Structure of the paper Paragraphs Group Exercise Rearrange

Structure of the paper Paragraphs

Group Exercise: Rearrange the Order of the Sentences to Complete a Paragraph The views are beautiful from the top the mountain and along the trails. I usually go skiing every weekend in the winter even though it is expensive. Skiing is my favorite sport. I love the feeling of flying down a mountain. Even the danger of falling and getting hurt cannot keep me away from the slopes on a winter day.

A Paragraph: Layered Cake Paragraph=One Idea Unit -Topic Sentence -Supporting Sentences -Conclusion Sentence Top Layer- Topic Sentence Middle layerssupprting Sentences Bottom Layerconclusion Sentence

Top Layer: Topic Sentence Thin layer (icing) Most important sentence Introduces the reader to your topic Main idea=central, general meaning Example: One reason I hate taking out the garbage is that it smells to high heaven.

Group Exercise: Choosing Topic Sentences Choose the correct topic sentence for the paragraph, & explain your reasoning. _________________________. 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. Buying cards in stores and posting them through the mail is common. 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) Sending thank-you cards is important.

Group Exercise: Writing Topic Sentences Read the paragraph. Brainstorm with your group, and write a topic sentence. Explain your reasoning. ____________________. 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.

Supporting Sentences: Middle Layer Thickest layer of the cake Develop and support the main idea: Details Examples Specifics Descriptions How, what, when, where, why? Example: Main idea: One reason I hate taking out the garbage is that it smells to high heaven. Supporting Sentences: For example, the kitchen trash smells terrible. That plastic bag always bulges full of things like last week’s meatloaf surprise, old tuna fish cans, moldy cheese, and gobs of mushy turnip greens. This whole mess floats in a pool of spoiled milk.

Group Exercise: Developing Supporting Sentences In your groups, write 3 -4 supporting sentences for the following topic sentence: Vegetables and fruits are an important part of a healthy diet.

Supporting Sentences: Coherence means logical connections exist between sentences so the reader can easily understand the paragraph Coherence is achieved by: - Logical bridges -Same idea of the topic carried over from supporting sentence to sentence -Verbal bridges -Key words or synonyms used in supporting sentences -Pronouns refer to nouns in previous sentences -Transition words can be used to link ideas from different sentences

Supporting Sentences: Coherence and Relevancy Every supporting sentence must relate to the topic sentence Irrelevant sentences must be omitted and/or replaced Example: The students in the class come from many different parts of the world. Some are from European countries, such as France, Spain, and Italy. Others are from Middle Eastern countries like Saudi Arabia and Israel. Still other students were born in Asian countries, including Japan and Korean food is delicious. The largest number of students is from Latin American countries like Mexico, Venezuela and Peru. The class is an interesting mix of people from many different countries.

Group Exercise: Irrelevant Sentences. Choose the one irrelevant sentence in the paragraph. Explain your reasonin The capital city of a country is usually a very important city. The government offices are located in the capital city and political leaders usually live there nearby. There are many different types of governments in the world. The capital may also be the center of culture. There are often museums, libraries, and universities in the capital. Finally, the capital city can serve as a center of trade, industry and commerce, so it is often the financial center of the country.

Bottom Layer: Conclusion Sentence - Thin layer -Restates main idea in different words -Summation or makes a final comment

Group Exercise: Conclusion Sentence. Read the paragraph. Brainstorm with your group, and write a conclusion sentence. Explain your reasoning. Credit cards have a lot of advantages. First of all, credit cards are convenient because you do not have to carry a lot of cash around. You can buy the products and services you need even if you do not have cash in your pocket. In addition, credit cards are very helpful in emergencies. Finally, you can become a better money manager as you learn to use credit cards responsibly. ___________________.

Group Exercise: Rearrange the Order of the Sentences to Complete a Paragraph Miami is my first choice for a vacation destination. There are many fine restaurants in the Miami area, and most of the hotels offer terrific entertainment nightly. Miami is the perfect place to take a vacation. The beaches are gorgeous, with soft white sand beautiful water. Miami is always sunny and warm.