Help students to their reports

1. Unity in the Paragraph

2. A paragraph is a unit of thought made up of related
sentences organized around a central topic called
topic sentence.
•The paragraph has three parts:
•1. topic sentence or major idea to be developed;
•2. Supporting details; and
•3. clinching sentence.

3. Topic Sentence
The topic sentence is composed of a subject
and a predicate.
The subject contains the limited topic to be
discussed; the predicate contains the
controlling idea, which is the writer’s opinion
or assertion about the limited topic. The
controlling idea limits or controls the
supporting details that a writer can include in
the paragraph.

4. Topic sentence may be expressed or implied. If it is
expressed, it is found at the beginning of the
paragraph, at the end of the paragraph, or
anywhere between the first and last sentences.
When placed at the end of the paragraph, it also
serves as the concluding or clinching sentence. If it
is implied, the topic sentence is hinted or suggested
in the specific details.

5. German shepherds perform many services for the
people. Once used mainly for herding sheep,
German shepherds today help police in tracking
down and capturing criminals. They likewise
function as guards in stores, factories, and private
houses. They are also known to be keen and careful
guides of the blind. Intelligent and versatile,
German shepherds remain a popular, useful breed
of dogs( adapted from, Forlini et al.,2005).

6. Identify the limited topic and the controlling idea.
1.Three kinds of laws make man and society good.
2.Many candidates for election resort to
mudslinging.
3.TV commercials are sometimes insulting.
4.Gardening can be enjoyable and profitable.
5.The zoo contains the three kinds of animals: land,
air, and water animals.

7. A topic sentence should not be too broad, too narrow,
or a mere announcement of something or an event. It
should be limited enough for your purpose.
1. Mere announcement
My topic is about college life. (What do you want to say about college life?)
2.Too broad
College life has change my life. (What aspect of your life has changed-
social?economic?spiritual?
3.Too narrow-Waking up on time is my problem.
4. Limited
High school life has taught me how to spend wisely.

8. Categorize these topic sentences into(a)mere
announcement,(b) too broad,(c) too narrow, or (d)
limited(just right).
1.I belong to the indigenous people.
2.Indigenous people are our link to our past.
3.College admission tests are given early.
4.Computers have changed our means of
communication.

9. Supporting Details
The supporting details are the specific or
minor ideas that help develop the topic
sentence into a paragraph. These details
vary depending on the paragraph. These
details vary depending on the paragraph
pattern or purpose.

10. Specific ideas or supporting details may be in the
form of:
1. Examples or illustrations, for paragraphs by example;
2.Facts, concepts, statistics, for paragraph by definition and by
classification;
3. Statistics, opinions, reasons, for paragraph by persuasion;
4.Statistics, reasons, facts, empirical truths, for problem-solution
paragraph;
5.Picture words, like adjectives and adverbs, for paragraph by
description, comparison, or analogy; and
6.Experiences, events, and personal feelings or perceptions, for
paragraph by narration.

11. Supporting details have two important
functions: they arouse the readers’ interest
and enjoyment because these details help the
readers form a mental picture of what they are
reading, and they make clear or explain to the
readers the writer’s point or opinion. In this
regard, the more specific the details are, the
clearer and more concrete the mental picture
is(Langan, 2012).

12. German shepherds perform many services for the
people. Once used mainly for herding sheep,
German shepherds today help police in tracking
down and capturing criminals. They likewise
function as guards in stores, factories, and private
houses. They are also known to be keen and careful
guides of the blind. Intelligent and versatile,
German shepherds remain a popular, useful breed
of dogs( adapted from, Forlini et al.,2005).

13. Clinching Sentence
The clinching sentence is the final
statement that closes the paragraph. It
may be restatement of the topic
sentence, a summary of the details, or
a conclusion based on the supporting
details.

14. German shepherds perform many services for the
people. Once used mainly for herding sheep,
German shepherds today help police in tracking
down and capturing criminals. They likewise
function as guards in stores, factories, and private
houses. They are also known to be keen and careful
guides of the blind. Intelligent and versatile,
German shepherds remain a popular, useful breed
of dogs( adapted from, Forlini et al.,2005).

15. Each element of the paragraph plays a role in
achieving connectedness or unity in the paragraph
because:
1. The topic sentence, which contains the main idea, dictates what
to talk about in the paragraph.
2.The controlling idea limits what is to be talked about or
discussed, thereby, ensuring oneness of ideas.
3. The supporting details are kept within bounds by the controlling
idea.
4.The clinching sentence gets its idea/s from the topic sentence,
or from the supporting details as it summarizes or forms
conclusion based on the details.

16. Sample Outline A
Broad Field Animals
NarrowedTopic Dog
Topic Sentence German shepherds perform many services for the
people.
LimitedTopic German shepherds
Controlling Idea perform many services for the people.
Supporting Details
(Examples)
Examples of services:
1. Herd sheep
2. Help the police track and capture criminals
3. Guard stores, factories, and others
4. Guide the blind
Clinching Sentence
(Conclusion)
Intelligent and versatile, German shepherds remain a
popular, useful breed of dogs.
(in the form of conclusion)

17. Sample Outline B
Broad Field Continent
NarrowedTopic Antartica
Topic Sentence Antartica is the most hostile environment on earth for human beings
LimitedTopic Antartica
Controlling Idea the most hostile environment on earth for human beings
Supporting Details
(Examples)
In the form of facts used to provide the hostile environment:
1. uninhabitable-only permanent inhabitants-seals, penguins, a few birds
-no trees or human beings
2. Coldest and windiest of all continents
a. 95% of the world’s ice there
b. Lowest recorded temperature=126.9 degrees below 0
Clinching Sentence
(Conclusion)
Conclusion: Antartica is a no-man’s land.

18. German shepherds perform many services for the
people. Once used mainly for herding sheep, German
shepherds today help police in tracking down and
capturing criminals. They likewise function as guards in
stores, factories, and private houses. They are also
known to be keen and careful guides of the blind.
Intelligent and versatile, German shepherds remain a
popular, useful breed of dogs( adapted from, Forlini et
al.,2005).

19. A main idea given.Try to come up with two sentences in the form of reasons or
examples that would support the main idea.
• 1. Children today don’t treat their parents with much respect
• a.They ___________________________________________
• b.They _______________________________________________

20. 2.Young boys are more interested in active games
than young girls
a. Boys play ____________________________
b. Girls play _____________________________

21. 3. In the last ten years, a new kind of father has emerged.
a.Father now _________________________________
b.Fathers now _________________________________