Topic Sentences and Paraphrasing

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Warm up - review

□In your own words, describe a topic sentence.

□Where is the topic sentence usually found?□It is important that a topic be neither too

broad (wide) nor too narrow. Why is this?□Using one of your textbooks (or any

textbook), find the topic sentence in a paragraph.

Why is it considered an ineffective paragraph?

My best friend has many different and interesting hobbies, such as skiing, cooking and playing the piano, and she is very good at all of these activities. For example, she has played the piano for 10 years and has won 3 piano competitions. She also likes to spend time travelling and has been to many different countries in the world. She grew up speaking Spanish and English, but now she can also speak French and Italian. I like my best friend a lot and I wish I could play the piano and speak Spanish as well!

What is the topic sentence of this paragraph?

Choose the sentence that would make the best topic sentence

_________________________________________________________. When Ken wanted to enter a good university, he studied hard to pass the examination. The first time he took the exam he did not do well, and he felt very discouraged. But he knew he wanted to study at that university, so he studied more. The next year, he tried taking the exam again. The second time, he did very well, and now he is studying engineering. I think Ken is a good role model for me, and he has taught me that never giving up is the best way to succeed.

1. One of my closest friends, named Ken, is a person I like and trust.

2. My friend Ken is a very successful student3. I admire my friend Ken because he doesn’t give up.

Write a topic sentence for 4 of these topics

□A favourite place to relax.□A grandparent.□A pet I have known.□A favourite food to eat.□How to save money for the future.□Healthy Korean foods.

Basic paraphrasing□ Practice describing basic words. Use words everyone

will know, such as apple, radio, laugh, walk, angry, etc. After describing five or ten words each student should write a word on a slip of paper and give it to another person who must then describe it to the rest of the class.

□ While students are describing words to the whole class, they may run into some problems. Show them how to work through them by giving them tips on how to paraphrase successfully. You can come up with ideas of your own, but here are some ideas:

- Describe a situation related to that word, including enough details to make the word clear.

- Give a specific example, including when, where or with whom the word is used.

- Use the opposite word if it helps.

Read the following paragraphs. Paraphrase. Find the topic sentences.

Example: Concluding paragraph: Schools should be for education. At present, they are only tangentially so. They have attempted to serve an all-encompassing social function, trying to be all things to all people. In the process they have failed miserably at what they were originally formed to accomplish.

Paraphrase: The writer concludes his essay by insisting that schools have failed to in their primary duty of education because they try to fill multiple social functions.

So That Nobody Has To Go To School If They Don't Want To by Roger Sipher

Example: A decline in standardized test scores is but the most recent indicator that American education is in trouble. One reason for the crisis is that present mandatory-attendance laws force many to attend school who have no wish to be there. Such children have little desire to learn and are so antagonistic to school that neither they nor more highly motivated students receive the quality education that is the birthright of every American. The solution to this problem is simple: Abolish compulsory-attendance laws and allow only those who are committed to getting an education to attend.

Paraphrasing 1

Topic Sentence:_______________________________________________________

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Paraphrase:_______________________________________________________

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