Writing Task I: 主题句
****What is a topic sentence?
****The two parts of a topic sentence--------topic and controlling idea **** A topic sentence should be neither too narrow nor too specific. **** A concluding sentence serves three purposes
a. It signals the end of the paragraph. (Use an end-of-paragraph signal such as “In conclusion”, “In summary”, “Finally” etc.)
b. It summarizes the main points of the paragraph.
c. It gives a final comment on your topic and leaves the reader with the most important ideas to think about.
Driving on freeways requires skill and alertness.
Gold, a precious metal, is prized for two important characteristics.
Registering for college classes can be a frustrating experience for new students.
Model 1: Paragraph structure
Gold
Gold, a precious metal, is prized for two important characteristics. First of all, gold has a lustrous beauty that is resistant to corrosion. Therefore, it is suitable for jewelry, coins, and ornamental purposes, Gold never needs to be polished and will remain beautiful forever. For example, a Macedonian coin remains as untarnished today as the day it was minted twenty-three centuries ago. Another important characteristic of gold is its usefulness to industry and science. For many years, it has been used in hundreds of industrial applications. The most recent use of gold is in astronauts’ suits. Astronauts wear gold-plated heat shields for protection outside the spaceship. In conclusion, gold is treasured not only for its beauty, but also for its use. Hurricanes
Hurricanes, which are also called cyclones, exert tremendous power. These violent storms are often a hundred miles in diameter, and their winds can reach velocities of seventy-five miles per hour or more. Furthermore, the strong winds and heavy rainfall that accompany them can completely destroy a small town in a couple of hours. The energy that is released by a hurricane in one day exceeds the total energy consumed by mankind throughout the world in one year.
Famous School “Failures”
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Albert Einstein, one of the world’s geniuses, failed his university entrance
examinations on his first attempt. William Faulkner, one of America’s noted writers, never finished college because he could not pass his English courses. Sir Winston Churchill, who is considered one of the masters of the English language, had to have special tutoring in English during elementary school. These few examples show that failure in school does not always predict failure in life. Synonyms
Synonyms, words that have the same basic meaning, do not always have the same emotional meaning. For example, the words “stingy” and “frugal” both mean “careful with money”. However, to call a person stingy is an insult, while the word frugal has a much more positive connotation. Similarly, a person wants to be slender but not skinny, and aggressive, but not pushy. Therefore, you should be careful in choosing words because many so-called synonyms are not really synonyms at all.
PRACTICE 1: Recognizing topic sentences:
Remember, the topic sentence indicates the main idea of a paragraph and is the most general statement in the paragraph.
Step 1 Decide which of the following sentences is the topic sentence of the paragraph. Step 2 Write TS on the line next to that sentence.
Step 3 Decide what order the supporting sentences should be in and number them 1,2, 3 and 4.
Paragraph 1
_______ a. Next, add antifreeze to your windshield washer fluid; otherwise, the fluid will freeze and possibly break the container.
_______ b. First, put on snow tires if you plan to drive on snowy, icy roads very often.
_______ c. Driving in winter, especially on snowy, icy roads, can be less troublesome if
you take a few simple precautions.
_______d. Finally, it is also a good idea to carry tire chains, a can of spray to unfreeze door locks and a windshield scraper in your car when driving in winter weather.
_______e. Second, check the amount of antifreeze in your radiator and add more if necessary.
Paragraph 2
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________ a. Furthermore, researchers are continuing to work on the development of an
efficient, electrically powered automobile.
________ b. Researchers in the automobile industry are experimenting with different types of engines and fuels as alternatives to the conventional gasoline engines.
________ c. One new type of engine, which burns diesel oil instead of gasoline, has been available for several years.
________ d. Finally, several manufacturers are experimenting with methanol, which is
a mixture of gasoline and methyl alcohol, as an automobile fuel.
________ e. A second type is the gas turbine engine, which can use fuels made from gasoline, diesel oil, kerosene, other petroleum distillates, or methanol.
Paragraph 3
_________ a. Later on, people began to write on pieces of leather, which were rolled into scrolls.
_________ b. In the earliest times, people carved or printed messages on rocks.
_________ c. In the Middle Ages, heavy paper called parchment was used for writing; books were laboriously copied by hand.
_________ d. With the invention of the printing press in the middle of the fifteenth century, the modern printing industry was born.
_________ e. Some form of written communication has been used throughout the centuries.
Paragraph 4
_________ a. If there had been a big storm on the day of a baby’s birth, the baby might
have been named Thunder Cloud.
_________ b. American Indian names are very descriptive, for Indians were usually named for a physical attribute, for an occurrence in nature, or for an animal.
_________ c. Gray Eagle, Red Dog, Big Bear and Spotted Wolf are examples of Indians named after animals.
_________ d. Indians with distinctive physical characteristics might be given such names as Big Foot or Crooked Leg.
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Paragraph 5
_________ a. For one thing, individual I. Q. score vary considerably.
_________ b. Many experts also question whether I. Q. scores are related to intelligence.
_________ c. Furthermore, most psychologists agree that intelligence tests are biased in favor of middle-class children.
_________ d. The validity of standardized intelligence tests is being seriously questioned by educators and psychologists.
_________ e. In fact, motivation seems to be just as important as intelligence in determining a person’s ability to learn.
PRACTICE 2: Identifying the parts of a topic sentence 1. Driving in Tokyo requires nerves of steel.
2. Driving in Tokyo requires an aggressive attitude.
3. Living in a dormitory helps foreign students improve their English faster. 4. Beijing is well-known for its many tourist attractions.
5. Communicating in English is a major problem for many graduate students. 6. In m y opinion, many television commercials are misleading. 7. A good topic sentence has two essential parts.
8. Owning a large automobile is quickly becoming an expensive luxury.
PRACTICE 3: Writing topic sentences
Write a topic sentence for each of the following topics. Remember to include both a topic (main idea) and a controlling idea. EXAMPLE
Topic: The effect(s) of television on children
Topic Sentence: Television is harmful to children because it teaches them violence as
a way of life.
or: Television retards a child’s reading ability. 1. The effect(s) of smoking on a person’s health. 2. The benefits of foreign travel.
3. The importance of college education for your field of study (engineering, medical technology, art, business etc.)
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