EXERCISES ON PARAGRAPH WRITING:

A) TOPIC SENTENCES
The topic sentence is the most important
sentence of a paragraph. It states the main
idea and introduces the reader to the topic.
 Choose the best topic sentence for each group of
supporting sentences. Write it on the line provided:
1)__________________________. I usually go skiing
every weekend in the winter even though it is
expensive. I love the feeling of flying down a mountain.
The views are beautiful from the top of a mountain
and along the trails. Even the danger of falling and
getting hurt can’t keep me away from the slopes on a
winter day.
a) Skiing is expensive.
b) Skiing is my favourite sport.
c) Skiing is dangerous.
2)________________________. North Americans send
cards for many occasions. They send cards to family
and friends on birthdays and holidays. They also send
thank-you cards; get well cards, graduation cards,
and congratulation cards. It is very common to buy
cards in stores and send them through the mail, but
turning on the computer and sending cards over the
Internet is also popular.
a) Sending cards is very popular in North America.
b) Birthday cards are the most popular kind of card.
c) It is important to send thank-you cards.
3)____________________________ . I enjoy
summer sports like water skiing and baseball.
The weather is usually sunny and hot, so I can
go to the beach almost every day. Gardening is
my hobby and I spend many summer days
working in my garden. Unfortunately, the days
pass too quickly in summer.
a) I like to garden in summer.
b) Summer is my favourite season.
c) Summer is too short.
4) ______________________________. First of
all, we need money to repair old roads and build
new roads. We also need more to pay teachers’
salaries and to pay for services such as trash
collection. Finally, more tax money is needed to
give financial help to the poor citizens of the
city. It is clear that the city will have serious
problems if taxes are not raised soon.
a) We should raise city taxes.
b) City taxes are too high.
c) City taxes pay for new roads.
5) ___________________________ . For example, a
person can have breakfast in New York, board an
airplane, and have dinner in Paris. A
businesswoman in London can instantly place an
order with a factory in Hong Kong by sending a fax.
Furthermore, a schoolboy in Tokyo can turn on a TV
and watch a baseball game being played in Los
Angeles.
a) Airplanes have changed our lives.
b) Advances in technology have made the world
seem smaller.
c) The fax machine was an important invention.
6)______________________________. One thing
you must consider is the quality of the university’s
educational program. You also need to think about
the university’s size and location. Finally, you must
be sure to consider the university’s tuition to make
sure you can afford to go to university there.
a) It is expensive to attend a university in the
United States.
b) There are several factors to consider when you
choose a university to attend.
c) You should consider getting a good education.
Write a topic sentence for each paragraph.
Make sure your topic sentence expresses the
main idea of the paragraph.
1)__________________________. It is always
sunny and warm. The beaches are gorgeous,
with soft white sand and beautiful water. There
are many fine restaurants in the Miami area,
and most of the hotels offer terrific
entertainment nightly. It’s no wonder that
Miami is my first choice for a vacation
destination.
2)_______________________________. He has
collected stamps and coins ever since he was a
child. He is very proud of his valuable
collections. Ali also enjoys painting and
drawing. Recently he has become interested in
gardening. Out of all his hobbies, Ali’s
favourite one is reading. He usually reads at
least one book every week. Ali keeps busy
with all of his hobbies.
3)_____________________________ . I can’t
wait to come home from school and eat the
delicious meals she has prepared. She is
famous for her desserts like peach pie and
chocolate soufflé. She is always experimenting
with new recipes and trying different
ingredients. No one in the world can cook the
way my mother does.
4)_____________________________. It never
starts in cold weather. The horn and the left
turn signal don’t work properly. Worst of all,
the radio only gets one station and the CD
player is completely broken. I wish I could get
a new car.
5)______________________________________
______. First and most importantly, the work
is very interesting. I learn new things every
day and I get to travel a lot. In addition, my
boss is very nice. She is always willing to help
me when I have a problem. I have also made
many new friends at my job. Last, but not
least, the salary is fantastic.
6)______________________________________
______________. To start things off, my plane
was six hours late. When I finally got to my
hotel, I was very disappointed. It was small
and dirty. On the third day, my wallet was
stolen, and I lost all my credit cards. It rained
every day except one, and on that day I got
terrible sunburn. All in all, it wasn’t a vacation
to remember.
B) SUPPORTING SENTENCES
The supporting sentences develop the main idea in
the topic sentence. They add details to the topic.
Read the following paragraphs and underline the
supporting sentences:
1) Use of the internet has grown very quickly. In 1983,
there were 562 computers connected to the
Internet. By the turn of the century, there were 72.3
million computers in 247 countries on-line. Experts
say that the Internet is now growing at a rate of
approximately 40 percent a year. As time goes on,
the Internet is becoming more and more popular.
2) There are many reasons I hate my apartment.
The plumbing doesn’t work properly and the
landlord refuses to fix it. I also have noisy
neighbours who keep me up all night.
Furthermore, there are so many bugs in my
apartment that I could start an insect
collection. I really hate living in my apartment.
3) Vegetables and fruits are an important part of a
healthy diet. First, fruits and vegetables are
packed with the vitamins and minerals you need
to keep your body functioning smoothly. In
addition, they give you the carbohydrates you
need for energy. Fruits and vegetables have lots
of fiber to help your digestive system work
properly. Finally, many scientists believe that the
nutrients in fruits and vegetables can help fight
diseases. If you eat a diet rich in fruits and
vegetables, you’ll be on the road to better health.
C) IRRELEVANT SENTENCES:
Every supporting sentence in a paragraph
must relate to the main idea stated in the
topic sentence. A sentence that does not
support the main idea does not belong in the
paragraph, thus such a sentence should be
omitted. When a sentence does not belong in
a paragraph, it is called an irrelevant sentence.
Example: The students in the class come from
many different party of the world. Some are
from European countries, such s France, Spain,
and Italy. Others are from Middle Eastern
countries like Saudi Arabia and Israel. Still
other students were born in Asian countries,
including Japan and Korea. Korean food is
delicious. The largest number of students is
from Latin American countries like Mexico,
Venezuela and Peru. The class is an interesting
mix of people from many different countries.
 There is one irrelevant sentence in each
paragraph that follows. Find that sentence and
cross it out:
1) There are several ways people can conserve
natural resources. One way is to turn lights off
and appliances when they are not in use. Another
way is to drive cars less. My favourite kind of car
is convertible. People can also insulate their
houses better. Finally, by reusing things like
bottles and plastic bags, people can reduce the
amount of waste. By practicing these simple
guidelines, we can save our natural resources.
2) Cats make wonderful house pets. They are
very loving and friendly. Cats are also clean.
They don’t eat much, so they are not
expensive. Unfortunately, some people are
allergic to their hair. Cats look beautiful and
they’re fun to have in your home.
3) The capital city of a country is usually a very
important city. The government offices are
located in the capital city and political leaders
usually live there nearby. There are many
different types of governments in the world.
The capital may also be the centre of culture.
There are often museums, libraries, and
universities in the capital. Finally, the capital
city can serve as a centre of trade, industry
and commerce, so it is often the financial
centre of the country.
4) The Japanese automobile industry uses
robots in many stages of its production
process. In fact, one large Japanese auto
factory uses robots in all of its production
stages. Some Japanese universities are
developing medical robots to detect certain
kinds of cancer. Another automobile factory in
Japan uses them to paint cars as they come off
the assembly line. Furthermore, most
Japanese factories use robots to weld the
parts of the finished car together.
D) CONCLUDING SENTENCES:
Some paragraphs end with a concluding
sentence. This sentence states the main idea
of the paragraph again using different words.
It summarizes the main points of the
paragraph, or makes a final comment on the
topic. Concluding sentences are not always
necessary. In fact, short paragraphs that are
part of longer pieces of writing often do not
have concluding sentences.
Write a concluding sentence for each paragraph:
1) There are many reasons why I like wearing a uniform
to school. First of all, it saves time. I don’t have to
spend time picking out my clothes every morning.
Wearing a uniform also saves money. It’s cheaper to
purchase a new uniform than to go out and buy lots of
school clothes. In addition, I don’t have the pressure of
keeping up with the latest styles. Most importantly,
wearing a school uniform gives me a sense that I
belong. I really think that it adds to the feeling of
school spirit and community.
_____________________________________________
.
2) There are many reasons why I am against
wearing a school uniform. For one thing, I
don’t like they style of the uniform. The navy
blazer and plaid skirt are too conservative for
me. Secondly, the uniform isn’t comfortable. I
prefer to wear baggy pants and a sweater
instead of a skirt and a jacket. Finally, I want
the freedom to express my individuality
through my style of dressing.
____________________________________.
3) Credit cards have a lot of advantages. First of
all, credit cards are convenient because you
don’t have to carry a lot of cash around. You
can buy the products and services you need
even if you do not have cash in your pocket. In
addition, credit cards are very helpful in
emergencies. Finally, you can become a better
money manager as you learn to use credit
cards responsibly.
______________________________________ .
End