English 8 Quarter 2

USE A VARIETY OF
TECHNIQUES TO
INTRODUCE A TOPIC
Choose the letter that best completes each analogy.
1. Brush is to paint as pen is to _________.
a. crayon c. glass
b. cup d. paper
2. Rock is to heavy as_________.
a. car is to fast c. large is to giant
b. feather is to light d. rich is to poor
3. Days are to a week as months are to a/an _________.
a. hour b. minute c. second d. year
4. Artifacts are to the museum as books are to _________.
a. computer b. floor c. library d. vase
5. Carpenter is to hammer as doctor is to __________.
a. illness b. nurse c. stethoscope d. patient
 Cameron the Relay Machine
Cameron was a star swimmer at Eldred Middle School.
He had been swimming competitively since he was five
years old. He was to swim in three events and one relay at
the meet on Tuesday.
As always, Cameron had his signature bowl of
spaghetti and meatballs before preparing for the meet. He
also always has a Rice Krispies bar immediately following
his warm up routine.
 When he prepares for a meet, the first thing that he
does is stretch his muscles and warm-up by running in
place, immediately after stretching. Then he does ten push-
ups followed by a run up an down the middle school
bleachers.
Cameron swam well. He placed first twice and got a
third place in the 500 meter butterfly stroke. He truly
dominated the relay getting his team a two lap lead by the
time he got out of the water.
Place the events in order. Use numbers 1-5.
______a. Cameron ate a Rice Krispies bar.
______ b. Cameron ran up and down the bleachers.
______ c. He did pushups
______ d. Cameron won the swimming event.
______ e. Cameron ate meatballs and spaghetti
 Cameron the Relay Machine
Cameron was a star swimmer at Eldred Middle School. He had been swimming
competitively since he was five years old. He was to swim in three events and one
relay at the meet on Tuesday.
As always, Cameron had his signature bowl of spaghetti and meatballs
before preparing for the meet. He also always has a Rice Krispies bar immediately
following his warm up routine.
When he prepares for a meet, the first thing that he does is stretch his muscles
and warm-up by running in place, immediately after stretching. Then he does ten
push-ups followed by a run up an down the middle school bleachers.
Cameron swam well. He placed first twice and got a third place in the 500
meter butterfly stroke. He truly dominated the relay getting his team a two lap lead
by the time he got out of the water.
 The topic sentence allows you to know how the
paragraph will discuss the subject and to understand a
paragraph’s purpose. The topic sentence also serves to unify
the coherent paragraph and to direct the order of the
sentence.
The writer may vary the pattern or combine some to fit
the train of ideas he wants to convey. One sentence naturally
leads on to the next sentences.
The illustration below shows the relationship between point
and support.
 We have many delicious dishes from the different parts of
Luzon. From the Ilocos region comes goat kilawin. This is goat
meat served with raddish and seasoned heavily with vinegar, garlic,
onions, and pepper. From the same region also comes pinakbet, a
vegetable dish made from eggplant, sitaw, ampalaya, okra, and fish
sauce (bagoong). From Central Luzon comes paksiw, milkfish
cooked in vinegar and ginger with a dash of salt. Central Luzon is
also famous for its tamales, a complete lunch wrapped in banana
leaves. From Southern Luzon we have delicious coconut milk
dishes for the Bicolanos love to cook their vegetables in coconut
milk.
The ideas may be developed in any of the following:
• By definition
• By details
• By examples and illustration
• By cause and effect
• By comparison and contrast
• By definition
The concept is initially defined and then further
expanded with examples and restatements. It usually
explains what a term means. When you want your readers to
know exactly how you are using a certain term or an
unfamiliar concept, you use definition.
Signal words used: is defined as; is called; means;
refers to, and ; is described as.
• By definition (EXAMPLE)
Racist
A racist can be defined as a prejudiced person who
discriminates because of another individual's outer appearance
or race. Racism can all start as a child being raised with
negative thoughts or can be brought upon by personal reasons.
For example, growing up in a racist family will give adolescent
awful thoughts about a race without even experiencing how
they really feel firsthand… © 2005 Fallon Fauque
• By definition (EXAMPLE)
Deja vu
Deja vu is a French word meaning "already seen", it has also been
described as a feeling or experience that one has seen or done something
before. For example, you are waiting in line to check out at the grocery
store and the lady behind you asks you to hand her a pack of gum.
Suddenly you get an overwhelming feeling that you have been there in
that exact same spot, talking to the same lady, even the same brand of
gum. Even though everything seems so familiar you know there is no
way that could have happened before. © 2005 Courtney Ming
• By details
The topic sentence is supported by factual materials,
either sense impressions or conceptual facts when a
paragraph is developed by detail. You can also provide
specific details about what something may look like and
organize them spatially in order of appearance.
• By details (EXAMPLE)
The physical complaints of neurotics – people who are overly
anxious, pessimistic, hostile, or tense – were once largely ignored by
physician. Many doctors believed that the frequent complaint of
neurotic were exaggerations. However, new research shows that
neurotics are, fact, more likely to have physical problems.
Specifically, researchers found neurotics stand a grater chance of
having five ailments: arthritis, asthma, ulcers, headaches, and heart
disease. In addition, there is evidence that people who are pessimistic
in their teens and twenties are more likely to become ill or die in their
forties.
• By examples and illustrations
Specific incidents, conditions or facts are given to
support a point. Examples and illustrations are used in
almost all types or modes of writing to help support points
that the writer is making.
Signal words used: for example, for instance, in fact,
specifically, that is, to illustrate.
• By examples and illustrations (EXAMPLE)
Many college students face several pressures. For instance, many
students have to manage a job while at the same time balancing their
schoolwork... Students also face many financial pressures. For example,
numerous students have to pay for their college on their own... Another
example of financial pressures for students is having to support a family
while attending college... Finally, many college students go to college
students go to college in different cities and states and have to make new
friends and adjust to a different atmosphere. Being a college student can be
very rewarding but, there may also be a lot of pressures that need to be dealt
with.
Copyright 2005 Mike Sullivan
• By cause and effect
A cause is what makes a particular thing happen. An effect
is what results from a particular situation, activity, or behavior.
You write cause-and-effect paragraphs when your purpose is to
help readers understand why something happened or is
happening, or when you want to show readers how one thing
affects something else. You can also use cause-and-effect writing
to predict future events.
Signal words used: for this reason, hence, consequences,
because, made, on the account
• By cause and effect (EXAMPLE)
Letting alcohol take control over your life has many negative effects
on a person and the people around them. One important effect is the
damage you can do to your body. Drinking can lead to severe illness and
even eventual death; some health consequences to consider might be liver
disease, kidney failure and, for pregnant women, the loss of their unborn
child. Another detriment is that an addiction could lead to drinking and
driving; possibly causing a fatal car accident for either yourself and/or an
innocent by stander. Another concern to consider is the relationships
alcohol can destroy. Alcohol abuse can have very serious affect on a
person’s temperament, which can lead to spousal and even child abuse.
 Alcohol often is the number one cause in divorce and spending time
in jail. It can also affect relationships outside of the family; many people
have lost lifelong friends whether it is due to foolish arguments and
behavior or possibly death. Lastly, drinking has negative effects on self-
esteem and rational thinking. People become more self-centered, develop
low self-esteem, doing things or behaving in ways that they would not
normally. They have little or no regard to the outcomes of what is said or
done when they grow reliant on getting that alcohol high. The negative
effects of alcohol abuse are overwhelming when considering the many
consequences that drinkers and the people around them have to deal with.
~© Racheal Guza 2005~
• By cause and effect (EXAMPLE)
Students are not allowed to chew gum in my class. While some
students think that I am just being mean, there are many good reasons
for this rule. First, some irresponsible students make messes with their
gum. They may leave it on the bottoms of desks, drop it on the floor, or
put it on other people’s property. Another reason why I don’t allow
students to chew gum is because it is a distraction. When they are
allowed to chew gum, students are more worried about having it,
popping it, chewing it, and snapping it then they are in listening,
writing, reading, and learning. This is why I don’t allow students to
chew gum in my class.
• By cause and effect (EXAMPLE)
• By comparison and contrast
A comparison tells how two things are similar. A
contrast tells how they are different. A comparison and
contrast paragraph can do either or both.
Signal words used: similar, different, bigger than,
smaller, on the other hand , than, but, in the same way,
however.
• By comparison and contrast (EXAMPLE)
BMX bikes and mountain bikes are built in different ways. BMX
bikes are great for tricks because they have a low, light frame and
short tires. Mountain bikes have a high, heavy frame and thick tires.
This makes them great for off-road riding on bumpy surfaces. Another
way the two types of bikes differ is the number of gears. Mountain
bikes have many different gears, but BMX bikes normally have just
one gear. The number of gears relates to the main difference between
the two bikes. BMX bikes are built in a way that lets riders do tricks,
while mountain bikes are built for off-road riding, including up and
down hills.
• By comparison and contrast (EXAMPLE)