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A topic sentence tells about the main idea of a paragraph. It is usually found at the beginning of
a paragraph. In this unit, you will learn:
Discuss the Preview Questions with your classmates. Then read the opinion paragraph and answer the
questions that follow.
Preview Questions
2. Can you tell someone how to drive a car? Why is it difficult to explain?
Exam p le Paragraph 1 4
There are many benefits to driving a car with a manual a benefit: a good point; an
advantage
transmission. First of all, a car with a manual transmission uses
manual: by hand
less gas than a car with an automatic transmission. A typical a transmission: a device in a
vehicle that transfers power
economy car can get up to 35 miles per gallon, but an automatic
from the engine to the car to
car averages 28. In addition to better gas mileage, a manual enable it to move
second gear and have someone push the car until it gains enough up to: not more than, that
amount or lower
speed. The driver then releases the clutch quickly, and the car
a clutch: the left pedal in a
should start. Unfortunately, starting a car this way is impossible manual transmission car that
allows shifting of gears
with an automatic transmission. Finally, people with manual
a gear: the part of a machine that
transmissions say that they have much more control of their cars. has teeth or grooves around the
edge and turns another part of
For example, if the brakes suddenly stop working on this type the same machine
of car, the driver can shift to a lower gear to slow the car down. to release: to let go, allow to
escape
In contrast, people who drive automatic transmission cars have
a brake: the device that stops a
vehicle
to depend on the automatic system. If something malfunctions,
to sh ift: to change or move the
drivers have no control of their vehicles. While automatic cars are gears in a car
more convenient, manual transmission cars certainly offer many to malfunction: to stop working,
usually suddenly
more advantages.
while: although
Post-Reading
1 . Which one of these ideas tells the purpose of this paragraph? Put a check mark ./ next to the correct
answer.
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3. A good paragraph has a very clear organization that you must learn. Underline the three sentences
that introduce the three benefits of a manual transmission.
4. What is the purpose of the sentence that comes immediately after each of your three underlined
sentences?
5. The following expressions are important to the organization of the paragraph. What does each one
mean? What is the purpose of each expression?
a. first of all
b. in addition to
c. finally
What do you already know about topic sentences? Read each set of sentences. Write the general topic
that the sentences share. Then put a check mark ./ on the line next to the best topic sentence. Be
prepared to explain your answers.
50 U N IT 3 • To p i c S e nten ces
4. General Topic: __
__________________________________________________________
______
____ Monolingual dictionaries have only one language, but bilingual dictionaries have two
languages.
__ Dictionaries that have two languages, such as French and English, are called bilingual
dictionaries.
5. General Topic: __
__________________________________________________________
______
6. General Topic: __
____________________
______
______________________________________
How did you decide which sentences were the best topic sentences? What were you looking for?
Discuss your ideas with your classmates.
When you read the topic sentence, you know what to expect in the paragraph.
For example, a bad topic sentence would be, "Libraries have books:' The information in this
sentence is true, but it is a fact and is not a good choice for a topic sentence.
"Tea is delicious" is not a good topic sentence because the information in the sentence is too
general. The reader does not know what to expect in the paragraph. If you want to write a paragraph
about tea, make your topic sentence more specific, such as "Green tea has many health benefits:'
" This dictionary contains more than 42,000 words" limits the topic too much--there is nothing
else for the writer to say.
It includes words or phrases that help guide the flow of ideas in the paragraph. The controlling
idea focuses the content of the following sentences.
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Controlling Ideas
Here are some example topic sentences with controlling ideas. The controlling ideas have been
underlined.
1 . Many la nguage stu dents prefer b i l i n g u a l d i ctiona ries to monol i ngual d i ctiona ries.
Explanation: The reader expects the paragraph to explain why this statement is true.
Explanation: The reader expects the paragraph to give reasons and examples of why winter is the
best season for children.
Explanation: The reader expects the paragraph to include information about various groups of
people who make up the population of Los Angeles.
Explanation: The reader expects the paragraph to give a variety of information about soccer and
why it is popular around the world.