UNIT 1 Basic Elements of Paragraph

A. Context Exploration
Paragraph is a group of sentence that has a specific organizational pattern; topic sentence,
supporting sentence and concluding sentence. Topic sentence has two parts: the topic and
controlling idea. Topic sentence contains the opinion or attitude of the writer, a statement of fact
cannot be a topic sentence. Supporting sentence consists of sentence that explain or support the
topic sentence and it is divided into major and minor supporting sentence. The last is concluding
sentence. It ends the paragraph by reminding the reader of the main point of the paragraph.

Topic Sentence
A. Major Supporting
a. Minor Supporting
b. Minor Supporting
B. Major Supporting
Concluding Sentence

Model Paragraph
Ways to celebrate New Year’s Eve

Topic sentence People in Indonesia celebrate New Year’s Eve in many ways. The most
Topic Controlling Idea
common way may be barbequing at home or at public place with friends
and family. At stroke of midnight, people countdown the time and start to
see fireworks attraction. Another way to spend New Year’s Eve is with
Supporting
significant other in your life. People use this time to pray and ask for a
Sentence
better luck in New Year, so that they go to a mosque or a church. Some of
them use this time to evaluate the past year and to make resolutions and
plan for coming year. It is a time of reflection that can happen when one is
Concluding alone. In short, New Year’s Eve is a special time that can be spent with
Sentence friends, family or even alone.
B. Practice
Topic and Controlling Idea
Identify the topic and controlling idea of each sentence below:
Ex: The Sound of Music is a delightful film. The Sound of Music topic, is a delightful film
controlling idea

1. Smoking cigarettes is harmful to your health.

2. Taking the train can save money.
3. Our state capitol building is one of the most beautiful in the country.
4. Sandra is a high school student who is very talented but quite shy.
5. The best tennis players need to be graceful.
6. Most students who what jobs must wait until they are 16.
7. Changing dollars into foreign currency can be confusing.
8. Developing computer skills will help you in high school.
9. Juan can eat more than anyone in our family, but he never gains weight.
10. Hiking in the woods is dangerous.

Evaluating Sentence
1. American education has five stages
2. Writing a good resume takes a lot of hard work
3. There are many reasons to visit San Francisco
4. Jack is Kat’s friend
5. Indonesia has many island

Writing Topic Sentence

1. Is playing sport fun?
2. What is the best pet?
3. Are grades important for students?
4. Is it better to do homework right after school or after dinner?
5. Where is the best place for vacation?