2. • Topic sentence (only one topic)
• Supporting sentences
• Concluding sentence
How long should it be?
What’s in a paragraph?

3. Discuss with a partner: What is a Topic Sentence?
• A topic sentence is a general statement and
does not give any specific detail.
• Usually (but not always) it is the first sentence
in a paragraph.
• It indicates what the paragraph is going to
discuss.
What makes a good Topic Sentence?
• A good topic sentence is concise:
It should stress the important word or
phrase.
It should be clear and strong.

4. Topic sentences also include a
Controlling Idea
• The controlling idea tells the reader what
you want to say about the topic…
• Read the following topic sentences.
• They all contain a topic (in red) and a
controlling idea (in green).

5. Remember.. topic (in red) and a
controlling idea (in green).
• There are several advantages to growing up in a
small town.
(The advantages of…)
• Air pollution in Mexico City is the worst in the
world for a number of reasons.
(The causes of…) or (The effects of…)
• In order to fully explore the wreck of the Titanic,
scientists must address several problems.
(The difficulties of…) or (The obstacles to…)

6. Activity 1 Handout 1:
Decide what the topic of the paragraph is:
There is nothing like a commercial to ruin an evening's TV
entertainment. Before a show even starts, two or three
commercials begin the viewing. Then, as the action builds
and tension mounts, another two or three minutes of
adverts break the mood. At the end of the show, the
announcer says, "We'll be right back," but it's just a trick to
get you to stay tuned for still more commercials. The show
is really already over.
a) there is nothing
b) commercials
c) an evening's TV entertainment
What is the controlling idea?

7. Activity 2: Try writing your own topic sentences
___________________________________________
In this modern world with faster means of transportation
available to more people, the train nevertheless
continues to be popular. In most countries, train tickets
are often sold out. Why do so many people want to take
the train? Perhaps it is because they are reasonably
priced--cheaper than an airplane--and have large
windows from which we can comfortably view the
passing world. Maybe trains are popular because they
never get stuck in traffic jams, as cars and buses often
do. Another reason may be that trains are older and
sometimes seem a little romantic. For whatever reason,
do not be surprised to see people preferring trains to
other modes of transportation far into the future.
Handout 2: In pairs try writing some more topic sentences

8. SUPPORT SENTENCES
Example Paragraph 1
(A) The campus in summer seems a more relaxed place
than in the autumn. (B) Fewer people are about, and the
gardener works slowly in the heat. (C) Over by the
classrooms, several workmen hammer and saw without
much energy. (D) Next to the library, even the fountains
seem smaller and quieter. (E) Two hundred marathon
runners came jogging rapidly past at that moment. (F) It
feels as if vacation time is here already.
1. Which is the topic sentence in this paragraph?
2. Which sentence DOES NOT BELONG in this paragraph.
3. Which are the 3 SUPPORT SENTENCES in this
paragraph?
Handout 3: Try some more examples

9. The concluding sentence
• Signals the end of the paragraph
• Restates the topic sentence in different
words.
• A concluding sentence clinches the
point made in the paragraph.
• It summarises the paragraph.

10. Pass the Paragraph
1. Write a topic sentence on a topic of your
choice.
2. Pass your paper to the left.
3. Write a supporting sentence for the new topic
sentence
4. Pass it to the left again
5. Write another supporting sentence
6. Pass it to the left again
7. Finally write a concluding sentence