This document provides a review of parts of speech and discusses the importance of topic sentences in writing effective paragraphs. It defines the key parts of speech and provides examples. It then explains that effective topic sentences should state a clear main idea or opinion in the first sentence to give the paragraph unity and focus. Topic sentences should not be too broad or narrow in scope. The document includes activities for students to identify topic sentences and write their own based on supporting details. Homework includes reviewing parts of speech online, preparing for a quiz, and re-reading an assigned article in preparation for discussing it in the next class.

1. September 26, 2011Parts of Speech 2Making a Point: Topic Sentences

2. HousekeepingWebsite: Dominic, Raymart, Manouchehr, ImanBooks: Dominic, Raymart, Ysaura, Mohammed, Manouchehr, Omid, ArezooGreen Box:Marked WorkHandouts

3. Parts of Speech Review #2

4. ArticlesArticles are a type of adjective that appear before nouns: the (definite) a, an (indefinite)Ex: Please give me the book. (Which book? That specific book over there.)Ex: Please give me a book. (Which book? Any book, I don’t care!)

5. PronounsPronouns take the place of a noun to avoid repetition and/or add variety:Ex: Sally likes to ride Sally’s bicycle.Sally likes to ride her bicycle.She likes to ride her bicycle.However, careless use can cause confusion.Ex: Sally likes to ride Shari’s bicycle.She likes to ride her bicycle.

6. PrepositionsPrepositions are words that specify position, direction, or time:She looked around the room.I hid behind the door.He slept during class.She walked toward the door.

7. ConjunctionsConjunctions are joining words:and, but, or, nor, for, so, yetThey help form compound subjects and verbs:Amir and Jack ran and jumped.They help join independent clauses:Amir wrote the paper, and Jack presented it.

8. InterjectionsInterjections are words or phrases that show strong emotions. Ow! Wow! Oh, no! Ssh! Yuck! Hey!

9. ChallengeMake a sentence that contains all 9 parts of speech and is grammatically correct.nounverbadjectiveadverbarticlepronounprepositionconjunctioninterjection

10. ExampleWow! That old woman sings sweetly andInt. adj. adj. noun verb adv. conj. dances frenetically around the room. v. adv. prep. art. noun

11. Student SentencesSmart Jack was going towards the cinema and he quietly said, “Wow!” because he had seen a big cat.I saw a lion was playing with a little sheep very calmly instead of eating it and I said “Wow! That is impossible.”Well, Dominic, you have to actually write the small paragraph that she asked us for just now.

12. Effective WritingGood writing has unity (a single focus)support (details and examples)coherance (clear and logical)sentence skills (grammatically correct)

13. Review of Paragraph StructureStart with a topic sentence that clearly defines the main point of your paragraph (unity)Give three reasons to support your point; (support)Provide specific details or examples for each reason (support)Use transition signals to show the relationship between ideas (coherance)

14. Begin with a Point, Page 47To understand this idea of “unity” or “focus,” let’s look at some examples in our text.

15. Begin with a Point, Page 47Complete the following statement:Paragraph _____ is effective because it makes a clear, single point, in the first sentence and goes on in the remaining sentence to support that point.Discuss your choice with a classmate.

16. Topic Sentencesshould be the first sentence in the paragraphcontain the main point of a paragraphgive focus to the paragraph (unity)are a promise to the reader about what the paragraph will be about

17. Effective Topic Sentences shouldstate one main idea or opinion that could be supported with specific evidenceEx: I hate my Ford Escort.

18. Effective Topic Sentences havetwo main partsthe limited topicthe writer’s attitude about the topicEx: I hate my Ford Escort.Ex: My girlfriendis very aggressive.Ex: Votingshould be required by law in Canada.

19. Topic Sentences should not“announce” the topicEx: I want to talk about my Ford Escort.

20. Topic Sentences should notbe too broadEx: Many people have problems with their cars.

21. Topic Sentences should notbe too narrowEx: My car is a Ford Escort.

22. Activity 10, p. 65Read sentences 1-5.Identify (on your own paper) the topic and the idea about the topic (expressed in key words)

23. Activity 10, p. 65Billboards should be abolished.My boss is an ambitious man.3. Politicians are often self-serving.4. The apartment needed repairs.5. Television commercials are often insulting.I hate my ford escort.

24. Activity 12, p. 68Read each group of supporting details and then try to write a topic sentence for them. (Ask yourself what general topic they have in common and what idea or view about that topic they seem to support.)Do as many as you can in the next 10 minutes. Do not worry if you do not have time to do them all.

25. Activity 12, p. 68(Some/our) neighbours don’t like to communicate with others.I don’t like my neighbours.My new neighbours have an unfriendly attitude.2. The dance I went to was a disaster.Last night I hosted a messed up dancing party.An event that I attended was a disaster.3.I would not go to the restaurant that I went to last night ever again.That greek restaurant has a problem with their management.The restaurant we went to was terrible.The service we had at that restaurant last night was disappointing.

26. Activity 12, p. 684. My unforgettable negative experiences during my elementary grades.I had always struggled with learning English.My childhood til now is a memoryof poor memories about school/English.English has always been my worst subject.5. The movie I went to wasn’t worth my money.The stupid movie stole my time. The movie had a bad production.The film is rather a B movie/low budget.

28. HomeworkReview Online lessons on Parts of Speech - be prepared for a brief quiz on Monday!"All Grown Up and Still in Tow” for this Wednesday (next class)Re-read the article as many times as you need to to understand itVocabulary paragraph for “All Grown Up . . .” (assigned last Wednesday)