Meeting 3

Finding Topics and

Guessing Meaning from Context
English Composition I
@diksitagaluh (2021)
01
Finding
Topics
Topic
When you want to understand the main idea of a paragraph,
you should begin finding the topic first.

To find the topic/subject, you should ask yourself a question:

“What is this about? What is the general idea?”

The details of a paragraph will bring you to find the

topic/subject of a paragraph.
In the following group of words, one of the words is the
topic for all other words. What is it?

Elephants
Zebras
Lions
African animals
Tigers
You’re right!
African animals is the topic of the group
of words. The other words are the
examples of African animals.
In the following group of words, one of the words is the
topic for all other words. What is it?

wheels
tires
brakes
steering wheel
seats
doors
car
You’re right!
Car is the topic of the group of words.
The other words are the parts of a car.
Now you know that a topic will
cover the other details.
Therefore, a topic would be
general enough (but not too
general) to cover the details.
Finding topics of a paragraph
Example A

Is this a paragraph? Why or why not?

Finding topics of a paragraph
Example B

Is this a paragraph? Why or why not?

Finding topics of a paragraph

A paragraph is a group of sentences that talk about the thing.

They have the same topic.

Therefore, example A is not a paragraph because the

sentences talk about different aspects in the Trobriand
Islands. They do not have one similar topic.

Meanwhile, example B can be called as a paragraph because

the sentences talk about the same topic, which is one aspect
of the Trobriand Islands (yams).
https://bit.ly/topicsCompoIC

Go to that link to complete the exercises

on Finding Topics.
Guessing Meaning
from Context 02
Guessing Meaning from Context
Sometimes, we need to guess/predict the meaning of certain
vocabulary without consulting our dictionary. We will use the
text surrounding the word (we call it the context) to help us
predict. One sentence might be enough to help us, or we
probably need to use longer passage.
What does the word “ravenous” mean? Do not look up
in the dictionary!
 What does the word “ravenous” mean? Do not look up
in the dictionary!

From the first sentence, we know that “ravenous” probably means “hungry” because
the speaker missed the breakfast and wants to have a piece of bread.
It is strengthened by the second sentence that says a ravenous horse ate the trees.
Here we can guess the word “ravenous” means “extremely hungry”.
What does the word “sallow” mean? Do not look up in
the dictionary!
 What does the word “sallow” mean? Do not look up in
the dictionary!

From the first sentence, we know that “sallow” probably means “unhealthy pale”
because “sallow” describes the skin of someone who is not healthy.
It is strengthened by the second sentence that someone who lives in unhealthy
climate usually has sallow complexion.
Here we can guess the word “sallow” means “unhealthy pale”.
https://bit.ly/vocab1Compo1C

Go to that link to complete the exercises

on Guessing Meaning from Context.
Thank you!
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