Study Guide

Chapter 5 – Locating Main Ideas

1. The topic of a paragraph is the _________________.

2. The best clue to use in identifying the topic of a paragraph is ________________.

3. Writers use transitions in a paragraph to __________________________.

4. The most important point a paragraph makes is called the _________________.

5. The best way to find the topic of a paragraph is to __________________.

6. T or F - The topic sentence is the most general sentence in the paragraph.

7. T or F – The topic sentence always comes first.

8. T or F – The topic sentence must be broad enough to include all the other ideas in the
paragraph.

9. T or F – Writers may put the topic sentence at the beginning and the end of a paragraph to
emphasize the main point.

10. Of the following statements, the most general one is:

___Community service is an alternative to jail time.
___Instead of imprisonment, first-time offenders may receive alternative sentences.
___Some offenders are sentenced to boot camps.
___Offenders may be sentenced to probation with supervision.

Study Guide
Chapter 6 – Identifying Supporting Details and Transitions

1. Supporting details are _________________________.

2. Supporting details that directly explain the main idea of a paragraph are called
______________.

3. Minor details may

a.
b.
c.

4. The details in a paragraph are intended to prove or explain the __________.

5. Transitions are _________________.

6. Transitions __________ the reader from _________________.

7. The type of transition indicated by the phrase “on the other hand” is called
______________.
8. Transitions may be used for different reasons.
a.
b.
c.

9. The type of transition indicated by the phrase “such as” is called ___________.

10. The four essential ingredients of a paragraph are

a.
b.
c.
d.

11. If a paragraph does not state the main idea in a sentence (topic sentence), the main
idea is said to be ____________.