BRAINSTORM

Two important steps:

Not writing – it is thinking

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 TOPIC SENTENCE
What is a topic sentence?
- often, but not always, the first sentence in a paragraph
- tells the MAIN IDEA of the paragraph
- tells what the author wants to SAY ABOUT the topic
What it’s NOT?
- is not a simple fact
Thomas Edison invented the light bulb. à this is a detail & used in the body
- is not a question
Who invented the light bulb we use today? à it’s an “attention grabber”
- is not too specific
This dictionary contains more than 42,000 words
- is not too general
Tea is delicious
Parts of a topic sentence
- SUBJECT: tells the main idea of the paragraph
- CONTROLLING IDEA: tells what the author is going to say about the subject
SUBJECT + CONTROLLING IDEA
• The invention of the light bulb (subject)
• Changed the world in many ways (controlling idea)
à The invention of the light bulb changed the world in many ways.
à The world was changed in many ways by the invention of the light bulb.

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Activity 1. Put a check mark on the line next to the best topic sentence.
1. General topic: winter
_____ Winter is a good season.
_____ Winter weather is cold, and it snows.
_____ The best season for kids is winter.
2. General topic: ______________________________
_____ Soccer is popular for many reasons
_____ You need a leather ball to play soccer.
_____ Soccer is a nice game.
3. General topic: _______________________________
_____ There are many people in Los Angeles.
_____ People from many different cultures live in Los Angeles.
_____ Los Angeles is a big city in California.
4. General topic: ______________________________
_____ French perfumes are expensive for a number of reasons.
_____ My mother’s perfume smells flowery.
_____ You can purchase perfumes in expensive blue crystal bottles.
Activity 2. Read the three sentences in each item and then put a check mark
next to the best topic sentence. Underline the controlling idea in that sentence.
1. ___ Most of the girls in the class get higher grades in English than boys.
_____ Research has shown that girls are better at languages than boys.
_____ Many students like languages very much.
2. ____ Cats are better pets than goldfish for many reasons.
_____ Cats and goldfish are both animals.
_____ Cats cannot swim very well, but goldfish can.
3. ___ Yesterday I did not have lunch with my coworkers
_____ Yesterday I went to work late.
_____ Yesterday was the worst day of my life.

Đảm bảo: ngắn gọn - tổng quát ý – rõ ràng

Ví dụ: viết về lợi ích của việc trẻ em chơi thể thao

Cách 1: Bắt đầu câu với chủ thể là Children

Clearly, children can gain several benefits from playing sports.

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Cách 2: bắt đầu câu với THERE

Clearly, there are several benefits of playing sports at a young age.

Cách 3: vẫn bắt đầu với THERE nhưng sau đó + mệnh đề

Clearly, there are several benefits (that) children can gain from playing sports/

Cách 4: đưa ra các lợi ích cụ thể ngay trong câu topic sentence

Clearly, children can gain some health and social benefits from playing sports.

Hoặc:

Clearly, there are several health and social benefits associated with playing
sports.

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 SUPPORTING SENTENCES
Types of supporting sentences:

1. Explain:
Topic sentence: There are many support services for students at the
university.
Supporting sentence: These services, such as tutoring, are generally free
for students.
(explains the support services available for students at the university)
2. Describe
Topic sentence: I will never forget my childhood home.
Supporting sentence: The house had a large entrance with a spiral
staircase in the center.
(describes the writer's childhood home)
3. Give reasons:
Topic sentence: Note-taking is one of the most important study skills to
learn.
Supporting sentence: Reviewing good notes before a test will help
students become more familiar with the information. (gives a reason that
note-taking is an important study
skill to learn)
4. Give facts:
Topic sentence: Jogging is not as easy as it appears.
Supporting sentence: Ninety-seven percent of people cannot jog three
miles without stopping.
(gives a fact about jogging)
5. Give examples:
Topic sentence: Brazil has many natural resources.
Supporting sentence: Brazil is one of the leading producers of bauxite, a
principal ingredient for
making aluminum. (gives an example of Brazil's natural resources)
Activity 4. Match each supporting sentence with the corresponding topic
sentence.

Topic sentence 1: Low-fat diets are an excellent way to stay healthy and trim.

Topic sentence 2: High-protein diets are favored by athletes and competitors.

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Supporting sentences:

a. ___ These foods help build muscles and increase energy (fact)

b. ____ They are preferred by the general public because they help with weight
reduction. (reason)

c. ____ Low-fat diets are recommended by most physicians (fact)

d. ____ Many athletes eat high-protein foods, such as meat, beans, and nuts
(example)

e. ___ Low-fat foods include fruits, vegetables, and pasta (example)

f. ____ Because they are easy to find in stores, low-fat foods are convenient
(reason)

Asking the right questions

1. Topic sentence: Personally, I think people make a good workplace.

Who? Who are these people?

What? What do these people do to make a good workplace?

When?

Where?

Why? Why do you think people make a good workplace?

Others? How do you feel when you work with these people?

2. Your topic sentence: .................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................

Who? .............................................................................................................

What?.............................................................................................................

When? ............................................................................................................

Where? ..........................................................................................................

Why? ..............................................................................................................

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 CONCLUDING SENTENCES
3 features:
1. It is usually the last sentence of a paragraph.
2. It lets the reader know that the paragraph has ended.
3. It brings the paragraph to a logical conclusion by doing one of these two
actions:
a. Restating the main idea of the topic sentence.
b. Offering a suggestion, giving an opinion, or making a prediction.
Transitions with concluding sentences

Example:
1. Topic sentence: One of my greatest vacations was spent in
Washington, DC
Concluding sentence: Clearly, Washington, DC has a lot to offer its
visitors!
2. Topic sentence: There are many steps in changing a tire on your car.
Concluding sentence: Following these steps will have you back on the
road in no time. (prediction)

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 BUILD BETTER VOCABULARY
Circle the word or phrase that is the most closely related to the word or phrase
on the left.

A B

1. workplace (n) Company School

2. co-worker (n) Colleague Boss

3. offer (v) provide refuse

4. teamwork (n) Cooperation competition

5. flexible hours (n) Work schedule Overtime

6. company culture (n) Values Salary

7. team building (n) Activities Deadlines

8. social event (n) Party Meeting

9. wellness program (n) Fitness classes Business trip

10. recognition (n) Appreciation Criticism

11. motivate (v) Inspire Ignore

12. supportive (adj) Helpful Rude

13. reward (n) Prize Punishment

14. collaborate (v) Work together Work alone

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Activity 5. Write your supporting sentences for the topic sentences above:
Paragraph 1:
Topic sentence 1: ________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Supporting sentence:
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Topic sentence 2: ________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Supporting sentences:
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Concluding sentences:
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Paragraph 2:
Topic sentence: _________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Supporting sentences: ____________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
Concluding sentences: ____________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________