(Analyzing this paragraph before introduce the definition )
A supporting sentence is a sentence with information that supports a main idea or
claim. Supporting sentences give a reader details to understand the main idea, or
evidence to show why a claim is true or correct. You will find supporting sentences
in the middle of a paragraph – after the topic sentence, and before a concluding
sentence or transition.
Each of these sentences supports the main idea by giving the reader information or
context to help understand the writer’s focus. Moreover your paragraphs will
sound more unified, coherent, and adequately developed, while flowing from one
to the next as smoothly as possible if you know the accurate way to develop the
supporting sentences. Remember, the topic sentence is what you are trying to
express, and the supporting sentences are there to be sure that the reader
understands your message. So, supporting sentences depend on your topic.
There is 3 kind of supporting sentences, that are definitions, explanations, and
examples. But note that a writer would not use all three of these supporting
sentences together. Choosing the best supporting sentence depends on what the
writer is trying to achieve in the paragraph.
Supporting definition
A definitional supporting sentence provides definitions of certain key terms related
to the discussed topic.
Firstly, a definitional supporting sentence brings clarity to the keywords in the
topic sentence so that readers would have a general understanding of the main idea.
Secondly, definition supporting sentences can expand the spectrum of meanings of
key terms, hence readers could obtain a deeper insight into the main topic.
However, those complex definitions of keywords must be relevant to the topic
sentence.
There are several ways to provide a supporting definition:
Using a dictionary is the easiest way to give definitions in a supporting sentence
because all dictionaries are lexical, which shows how native speakers would
employ the words in various contexts.
Example: Feminism is the belief in and advocacy of the political, economic, and
social equality of the sexes expressed especially through organized activity on
behalf of women's rights and interests
Exemplifying the terms by using examples to illustrate the meanings of words is
also an effective alternative as people are often related to stories and vivid images.
This is a great option for clarifying abstract concepts in writing.
Example: Photosynthesis is the process in which green plants use sunlight to make
their food.
Phan Thị Hảo
If we look at the public band descriptors, we can see that the examiner wants you to
respond to the question with ‘relevant, extended, and supported ideas.’ This means that
your ideas must actually relate, or be linked, specifically to the question and then you
have to explain what your ideas mean and then support them with examples. So it can be
said that explaining your ideas is one of the most important parts of determining your
score.
Explaining ideas is a problem for most students, not because they can’t do it, but because
they don’t see the point in doing it. They think that the examiner must be an educated
person and that explaining simple ideas to them is wasting their time.
You should never assume this and instead, please assume that the reader has no
knowledge of this subject at all and you need to explain what you mean in order for
them to understand.
There are certain phrases we can use to explain our ideas such as:
That is to say…. (linking)
In other words… (linking)
This is because… (giving reasons)
The reason is…. (giving reasons)
As a result…. (describing result)
As a consequence…. (describing result)
Therefore…. (describing result)
Use one of these phrases to explain what your topic sentence means, the reason why,
or the result of your topic sentence. You don’t need to do all three, just one. Make sure
that anyone with no knowledge of the subject can understand what your main point is.
Example 1– Women should be allocated a certain percentage of roles, because to not do
so discriminates against them because of their gender. As a result, women will be denied
jobs, not because of their intellect or skill, but simply because of their sex.
Example 2– Females should be given a bigger share of jobs because women currently
outperform males in most university subjects. That is to say, those young women are just
as qualified as men, if not more, and should, therefore, be given at least an equal share in
the job market.
The last point I will make about explanations is they should relate specifically to explain
how the idea answers the question.
Make sure you read the question again before you write an explanation idea.
Nguyễn Thị Ngân
Supporting example: play the role of proving, clarifying the previous main idea and
making your paragraph much easier to understand.
Examples are perhaps the easiest kind of supporting detail to use because you can often
take examples from your own knowledge and experience. You don't have to search the
library or the Internet for supporting material. Furthermore, examples make your writing
lively and interesting, and your reader is more likely to remember your point if you
support it with a memorable example.
Words and phrases that introduce examples include for example, for instance, such as…
Note: (Before taking the example, we need to make sure that: )
* The example must relate to the previous development and main idea.
* Examples should be specific, not too general
Example:
-In recent years, with the development of technology, we can replace animal
experimentations with sophisticated computer programs that could provide more
accurate results. For instance, computer-based testing has been used to test the
safety of new drugs or cancer treatments and has proved effective.
Nguyễn Quế Phương (những chữ màu đỏ là cần cho lên pp )
Practice Exercise
Here is an effective topic sentence for a descriptive paragraph:
My most valuable possession is an old, slightly warped, blond guitar—the first
instrument that I ever taught myself how to play.
This sentence not only identifies the prized belonging ("an old, slightly warped, blond
guitar") but also suggests why the writer values it ("the first instrument that I ever taught
myself how to play"). Some of the sentences below support this topic sentence with specific
descriptive details. Others, however, offer information that would be inappropriate in a
unified descriptive paragraph. Read the sentences carefully, and then pick out only those
that support the topic sentence with precise descriptive details.
1. It is a Madeira folk guitar, all scuffed and scratched and finger-printed.
2. My grandparents gave it to me on my thirteenth birthday.
3. I think they bought it at the Music Lovers Shop in Rochester where they used to
live.
4. At the top is a bramble of copper-wound strings, each one hooked through the eye
of a silver tuning key.
5. Although copper strings are much harder on the fingers than nylon strings, they
sound much better than the nylon ones.
6. The strings are stretched down a long slim neck.
7. The frets on the neck are tarnished, and the wood has been worn down by years of
fingers pressing chords.
8. It was three months before I could even tune the guitar properly, and another few
months before I could manage the basic chords.
9. You have to be very patient when first learning how to play the guitar.
10. You should set aside a certain time each day for practice.
11. The body of the Madeira is shaped like an enormous yellow pear, one that has been
slightly damaged in shipping.
12. A guitar can be awkward to hold, particularly if it seems bigger than you are, but
you need to learn how to hold it properly if you're ever going to play it right.
13. I usually play sitting down because it's more comfortable that way.
14. The blond wood has been chipped and gouged to gray, particularly where the pick
guard fell off years ago.
15. I have a Gibson now and hardly ever play the Madeira any more.
Suggested Answers
The following sentences support the topic sentence with precise descriptive details:
1. It is a Madeira folk guitar, all scuffed and scratched and finger-printed.
4. At the top is a bramble of copper-wound strings, each one hooked through the eye of a
silver tuning key.
6. The strings are stretched down a long slim neck.
7. The frets on the neck are tarnished, and the wood has been worn
down by years of fingers pressing chords.
11. The body of the Madeira is shaped like an enormous yellow pear, one
that has been slightly damaged in shipping.
14. The blond wood has been chipped and gouged to gray, particularly
where the pick guard fell off years ago.