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Understanding Paragraph Structure

This document discusses the structure of paragraphs and identifying topic sentences. It explains that paragraphs should have a main idea developed by a topic sentence, supporting sentences, and concluding sentence. The topic sentence is usually the first sentence and communicates the subject that will be discussed in the paragraph. It also provides tips for identifying topic sentences to better understand passages in IELTS reading tests. A good topic sentence contains the topic and a controlling idea to limit the scope for the paragraph.

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Sanjeeb Kafle
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51 views1 page

Understanding Paragraph Structure

This document discusses the structure of paragraphs and identifying topic sentences. It explains that paragraphs should have a main idea developed by a topic sentence, supporting sentences, and concluding sentence. The topic sentence is usually the first sentence and communicates the subject that will be discussed in the paragraph. It also provides tips for identifying topic sentences to better understand passages in IELTS reading tests. A good topic sentence contains the topic and a controlling idea to limit the scope for the paragraph.

Uploaded by

Sanjeeb Kafle
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

STUDY NOTES EPISODE 16: DVT

PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE


Page 1 of 1

When writing and assembling your ideas, it
is important to structure them in a logical
and organised manner. This is done in
English using a series of paragraphs.

These study notes focus on the structure of
a paragraph, and identifying a good topic
sentence.

THE PARAGRAPH

A paragraph has a structure. It contains a
group of sentences that develops one main
idea or a topic, which is the subject of the
paragraph.

There are three parts to a paragraph:
topic sentence
supporting sentences +
developing sentences
(concluding sentence)

THE TOPIC SENTENCE

The topic sentence, which is the most
general statement, communicates the subject of the paragraph. It is usually the first
sentence of the paragraph, and the most important, because it controls the ideas in
the sentences that follow.
STUDY TIPS

In the Reading module of the
IELTS Test, it is important to
identify the topic sentences in order
to get a better understanding of the
reading passages. This is helpful
when scanning a passage for
general or specific information
because it can pinpoint on which
paragraph to focus for answers.

The topic sentence is usually the
first sentence of the paragraph,
especially in composing essays.
This, however, is not fixed. If the
topic sentence is not the first
sentence of the paragraph, check
the second and last sentences of
the paragraph.

Remember when matching
paragraphs with headings in the
Reading test, a heading is similar to
a topic sentence.

A good topic sentence contains the topic of the paragraph, and an idea, opinion or
attitude about the topic. The idea, opinion or attitude is called the controlling idea
because it limits the topic to a specific subject that will be developed in the
paragraph.

For example:
Small cars are economical to maintain.
topic controlling idea

When writing a topic sentence, it is important that the topic sentence is not too
narrow or too broad. For example,
Small cars use less fuel.

This statement is too narrow to develop into a paragraph because it restricts the
discussion to fuel alone.
Small cars are excellent.

This statement is too broad to develop into a single paragraph because it is vague
and could focus on many different subject areas.

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