As miss Zu asked us to complete our BEL260 file at the previous class, so today miss Zu check for our file one by one but she feel upset with our class as most of us does not completed the file.After that, we learned how to find main ideas and topic sentence.
MAIN IDEAS
l The main idea sentence of a paragraph tells what the paragraph is about. The other sentences are details.
l In finding the main idea, ask yourself these:
– What idea is common to most of the text?
– What is the idea that relates the parts to the whole?
– What opinion do all the parts support?
Examples :
1. There are many uses for this great product. Some mix it with chocolate to make cake icing. It is the main ingredient in some milkshake mixes. It will also kill rats in small amounts.
- The first sentence introduces the main idea and the other sentences support and give the many uses for the product.
2. The movie Apollo 13 was a blockbuster for the summer of 1995.
It is an exciting story about space exploration. In the movie, the stronauts
get in trouble while they are trying to return to Earth. People in the audience
are on the edge of their seats waiting to see what happens. What makes it even
more exciting is that it is a true story.
In this paragraph:
· the topic is the movie Apollo 13
· the main idea is in the first sentence: Apollo 13 was a blockbuster for the summer of 1995
TOPIC SENTENCES
1. The topic sentence is usually first, but could be in any position in the paragraph. 2. A topic is usually more "general" than the other sentences, that is, it talks about many things and looks at the big picture. Sometimes it refers to more that one thing. Plurals and the words "many", "numerous", or "several" often signal a topic sentence.
3. Detail sentences are usually more "specific" than the topic, that is, they usually talk about one single or small part or side of an idea. Also, the words "for example", "i.e.", "that is", "first", "second", "third", etc., and "finally" often signal a detail.
4. Most of the detail sentences support, give examples, prove, talk about, or point toward the topic in some way.
EXAMPLES :
1. A topic sentence can sometimes be found as the first and the last sentences in a paragraph
One can avoid sleep problems by following a few simple guidelines. First, don’t drink alcoholic beverages or drinks with caffeine before bedtime. Next, do not exercise within three hours of bedtime. Finally, plan a sleep routine. Every day, go to bed at the same time and get up at the same time. If you follow these guidelines, you will be able to avoid problems with sleeping.
2. A topic sentence can appear at the end of a paragraph (as a summary or a conclusion)
To avoid sleep problems, you should not drink alcoholic beverages or drinks with caffeine before bedtime. Another way to avoid sleep problems is to not exercise within three hours of bedtime. A final way to prevent sleep problems is to plan a sleep routine. Every day, go to bed at the same time and get up at the same time. As can be seen, sleep problems can be avoided by following the above simple guidelines
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