Module 1 Lesson 1: Structure of a Paragraph PDF

Module 1: Lesson 1: STRUCTURE OF A PARAGRAPH – THE TOPIC SENTENCE At the end of this lesson, you should be able to: 1 distinguish a topic from a topic sentence, and a topic sentence from a thesis statement; 2 identify the topic sentence, the major, and minor...

Module 1: Lesson 1: STRUCTURE OF A PARAGRAPH – THE TOPIC SENTENCE At the end of this lesson, you should be able to: 1 distinguish a topic from a topic sentence, and a topic sentence from a thesis statement; 2 identify the topic sentence, the major, and minor supporting details; 3 organize graphically the structure of the given paragraphs; and 4 formulate an implied topic sentence. ACTIVITY  DIRECTIONS Sequence the following sentences to form a logical and meaningful paragraph. Write the numbers 1-7 on the blank space with each number corresponding to the ascending order (1 being the first sentence of the paragraph, 2 being the next sentence, up to seven being the last and final sentence of the paragraph). ____ Second, avoid social media. ____ This spot should be quiet enough so that you can focus on your tasks or assignments. ____ Third, plug in break times. ____ There are a few things you can do so that you can develop the habit of studying independently. ____ Your mind and body need to reset from all the thinking and analyzing and reading. ____ First, find a good study spot. ____ It is best to keep your phone away from you and set it in silent mode so that you are not tempted to look at your phone every time it dings. A paragraph is: -- composed of sentences which To enrich the main Major support sentences contribute to one reinforce the idea of the main idea. idea or topic sentence, topic sentence while more information or minor support sentences -- main idea is details are added in reinforce the idea of the usually stated in what is called the major support sentence. a topic sentence. support sentences. Of course, not all -- essentially Support sentences paragraphs have minor support sentences. captures what may either be major What’s important is that the paragraph is support sentences or there are major support about. minor support sentences that support sentences. the topic sentence.  So that you can easily picture the structure of the paragraph you have sequenced, take a look at the graphic organizer below. In Paragraph Form: In the paragraph above, the topic sentence is explicitly stated. How is a topic sentence different from a topic?  A topic is the subject of the paragraph. You can tell it is the topic because the writer keeps going back to that person, TOPIC: object, concept, or theme. All the details in the paragraph revolve around this topic. When you can identify the topic of the paragraph, it will be easy to find the topic sentence.  A topic sentence is that one sentence in the paragraph that sums up what the writer wants to say about the topic. For example, the topic of the paragraph is “My Grandmother.” The topic sentence should assert TOPIC SENTENCE: something about the grandmother. For example: “My grandmother is a trailblazer in the field of Law.” The writer then supports that by narrating further how the grandmother became a trailblazer in the field of Law. The narrative becomes the support sentences.  Ideally, a topic sentence should be placed at the beginning of the paragraph. As a writer, it will keep you on track with your piece of writing. You can look up at the beginning sentence and reflect if your next sentences contribute to TOPIC SENTENCE: the idea in your topic sentence. However, a topic sentence may also be found somewhere middle of the paragraph or it may also be the last sentence of your paragraph. Let’s examine the example below: What do you think is the topic of the paragraph?  If you say “crying,” you are right. Notice how the writer mentions “crying” in almost all of the sentences. Of course, you can elaborate Let’s examine the on the topic by examining the aspect of “crying” the writer is trying to example below: write about. Clearly, the writer dwells specifically on the Important Functions of a Child’s Crying. Now what exactly does the writer want to assert about the functions of a child’s crying? The second sentence sums up what the writer wants to say about the topic: crying serves important functions for the child as well as for the parents. The topic sentence is found in the middle of the paragraph.  While some paragraphs may explicitly state the topic sentence, there are some that don’t. When a topic sentence is not explicitly stated, then a paragraph has an implied topic sentence. What you need to do as a reader is formulate the topic sentence. How do you do that? 1. Determine the topic of the paragraph. 2. If possible, make the topic of the paragraph part of the subject of your sentence. 3. Examine the support sentences of your paragraph and determine their purpose. Details are used for a variety of purposes such as giving examples, or reasons, describing the topic, explaining the topic, listing advantages or disadvantages, or ways to achieve something, or sequencing of events or the process of doing something. 4. Based on the details shared and the purpose of the details, write a topic sentence that generally sums up what the writer wants to say about the topic. Let’s look at the given example:  Do you notice that there isn’t a single sentence that fully captures the writer’s main point? Therefore, the topic sentence is implied. Since there is no stated topic sentence, you will have to formulate one.  Going through the tips, you start by identifying the topic. What is constantly repeated in the paragraph? In almost all the sentences, there is a constant reference to male and female managers /leaders. So now we have a subject for our sentence.  Then we look at the rest of the sentences. What are the support sentences saying about male and female managers? The support sentences seem to compare-contrast male and female leaders, but the details consistently support the idea that they are similar in many ways. So, the following are possible topic sentences: Female managers do not exhibit different behaviors than male managers. Female and male leaders exhibit similar behaviors. The thesis statement and the topic sentence are very much related to each other. Basically, the topic sentence develops the details in the thesis statement; if the thesis statement contains three details, then the paper will have three topic sentences. TOPIC Jogging QUESTION Why is jogging beneficial? THESIS Jogging is beneficial because it STATEMENT positively affects physical wellbeing and mental fitness. TOPIC Jogging positively impacts one’s SENTENCE 1 physical wellness by preventing hypertension and other diseases. TOPIC Another benefit of jogging is that it SENTENCE 2 maintains mental fitness. TOPIC Tagaytay City QUESTION Why is Tagaytay City considered an enthralling city of the South? THESIS Tagaytay City is an enthralling city of the South STATEMENT because of its beautiful landscape, delicious food, and amazing people. TOPIC Tagaytay City attracts tourists with its SENTENCE 1 magnificent landscape. TOPIC People go back to Tagaytay for its SENTENCE 2 delicious foods. TOPIC The warmth of the city’s amazing people is also SENTENCE 2 another reason why Tagaytay is alluring.  A thesis statement is the central idea of a multiple-paragraph composition. It is a one-sentence summary that guides, controls, and unifies ideas when writing a paper. In simple terms, all other ideas present in an essay revolve around the thesis statement.  A thesis statement… - should be written in a complete sentence with a clearly stated subject - should not be too narrow nor too broad, and it should at least contain two details - should not be awkward by stating the obvious like using sentences that begin with “I will tell you…” or “I will talk about…” - should have enumerated details with the same level of significance - should not state an absolute fact  A topic sentence… - should follow the basics already discussed in the thesis statement - should contain one detail which is related to one of the details in the thesis statement - should vary in structure across paragraphs - should be straightforward if the composition is just one paragraph Thank you