ACTIVITY 3

Recognizing Controlling Ideas in Topic Sentences

Read the following topic sentences. The main idea for each sentence has been circled. Underline
the controlling idea. Then explain what information you expect to find in the paragraph.

1. three distinct sections that deal with three important skills.

Explanation:

2, the coast of New York baffled investigators.

Explanation:
Why crash baffled investigator

3. not only educational and fun but also addictive.

Explanation:
Reasons people do crossword puzzles

4. Recent research has confirmed such as broccoli and cabbage, may

reduce the risk of some types of cancer.

Explanation:

Eat vegetables may reduce the risk of some types of cancer.

5. Although buying a house may seem many advantages.

Explanation:
Why renting an apartment is better than buying a house

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 Building Better Sentences: For further practice with the sentences and paragraphs in this part of the unit,
go to Practice 4 on page 286 in Appendix 1.

ACTIVITY More Practice Recognizing Controlling Ideas

4

Read the three sentences in each item and then put a check mark s/ next to the best topic sentence.
Underline the controlling idea in that sentence. Be prepared to explain your selections.

1. Most of the girls in the class get higher grades in English than the boys.

Research has shown that girls are better at languages than boys.

Many students like languages very much.

2. Cats are better pets than goldfish for many reasons.

Cats and goldfish are both animals.

Cats cannot swim very well, but goldfish can.

3. Yesterday I did not have lunch with my coworkers.

Yesterday I went to work late.

Yesterday was the worst day of my life.

4. Some people call Paul Cézanne the father of modern art.

Paul Cézanne, the father of modern art, made important contributions to the history of art.

Paul Cézanne's art was not recognized until the end of his career, but he is often called the
father of modern art.

5. Many Canadians speak French, and some of them speak Chinese and Japanese.

The current population of Canada is a reflection of the international background of

its citizens and immigrants.
A large number of new immigrants live in the western province of British Columbia, but not
many of them speak German.

54 UNIT 3 Topic Sentences

 •

ACTIVITY 5 Adding Controlling Ideas to Create Better Topic Sentences

All of these topic sentences are too general. Rewrite each sentence and add a controlling idea. Compare your
sentences with other students' sentences.

Example: Flowers are beautiful.

Flowers are the best gift to receive when you are feeling down.

OR
Only four kinds of flowers grow during the short summers in Alaska.

1. Cats are nice.

The cat is very good at catching mice

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 2. Paris is the capital of France.
Paris is so beautiful and romantic

3. The English alphabet has twenty-six letters.

The Vietnamese alphabet is the same as the English alphabet

4. Reading blogs is interesting.

Reading blogs can learn a lot of good knowledge

5. Running is an enjoyable hobby.

the run is a healthy sport

Studying a Topic Sentence in a Paragraph

Answer these questions about how a topic sentence is related to the information in the body of the paragraph.
1. Copy the topic sentence from Paragraph 14 (page 49) here.

2. Underline the controlling idea(s) in that topic sentence.

3. Give at least three examples of how the controlling idea(s) in the topic sentence are directly
connected to the information in the paragraph.

56 UNIT 3 Topic Sentences

 ACTIVITY Writing Topic Sentences
7 Read each paragraph on pages 56—60. Then write a good topic sentence that
is connected to the information in the paragraph. Be sure to end each topic
sentence with correct punctuation.
Example Paragraph 15
Reasons for Playing Instruments music can improve a
person's brain
function and
intelligence. In sum,
there is not just one
People play íntrument for diferent reasons main reason that
people play a
Some people choose to learn how to play a musical instrument because
musical instrument.
they want to have fun. They want to play it with their friends or maybe
such as: for example
in a band. Another reason people play an instrument is that it is their
the oud: a stringed
hobby. They learned how to play it a long time ago, and now it is a way instrument

to occupy their time. Other people learn to play an instrument because

a great deal of: much, a
it is part of their culture. Certain instruments are popular in one culture, lot of in sum: in
conclusion
such as the guitar in Spain or the oud in the Middle East. In some cases,
however, people learn how to play an instrument because they think it
will make them smarter. A great deal of research suggests that studying

Example Paragraph 16

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 Differences Between Reptiles and Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs difer from modern in several important

One is size. Most modern reptiles are small. Dinosaurs were much, much
larger than any reptile that we have on earth today. Second, the legs of
most reptiles today are on the sides of their body. However, dinosaurs'
legs were on the bottom of their body. In this way, dinosaurs could stand
up on their back legs. Third, today's reptiles use the environment to
control their body temperature. In contrast, dinosaurs controlled their own
body temperature. They did not depend on their surroundings. While
reptiles and dinosaurs may seem very similar, they are actually quite
different.

58 UNIT 3 Topic Sentences

Example Paragraph 17

Reasons for Exercise

Exercise improves health

First, your body will look better. Exercise is perfect for staying trim and healthy
looking, and it does not have to take a long time. Second, you will actually have
more energy. A person who exercises will have fewer problems walking up stairs
or climbing hills. In addition, your heart will be healthier. A good, strong heart is
necessary for a long, healthy life. Finally, exercise reduces stress and keeps your
mind in shape. Therefore, if you want to improve your overall health, you should
exercise three or four times each week to accomplish this goal.

•
Example Paragraph 18
Popular Popcorn It is one of the
easiest foods to
eat. You can eat it
with your fingers,
and it does not
have to be served
Popcorn is a popular snack piping hot like
some foods do. In
addition, with
only 20 calories
per cup and

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 almost no fat, it is both a filling and a heart-friendly snack. Furthermore, a source: a place of
origin
it can be an important source of natural fiber, a substance that is
important in limiting certain types of cancer. Based on this information,
can anyone be surprised that sales of popcorn are soaring in many to soar: rise quickly

countries?

Example Paragraph 19
A Method for Learning New Words

Effective method to learn new words

In this method, learners form their own sound association between the foreign
language word they are trying to learn and any word in their native language.
In the second stage, learners form an image link between the target word and
the native language word. For example, a Japanese learner ofEnglish might
look at the English word hatchet and connect it to the Japanese word hachi,
which means "eight." In this case, the learner might remember that he can use
a hatchet eight times to cut down a tree. For many language students, this
particular method is effective in learning new vocabulary in a foreign
language.

Building Better Sentences: For further practice with the sentences and paragraphs in this part of the unit,
go to Practice 5 on page 287 in Appendix 1.

Using Commas in Sentences

Commas are very important for clarity of meaning, but commas also represent the grammar of a
sentence. Remember:
Examples
A comma separates a list of three or more things. I speak English, Spanish, and Japanese.
A comma separates two sentences when there is a I speak three languages, but Adam speaks five.
combining word.

60 UNIT 3 Topic Sentences

A comma separates an introductory word or phrase from First, you will need to get a pencil.
the rest of the sentence.

A comma separates a dependent clause that Because I speak three languages, I can
comes at the beginning of a sentence. communicate with many people.
A comma separates an appositive from the rest Fiber, a substance that is important in limiting
of the sentence. (An appositive is a group of certain types of cancer, is found in popcorn.
words that renames or explains the noun
before it.)
A comma separates extra information that is provided in The History of Korea, which is on the teacher's
adjective clauses. desk, is the book for the course.
For more information and examples, review the section on "Commas" in the Brief Writers Handbook with
Activities, pages 258—260.

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