KS3 Ppt about sentence clarity

1. Understand the usefulness of topic
sentences
Avoid using too many pronouns
Vary noun phrases
Topic sentences for clarity
Can I make my writing clear and well
organised?

2. Look at the opening of this paragraph. What is it talking
about?
Like humans, they are omnivorous, although unlike us, they eat
several hundred earthworms every night. They are social
creatures and live together in large underground setts, comprised
of a series of tunnels with nest chambers, toilets and several
entrances. These setts are passed to them from their parents, and
they expand and improve them. The resulting huge tunnel
systems are, in some cases, centuries old.

3. What helps us get the sense in this paragraph?
Badgers are nocturnal and hard to find, but remain one of the
UK's favourite mammals. Like humans, they are omnivorous,
although unlike us, they eat several hundred earthworms every
night. Badgers are social creatures and live together in large
underground setts, comprised of a series of tunnels with nest
chambers, toilets and several entrances. These setts are passed to
them from their parents, and these clever animals expand and
improve them. The resulting huge tunnel systems are, in some
cases, centuries old.

4. Label: Topic Sentence, noun, noun phrase
Badgers are nocturnal and hard to find, but remain one of the
UK's favourite mammals. Like humans, they are omnivorous,
although unlike us, they eat several hundred earthworms every
night. Badgers are social creatures and live together in large
underground setts, comprised of a series of tunnels with nest
chambers, toilets and several entrances. These setts are passed to
them from their parents, and these clever animals expand and
improve them. The resulting huge tunnel systems are, in some
cases, centuries old.
Extension: Can you identify the pronouns?

5. Look at this paragraph. Who or what is it talking about?
After spending much of her childhood in foster homes, she began
a career as a model, which led to a film contract in 1946. Her early
film appearances were minor, but her performances in The
Asphalt Jungle and All About Eve were well received. By 1953, she
had progressed to leading roles. Her "dumb blonde" persona was
used to comedic effect in such films as Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
(1953), How to Marry a Millionaire (1953) and The Seven Year
Itch (1955).

6. After adding a topic sentence, the paragraph becomes clear. The second
mention of her name avoids using ‘she’ and ‘her’ too often.
Marilyn Monroe was an American actress, singer and model. After
spending much of her childhood in foster homes, Monroe began a
career as a model, which led to a film contract in 1946. Her early
film appearances were minor, but her performances in The
Asphalt Jungle and All About Eve were well received. By 1953,
Monroe had progressed to leading roles. Her "dumb blonde"
persona was used to comedic effect in such films as Gentlemen
Prefer Blondes (1953), How to Marry a Millionaire (1953) and
The Seven Year Itch (1955).

7. The Topic Sentence
 This is one of the most important parts of a
paragraph because it is the first thing that the reader
encounters. It creates a guideline for the rest of the
paragraph.
 If the paragraph is to be part of an essay, the topic
sentence should also be directly connected to the
essay question and your own argument.

8. Nouns and noun phrases
 Though we have seen how pronouns (he, she, it, they,
himself) can avoid repetition, but sometimes it’s
good to remind the reader what you’re talking about.
 Instead of referring to a writer as ‘he’ or ‘she’, what
nouns or noun phrases could you use?

9. Nouns and noun phrases
 Though we have seen how pronouns (he, she, it, they,
himself) can avoid repetition, but sometimes it’s
good to remind the reader what you’re talking about.
 Instead of referring to a writer as ‘he’ or ‘she’, what
nouns or noun phrases could you use?
Shakespeare / Duffy (their surname)
The writer
The poet
The author
The playwright

10. Group Activity. Which fact will form your topic sentence?
 Born Stratford Upon Avon 1564
 Married Anne Hathaway
 English playwright and poet
 Famous plays include Macbeth and King Lear
 Died aged 52 in 1616
 Wrote 37 plays and 154 sonnets
 15 million pages for him on google

11. Think about the order of information, then write the rest of the paragraph. Use
a range of correct prepositions, connectives, pronouns and noun phrases
 Born Stratford Upon Avon 1564
 Married Anne Hathaway
 English playwright and poet
 Famous plays include Macbeth and King Lear
 Died aged 52 in 1616
 Wrote 37 plays and 154 sonnets
 15 million pages for him on google

12. Look at the opening of this paragraph. What is it talking
about? Can you give it a topic sentence?
One of the most beautiful countries in the world, it is full of green
rolling hills, as well as one of the biggest mountain ranges in
Europe, Snowdonia. Famous people to be born in the Celtic
country include the footballer Ryan Giggs and the actress
Catherine Zeta Jones. A small country of just under 3 million
people, the nation has its own parliament and language. Its main
industries were in coal and steel, but now the country relies on
tourism.
Task: Now write your own paragraph, minus a topic sentence. Use
pronouns and noun phrases instead of the noun. Your partner is going
to guess what the paragraph is about and, in a different colour, write a
topic sentence. Make it difficult for them!