the parts
that interest me most.
d. All in all, my favorite part of the newspaper is the front page because it is full of
important information.
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2. The topic sentence: High school students spend their summer vacation in a variety of ways.
Supporting sentences: Many of them use the school holidays to make some money. They take
temporary jobs in shops, restaurants, or gas stations. Others attend study
courses in languages or subjects they have been having difficulty with.
Some just stay home, passing the time by sleeping a lot or watching
television. The luckiest ones, however, get to go abroad on stuffy tours or
vacations.
The concluding sentence:
a. Going abroad is something I am really looking forward to doing after I graduate from high
school.
b. In general, most high school students are not able to travel abroad because of the pressure of
their studies.
c. Whatever they do, most students agree that summer vacation is the best tome of the year.
d. Without a doubt, summer vacation is popular among high school students because of the
good weather.

** Writing a concluding sentence.

1. The topic sentence: My first encounter with a snowfall was a memorable experience.
Supporting sentences: It was on a trip to Mt. Jade a few years ago. We visited the mountain on
Christmas Day, and there was a feeling of magic. Just after we arrived, the
snow started falling. I remember my pleasure and excitement at the sight
of the soft snowflakes drifting gently down from the white sky. In a matter
of hours, the entire landscape was covered by an enchanting white carpet.
It reminded me of a European fairy tale I had read as a child.
The concluding sentence:

2. The topic sentence: There are three reasons why I try to avoid taking taxis whenever it is
possible.
Supporting sentences: First, they are expensive. The public transportation system is much
cheaper to get around. In addition, taxis are far more often involved in
road accidents than any other vehicles except motorcycles. Finally, the
behavior and attitudes of some taxi drivers can make riding in a taxi a
dangerous and unpleasant experience.
The concluding sentence:

**Writing a paragraph.
1. Look at the topic and come up with a topic sentence.
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2. Jot down any ideas that support the topic sentence.
3. Decide which should be included in the paragraph. Cross out the ones that are not relevant.
4. Write the relevant ideas from the list in sentence form.
5. Write the sentences in paragraph form.

Practice:
is a great place to visit.
Topic sentence:
Supporting ideas: a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

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