Hassiba Ben Bouali University of Chlef Mr: Hamerlain Djamel Eddine Abdelkader

Faculty of Foreign Languages

Department of English
1st Year Written-Expression Students

Chapter II: Explaining the Topic and

Supporting Sentences

Objectives: After dealing with this chapter, students will learn to:

 Improve the way they brainstorm ideas and draft more

intuitively.
 Identify topic sentences and understand controlling ideas.
 Learn more about transition words.
 Understand the role of supporting and concluding sentences
and use them in writing.

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Hassiba Ben Bouali University of Chlef Mr: Hamerlain Djamel Eddine Abdelkader
Faculty of Foreign Languages
Department of English
1st Year Written-Expression Students

Introduction:

Let us imagine you have been asked to write a paragraph about

‘drought in Algeria’.

The very first step you have to start with is doing some brainstorming.

But what does it mean?

Brainstorming:

When you brainstorm your project, you use and refresh your
memory by gathering all kinds of information that are related to your
subject. This precious asset will be quite useful for you when you will
start your drafting. The more you know about the main topic, the
bigger your lexical field will be.

To put it differently, brainstorming is similar to preparing a

construction plan in the sense that this plan will allow us to move
onwards in our work. In some cases, additional reading on the main
topic is advised. You can optimise your brainstorming by avoiding
negative thinking and focusing on the writing challenge itself.

It does not matter if you think of using others’ concepts (not

referring to plagiarism) as long as your writing requires that. Your
brainstorming can only add quality to your writing experience, for all
those randomly noted details will build your lines of thought and help
you develop your arguing points or simply, your main idea.

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Hassiba Ben Bouali University of Chlef Mr: Hamerlain Djamel Eddine Abdelkader
Faculty of Foreign Languages
Department of English
1st Year Written-Expression Students

Naturally, the right conditions such as silence/quietness and time

have to be provided to concentrate on your reasoning efforts before
writing. No authentic innovation in writing can be achieved without
brainstorming.

Remember:

These are random ideas helping you to build a precise subject, not
the other way around!

Again, we have to insist on the fact that Brainstorming is an

individual mental work and one of the best ways to optimise it is to
prioritise words that belong to the same lexical category or field, as
this will help you stay focused on the unification of your ideas. Hence,
it is primordial to set lexical boundaries to which you stick while
drafting.

Choose your title and Start Drafting:

After identifying the topic and chosen an adequate title and topic
sentence, students may now want to start exploring general ideas that
are directly linked to the subject they are discussing. If they choose to
recommend something or seek to explain a given issue, they need to
provide vivid examples to better illustrate what they are trying to
explain or portray.

Their thoughts HAVE to be clear for this can be noticed by the reader
who, after all; needs to discover a perfectly unified text that takes
them straight to the point. To that end, experiences, random examples
or even quotes may be of a great help for the trainees. Moreover,

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Hassiba Ben Bouali University of Chlef Mr: Hamerlain Djamel Eddine Abdelkader
Faculty of Foreign Languages
Department of English
1st Year Written-Expression Students

depending on the kind of paragraphs, these supporting sentences

might include causes and consequences, or some common beliefs.

Note:

* The topic is the main idea or concept that is discussed/explored

in your paragraph.

* The controlling idea adds more information on the topic to

target a meaning or to enclose the latter.

When both are clearly written, the reader can easily figure out the
message you are trying to convey.

Now, here are some topic sentence samples:

o My friend reached his goals when he started working

hard.
o Our environment is under constant threat because of
man's actions.
o Travelling can be quite rewarding for young people.

As you can see in the examples above, these topic sentences already
introduction
give us an insight on what is coming next. They purely build your basic
introduction

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Hassiba Ben Bouali University of Chlef Mr: Hamerlain Djamel Eddine Abdelkader
Faculty of Foreign Languages
Department of English
1st Year Written-Expression Students

More on the Topic Sentence:

In order to write a well-written paragraph, you need to bet on the most

appropriate topic sentence; the latter has to carry a clear controlling idea.
The topic sentence has many crucial functions because it starts, supports
your paragraph’s main statement. It is the basic starting point for your short
paragraph.

Moreover, its main role is unifying the content of your writing in the sense
that it determines and orients your sentences’ order. To express it
differently, it is the element that sets your paragraph’s perspective. Those
who will read your paragraph will predictably focus on your very first
sentences and this is the reason why it is most recommended to put your
topic sentence at the beginning of your paragraph.

Exceptionally, you can avoid using it in case your paragraph narrates a story
or an event. Your paragraph should then start with an introduction and
contain a body (the development of your controlling idea); it must end
with a conclusion. In fact, it is the structure of your paragraph that indicates
whether it is a narrative, descriptive or a comparative one. It is crucial to
focus on each part of your paragraph, as they are all intermingled and they
are here to adequately transmit your message to the reader.
Understanding the Controlling Idea:

Before focusing on the controlling idea, you have to identify the

subject and nouns you find in the topic sentence. Remember that the

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Hassiba Ben Bouali University of Chlef Mr: Hamerlain Djamel Eddine Abdelkader
Faculty of Foreign Languages
Department of English
1st Year Written-Expression Students

The subject of the topic sentence is generally its topic.

Consider the following example:

The rollercoaster is one of my favourite amusements.

Here, “The rollercoaster” is the subject and thus, topic of our

sentence. The controlling idea is: “is one of my favourite
amusements”. Identifying the controlling idea is often obvious
because as we have already mentioned, it adds meaning to the subject
of the topic sentence. The controlling idea could be an idea or a
common belief and its role is to guide the development of your
paragraph. After all, it is part of the topic sentence.

Before moving on to the supporting sentences, let us mention

coherence. Indeed, while writing your paragraph, you will feel an
urge to shape your thoughts correctly and give them a respectable
order. Coherence basically means that each sentence you write while
developing your topic has to relate in meaning to the topic sentence.
Everything has to be taken into consideration because each of your
sentences has to flow perfectly without any disruption in meaning.

Focus on unity in ideas and sense!

In your paragraph, coherence will only be noticed by the reader if

you respect clarity, unity and non redundancy. Your sentences have to
be linked to each other in meaning and even in structure, when
needed. Coherence has nothing to do with the length of your

paragraph; in general, avoid writing too many long and “useless”

sentences. Your sentences have to bind the different ideas that end up

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Hassiba Ben Bouali University of Chlef Mr: Hamerlain Djamel Eddine Abdelkader
Faculty of Foreign Languages
Department of English
1st Year Written-Expression Students

related in meaning, in your normal sized paragraph. If you want to

express a given idea, show more consistency in it by choosing the
appropriate verb tenses etc. Do not confuse the reader with
inconsistency, especially if you are writing about a historical event
since your paragraph would be absolutely pointless in case you do not
respect a precise chronological order.

Think and write generously by using enough phrases and transition

words between sentences. Their usage genuinely guarantees a direct
link in meaning between your sentences; this makes reading more
enjoyable.

Transition words:

When writing a paragraph, you start shaping your thoughts through

various words and expressions and as we have mentioned earlier,
these obey some accurate grammatical rules. Transition words are
here to allow you have a nicer flow of thoughts via the use of words
expressing comparison, opposition, addition and illustrations through
examples.

Here are some quite useful transition words:

(And, besides, too, again, also, further, moreover, equally

important, first, second, furthermore, but, in addition, next, in
spite of, in the first place, still, nevertheless, for instance, in fact,
on the other hand, however, at the same time, for example,
therefore, even though, until, to illustrate, as long as, in the same
manner, in summary, that is, likewise, specifically, although,
similarly, to sum up, but, and yet, in other words, immediately,
after, despite, yet, in contrast, on the contrary, as, though, all in

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Hassiba Ben Bouali University of Chlef Mr: Hamerlain Djamel Eddine Abdelkader
Faculty of Foreign Languages
Department of English
1st Year Written-Expression Students

all, finally, in short, in conclusion, that is, on the whole, afterward,

as soon as, accordingly, because, before, formerly, meanwhile,
thus, then, as a result, at last, consequently, nearby, thereafter,
during etc.

All these transition words contribute to enrich your paragraph in a

smart way, as they explicitly direct the meaning you want to give to
your paragraph or just a part of it.

Here is an example of a transition word expressing opposition in a

sentence:

Politicians tried their best to pass that useless law. However, it was
harshly rejected by the people.

As you can see, this sentence conveys a clear meaning which is

individuals (in this case politicians), wanted to apply a new law. The
word however is used here to insist on the opposition people have
shown or expressed towards the proposition of the law in question.

Here is an example of a transition word that expresses

consequence or an aftermath: (aftermath expresses negativity in
result):

The old woman forgot to turn off the tap and as a result, there was
plenty of water on the stairs.

In this example, the use of the transition word as a result is more

than obvious, since the flooded stairs were the direct consequence of

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Hassiba Ben Bouali University of Chlef Mr: Hamerlain Djamel Eddine Abdelkader
Faculty of Foreign Languages
Department of English
1st Year Written-Expression Students

the old lady forgetting to turn off the tap, before leaving her house for
the weekend, let us suppose.

Now, consider the following sample:

It is a quite expensive car; a single front light costs twice as much as a

standard one, for instance.

The transition word for instance is used to express the relatedness of

the first and the second sentence.

A quick reminder:

In short, do not hesitate to use the transition words because they

are very useful to link sentences, ideas and paragraphs. They can
express similarity, comparison, example, cause and effect, time,
conclusion, contrast, emphasis, clarification, enumeration or
addition.

The Supporting Sentences

In order to have a coherent paragraph, students have to reinforce

their topic sentence through the addition of quite useful supporting
sentences. Indeed, these support and guide their writing towards the
unification of the whole paragraph, as they evolve around the same
idea and hence, the same topic. The supporting sentences reinforce
the meaning of your writing via adding more causes, facts and
illustrations for the sake of helping you remain on the same line of
thoughts you have started your drafting with. In addition, quotations

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Hassiba Ben Bouali University of Chlef Mr: Hamerlain Djamel Eddine Abdelkader
Faculty of Foreign Languages
Department of English
1st Year Written-Expression Students

can be of a great help in expressing more of the ideas that are linked to
the paragraph. Nevertheless, these supporting sentences may vary
according to the type of paragraph students may write. In fact, the
more scientific a paragraph may be, the more data and statistics you
have. Finally, the fact of implementing introductory phrases and other
transitional words like (first, second, then, after that, for instance)
helps you organise your paragraph in terms of chronology, particularly
when drafting a narrative paragraph for example.

Read the following paragraph and focus on the supporting

sentences:

A Nice Hobby

Cycling is a quite enjoyable physical activity as it consists in using

your legs to push both your bike and bodyweight on different types of
grounds. It is a healthy and entertaining practice that makes you feel free
from inertia and helps you let the steam off. Firstly, cycling is eco-
friendly for it is a means of transport that leaves no CO2 emissions.
Secondly, it encourages you to develop more sport abilities as it
develops you stamina, while it enhances your breathing. More
importantly, the fact of taking your bike outdoors and going for a ride
near the beach or the mountain for example prompts you to find better
looking spots and inviting other friends who are potentially interested in
cycling. In conclusion, if you are not cycling yet, and you intend to feel
better, you should start cycling as soon as possible.

After reading this paragraph, you quickly understand that in this

paragraph, I am writing about cycling as a sport’s activity. As it has
been mentioned above, the supporting sentences are the ones which

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Hassiba Ben Bouali University of Chlef Mr: Hamerlain Djamel Eddine Abdelkader
Faculty of Foreign Languages
Department of English
1st Year Written-Expression Students

contribute to complete our paragraph correctly and we have also

explained that in order for them to be fully useful, they have to include
transition words so as to reinforce meaning. To put it differently, the
whole body of your paragraph is built thanks to these supporting
sentences.

Here are our supporting sentences:

1- It is a healthy and entertaining practice that makes you feel free

from inertia and helps you let the steam off.
2- Firstly, cycling is eco-friendly for it is a means of transport that
leaves no CO2 emissions.
3- Secondly, it encourages you to develop more sport abilities as it
develops you stamina, while it enhances your breathing.
4- More importantly, the fact of taking your bike outdoors and
going for a ride near the beach or the mountain for example
prompts you to find better looking spots and inviting other
friends who are potentially interested in cycling.

Note:

You cannot envisage writing any paragraph without using

supporting sentences. However, you really need to learn how to
spot them, when reading any paragraph. Do not forget that
supporting sentences come straight after the introduction and that
they are related through the topic of the paragraph. You are not
doing your reader a favour when giving them enough details, for
they need more information/facts to understand your point. Your
Paragraph encompasses ideas that you have to defend in order to
prove the relevance of your data. Only through these crucial
points, you will produce a meaningful paragraph.

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Hassiba Ben Bouali University of Chlef Mr: Hamerlain Djamel Eddine Abdelkader
Faculty of Foreign Languages
Department of English
1st Year Written-Expression Students

Before developing your paragraph any further, ask yourself the

right questions:

 What is the purpose of my paragraph?

 Are my ideas well/clearly expressed?
 Does my writing style sound repetitive?

The Concluding Sentence:

Now that you are about to finish drafting your paragraph, you have
to choose the appropriate manner to sum up your paragraph’s topic,
while concluding it.

It is now time to conclude your paragraph by adding a concluding

sentence. Please, remember that the concluding sentence has to
mention the same idea as the one which is expressed in the topic
sentence. The main difference is that the conclusion conveys that
same message otherwise. Concluding sentences help you also keep
your paragraph perfectly unified. Moreover, it has to be noted that
some paragraphs do not feature a concluding sentence and when they
have one, they have particular characteristics.

The concluding sentences have a major role in writing:

 They gather the main information that is transmitted by the

controlling idea via paraphrasing or summarising it.
 Mentioning some key words that remind us the topic sentence.
 They can eventually link sentences through the use of transition
words such as: finally, therefore, hence, as a result etc.
 They naturally mark the end of words’ flow in your paragraph.

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Hassiba Ben Bouali University of Chlef Mr: Hamerlain Djamel Eddine Abdelkader
Faculty of Foreign Languages
Department of English
1st Year Written-Expression Students

Proofreading and revising:

The last task you have to do before finishing writing your

paragraph is proofreading all what you have written, in order to revise
your work thoroughly. Indeed, before submitting your paragraph to
your teacher, you ought to read what you have written twice or more
and loud if that is necessary for you to check for punctuation or
spelling mistakes.

Above all, your paragraph must make sense; it has to be tangible,

i.e. logical. When proofreading again and again, you will be asking
yourself the right questions to find out whether your paragraph meets
some requirements such as the support of the very first statement of
your topic sentence, the relevance of meaning and is it considered as
an academic writing.

It is primordial to proofread your work because this will reinforce

your reading comprehension in the sense that you will learn to correct
YOUR own mistakes and hence, avoid repeating them in the future.
Try to read it in an unbiased way so that you can judge your work as
correct or fake and tedious. Indeed, you cannot separate writing from
reading, for they are more than complementary. Your reader has to
discover a myriad of words and sentences including expressive
metaphors that can stimulate their reasoning and imagination,
depending of course on the very nature of your paragraph.

When reading your work, we, as readers want to meet differently

written sentences. By differently, we refer to the length of your
sentences because sometimes, you have to write quite small sentence,
but when explaining something in particular, your sentences have to
be medium to long in size. Similarly to music, writing often is a sheer
matter of rhythm and sonority. Indeed, written expression is the visual
transmission of your thoughts and reading and it is all supposed to be

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Hassiba Ben Bouali University of Chlef Mr: Hamerlain Djamel Eddine Abdelkader
Faculty of Foreign Languages
Department of English
1st Year Written-Expression Students

done harmoniously. Again, to achieve a successful writing, you need

to opt for diversified words and expressions making reading almost
effortless and enjoyable. Once you have revised each piece of your
writing, make sure your paragraph does not sound uncouthly or
purposelessly written. Forget about your other concerns and keep
focused on your topic while reading your paragraph again, maybe you
will need to add more details or a few more supporting sentences.

Conclusion:
In this chapter, we have been focusing on brainstorming as an
essential intellectual activity; as this is as well viewed like the
stepping stone of writing. We naturally had to tackle the topic
sentence issue in order to better fathom the meaning of the controlling
idea; they are always bound together. An additional explication has
been given about the transition words, for such words are the main
elements of which your paragraph’s body is composed of. This
chapter evidently helps our 1st year English students to learn more on
the different tips of writing a good paragraph through illustrating the
manner a supporting sentence should be written. A brief explanation
on concluding sentences has also been added in order to make it even
clearer to our 1st year English students.

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