A strong topic sentence focuses each paragraph around one main point. The paragraph writing strategy have benefitted from the efforts of many individuals. Read the sentences or ideas below the supporting ideas section of the outlines, and decide which ones do not support the topic sentence. Writing a perfect paragraph general a paragraph is a series of sentences that are about one topic. Your guide to clear writing centers for disease control. These sentences follow a topic sentence in a paragraph. Writing simple sentences university of mississippi. English enhanced scope and sequence 1 lesson skill. It is designed to be an intensive onesemester course. Mardi gras in new orleans can be a wild experience. Supporting details if your paragraph has five sentences, usually the three sentences after the topic sentence are called the supporting details sentences. Highprotein diets are favored by athletes and competitors. See if you can pick the best topic sentence and identify good supporting sentences in the paragraphs below.
Each turkey body has a topic sentence and five feathers for students to write supporting sentences on. The supporting sentences of a paragraph develop the main idea you presented in the topic sentence. A paragraph typically starts with the main idea or point also called the topic sentence, and the rest of the paragraph provides speci. When writing supporting sentences you should be giving examples, reasons, or descriptions to support your topic sentence. Have your kids work in small groups, pairs, or create them on their own. In each of the topic sentences below, circle the topic subject and underline the main idea focus. Time4writings free writing resources cover the researching and supplying of supporting details in paragraph writing. Students who complete this text will then have the skills needed for a more advanced english composition and essay writing course. Paragraphs should include a clear topic sentence and provide supporting details. A topic sentence contains the main idea upon which a paragraph is developed. Writing good paragraphs unit 4 25 supporting sentences read again what you learned above about supporting sentences. The supporting sentences that follow all try to provide some form of evidence to validate the thoughts offered by the topic sentences.
When writing a text, we organize our writing into paragraphs, which are sections writing of focused on particular themes, or topics. Materials copies of the main idea group activityattached, cut apart, and placed into envelopes copies of an interesting recent informational article copies of the topic sentence writing gameattached and envelopes. The topic sentence and paragraph organization also a fact about mount mitchell and descriptions of the area. Your topic sentence should directly state the problem.
This is because paragraphs show a reader where the subdivisions of an essay begin and end, and thus help the. An effective paragraph always begins with the topic sentence that supports the main idea of the entire paragraph. In expository writing, a basic paragraphgenerally consists of a topic sentence, three or more supporting or detail sentences, transitional words and phrases, and a concluding sentence. Along with having topic sentences and supporting details, paragraphs are also organized to achieve a. In fact, studies have shown that students who enjoy a recess of more than 45 minutes consistently score better on tests immediately following the recess period. A brief description of the worksheets is on each of the worksheet widgets. Often it appears at or near the beginning of a paragraph, introducing the main idea and suggesting the direction that the paragraph will take.
Reading as a support technician, you need to read an email. Supporting sentences should focus on the following. The last two sentences develop the main idea by giving specific details of the relevant research. A lot of details writing topic sentenceswriting supporting. Worksheet for second grade english language arts write a paragraph about bats with at least three supporting details. Topic sentences are used for paragraph and report writing when the writer is explaining facts. Main ideas and supporting details in writing 4 a paragraph is a series of sentences that support a main idea, or point. This helps make sure readers can understand your main message and any related action steps youre asking them to take.
Sample paragraph with supporting sentences and specific details look at the paragraph below that gives three supporting reasons to explain why oktoberfest is the writers favorite holiday. Notice that each sentence is labeled in parentheses with the kind of supporting sentence that it is. Middle school to write a good paragraph, you need to follow your topic sentence with supporting details. Main ideas and supporting details in writing townsend press. The topic sentence answers one or more questions like why, how, or where. Support students as they learned to write organized paragraphs with topic sentences, supporting details, and closing sentences while. Also, because this is academic writing, the writer indents the first line five spaces to mark the beginning of a paragraph.
Its important for students to learn to write clear and concise topic sentences. If you make an outline before writing your paragraph, these are items a, b, and c and they almost always follow the topic sentence, which is the first sentence of the paragraph. These lessons are broken down into 3 mini lessons 567 topic sentences, relevant details and closing sentences. Scholastic teachables worksheets, lesson plans, learning games, and more. These details are specific in nature and not generalized like your topic sentence. What follows a topic sentence are a number of supporting sentences that develop the main idea with specific details. A paragraph typically starts with the main idea or point. Topic sentences a topic sentence is a sentence that indicates the main idea or thesis of a paragraph. The games, printables, presentation, and video supplement time4writings online courses.
Write at least one sentence for each point from the task. Supporting sentences contain details that help describe or explain the main idea of the paragraph. Your guide to clear writing when youre creating educational materials about public health, the most important thing you can do is to write clearly. If a paragraph was written about the closing of the family tree store in town, a good supporting sentence of this. Worksheet writing supporting sentences biglearners. All worksheets are free for individual and noncommercial use. Not all paragraphs have clearcut topic sentences, and topic sentences can actually occur anywhere in the paragraph as the first sentence, the. These worksheets will help you develop topic sentence that serve as a foundation of any paragraph that you are. Underneath the paragraph, edit a few of these sentences using some of. Topic sentences a topic sentence expresses the main idea of the paragraph. It also has some blank organizers for writing simple paragraphs. For a formal definition, a topic sentence is the very first one of a paragraph that provides an overview of the sentences to follow whereas, supporting sentences are the ones that come after the topic sentence to help form the main idea. The topic sentence is usually the first sentence in a paragraph and it is then followed by the concluding sentences that usually comes in three sentences, and finally, the concluding sentence which is, obviously, found on the last part or after the supporting sentence.
Have them useone color to identify the main idea or topic sentence of the introductory paragraph, the body paragraphs, and the conclusion. Match each supporting sentence with the corresponding topic sentence by writing the correct topic sentence number on the line beside the supporting sentences. Choosing topic sentences choose the best topic sentence for each group of supporting sentences. We gratefully acknowledge the innumerable contributions of the following teachers who graciously used the lessons in their classrooms and provided us with detailed feedback.
Writing a topic sentence strand writing, reading nonfiction sol 3. A lot of details writing topic sentenceswriting supporting sentences cant find what youre looking for. The rest of the paragraph is comprised of sentences that provide specific details which support and develop the main idea. It is often helpful to reflect back to your topic sentences as you complete the entire paragraph. I have a threeyearold daughter, and anyone whos ever had a conversation with a threeyearold will tell you theyr.
They state the central focus of the paragraph and provide cohesion for the paragraph. Exercises on paragraph writing a topic sentences the topic sentence is the most important sentence of a paragraph. Topic sentence practice topic sentences, topic sentences. The worksheets below are aimed to help your student become a master at recognizing and writing topic sentences. Supporting sentences notice the plural provide explanations and support for the topic sentence main idea of your paragraph. They should provide the main supporting points for the paragraphs main idea topic sentence there are usually 2 4 supporting sentences in a paragraph. Identify sentences that you think could benefit from more specific and descriptive language. Supporting sentences should fit the context and flow of a paragraph.
Writing you are sending an email to the technical support personnel of a computer manufacturer asking for help with a problem. Sentence and paragraph writing takes students from basic sentence writing skills at the beginning to sound and competent paragraph writing at the end. Practice in supporting a topic sentence with specific details. Write a topic sentence for the group of sentences provided. Good writers think of these questions when they write supporting sentences for the topic sentence. This unit introduces your students to the process of identifying and writing a well structured paragraph. It is a group of sentences about one topic or main idea, with the first sentence indented to signal its start. Feb 07, 2020 for a formal definition, a topic sentence is the very first one of a paragraph that provides an overview of the sentences to follow whereas, supporting sentences are the ones that come after the topic sentence to help form the main idea. I like to use an analogy when im discussing supporting sentences with my middle school students.
Barbara duchardt, kathleen gabriel, janet j ones, kathy littell, and lynn saunders. Writing on topic paragraphs and quality topic sentences requires students to have a solid understanding of main idea. Paragraph structure coherence writing tutorial services. Mar 31, 2019 a topic sentence contains the main idea upon which a paragraph is developed. How to teach paragraph writing paragraph writing, topic. Writing concluding sentences can be optional because if you find that your entire paragraph can do without one, it is definitely all right to end your paragraph without a concluding statement. Here is a collection of our printable worksheets for topic writing supporting details of chapter writing opinion pieces in section writing. It states the main idea and introduces the reader to the topic.
This no prep resource helps students think about the different aspects of paragraph writing while building a better understanding of main idea. Thesis statements are used for essay writing when the writer expresses an opinion, takes a position, or makes an argument. Click on the images to view, download, or print them. Have your students practice writing supporting sentences and create a festive turkey. Download lesson as pdf introduction to topic sentences when you write a formal essay in english, you need to follow some rules. Supporting sentences are much more specific than the topic sentence. A paragraph is a series of sentences that support a main idea, or point. Lowfat diets are an excellent way to stay healthy and trim. A topic sentence should not contain supporting details. This practice is not always followed in commercial or instructive writing or in business letters. Almost every piece of writing you do that is longer than a few sentences should be organized into paragraphs.
First, you need to start your essay with a good topic sentence. Topic sentences and supporting details worksheets tpt. Sentences a paragraph is a series of sentences that are organized and coherent, and are all related to a single topic. The topic sentence gives the writers main ideas on the topic. Supporting sentences what are supporting sentences. Step 4 writing supporting sentences choose one item from each column in the tables below. Cut the sentence strips into their subject and predicate. Part one focuses on what topics are and how to write a topic sentence. The supporting details are important enough that you could think of them as the real meat of any paragraph. The supporting sentences provide the information that backs up and proves the claim you made in the topic.
Ideas and supporting details university of hawaii at manoa. Reading comprehension literary response and analysis main idea and supporting details. Writing supporting sentences worksheet have fun teaching. These sentences give explanation, evidence, and reason for your claim. Chapter 4 main ideas and supporting details in writing 101 to do likewise. The english course writing book 1 writing good paragraphs unit 4 25 supporting sentences read again what you learned above about supporting sentences. Using this writing supporting sentences worksheet, students write supporting sentences for each topic sentence below. In published writing youll sometimes find topic sentences in the middle or even at the.
Place the subjects and predicates in random order in a pocket chart or along the chalkboard ledge. This esl writing exercise tries to get students writing creatively by identifying which topic sentences are interesting and which topic sentences are boring. A paragraph is basically a group of at least three to five sentences that discuss a central topic. Now that your students are writing complete sentences, it is time to transition into paragraph writing. There are usually 2 4 supporting sentences in a paragraph. In this worksheet students practice writing support sentences by looking at the pictures, thinking what kind of essay each picture might inspire, and writing an appropriate support sentence. Click on the image below or the link to download the pdf file. Provide students with the topic sentences, and have them write three supporting details for each one. Exercise 1 choose the sentences part 1 look at the topic sentences below and choose the best 4 supporting sentences for each one. Writing simple sentences practice the skill 1015 minutes step 1. Look for the topic sentence, concrete details and examples in the supporting sentences, and see how the writer sums up the point of the paragraph with a.