Week 2 Nov 13-17

First class of the week: Topic sentences, Nov 13-14 

TASK 1

Find the topic sentences here

• This one is easy: http://www.studyzone.org/testprep/ela4/g/topicmainp.cfm
• This one is more difficult: http://www.monash.edu.au/lls/llonline/writing/science/paragraphs/1.2.xml

TASK 2

Your teacher will give you this paper exercise. 

http://www.mce.k12tn.net/reading39/paragraph_unit/lesson4.htm

• Put your name on it
• Complete practices 1 and 3
• Hand it back to your teacher

Second class of the week: Paragraphs, Nov 15-17  

Second class of the week

TASK 3 

Your teacher will put you in groups.  Each group writes two topic sentences and one conclusion

TITANPAD RULE #1 http://screencast.com/t/7JK588WJvw 

See some examples here: http://tinyurl.com/01nov-c 

Class B

Group 1 - http://tinyurl.com/13nov1b 

Group 2 - http://tinyurl.com/13nov2b 

Group 3 - http://tinyurl.com/13nov3b 

Group 4 - http://tinyurl.com/13nov4b 

Topic sentence examples

Study these examples of good topic sentences (in bold)

The topic sentence is the most important sentence in your paragraph. Carefully worded and restricted, it helps you generate and control your information. An effective topic sentence also helps readers grasp your main idea quickly. As you draft your paragraphs, pay close attention to the following three guidelines:

• Make sure you provide a topic sentence. . . .
• Put your topic sentence first. . . .
• Be sure your topic sentence is focused.

There are three reasons why Canada is one of the best countries in the world. First, Canada has an excellent health care system. All Canadians have access to medical services at a reasonable price. Second, Canada has a high standard of education. Students are taught by well-trained teachers and are encouraged to continue studying at university. Finally, Canada's cities are clean and efficiently managed. Canadian cities have many parks and lots of space for people to live. As a result, Canada is a desirable place to live.

Every Sunday, Cadets come to classes tired and sleepy because they are either tired or did not have enough sleep. This has become a problem to the instructors. However, there are reasons for this and there could be a way to solve it.

Now, here are some paragraphs that need topic sentences. In your group try and write them.

Passage A: Reasons for Bullying

(group a write a topic sentence)

Some bullies act the way they do to try and make themselves feel more important or more popular.  Other bullies are acting out or copying the ways others have treated them.  Most bullies don't realize or understand how they are hurting others.

The last sentence above is a example of a conclusion

Passage B: Ways Desert Animals Survive

(write a topic sentence)

For example, many desert animals are nocturnal.  They sleep during the day and come out at night to hunt.  Some desert animals don't need to drink water.  They get their water from the foods they eat. Most desert animals are small and can move quickly.

(now add a conclusion sentence)