1. Writing Paragraphs
Week 2

2. Today’s Agenda Reminders Unit 2 The Importance of Brainstorming
Unit 3 The Topic Sentence

3. Reminders Class website with PDF copy of textbook.
academicparagraphs.wordpress.com
Get photocopy of textbook at Greenhouse Bookshop
Bring paper and pen/pencil EVERYDAY!

4. Brainstorming
What is brainstorming?

5. Brainstorm

6. Brainstorm

7. Brainstorm

8. Why Brainstorm? Generate ideas See which ideas are strong or weak
See if you have a lot to say about the subject
Help organize the ideas you have visually
See what you know and what you need more info about
Have something to guide you WHILE you write

9. Brainstorming

10. Types of Brainstorming
Web/Map
List
Outline

11. Brainstorm: WEB

12. Brainstorm: LIST

13. Brainstorm: Outline Topic (partial) Example: BAD BEHAVIORS IN SOCIETY
I. On the road A. Road rage
1. Obscene gestures 2. Screaming 3. Retribution (despite intention)
B. Not yielding
C. Distracted
1. Cell phone a. Talking b. Texting
2. Talking to others
II. Movies
A. Loud Kids B. Comments during movie C. Cell phones
1. Light a. texting b. checking
2. Go off during movie

14. You Try It

15. Brainstorming

16. Brainstorming
CLOTHING AND FASHION

17. Brainstorming Directions:
Brainstorm as many ideas as you can about the topic: CLOTHING AND FASHION

18. Brainstorming: TRANSPORTATION

19. Brainstorming: SOMETHING VALUABLE

20. TOPIC SENTENCES

21. Topic Sentences

22. Topic Sentences

23. Topic Sentences

24. Features of Good Topic Sentences
Controls or guides the whole paragraph
Not a general fact that everyone accepts as true
Ex. Libraries have books.

25. Features of Topic Sentences
A good topic sentence is specific
Ex: Tea is delicious. Vs. Green tea has many health benefits.
However a good TS is not TOO specific
Ex: This dictionary contains 42,000 words.

26. Features of Topic Sentences
A good topic sentences has controlling ideas which are words or phrases that help guide the organization of the paragraph.
The reader knows what the writer is going to discuss because of controlling ideas!

27. Some Examples
The best season for kids is winter.

28. Examples
Soccer is popular for many reasons.

29. Soccer is popular for many reasons.
It is good exercise.
You can play almost anywhere.
It is not specific to any one culture or country.
You build good team work.
It is a good past time to watch.
Fans can sometimes cause problems.
Racism is a serious issue in soccer.

30. Topic Sentences People from many cultures live in Los Angeles.
The reader expects the writer to talk about the types of different cultures or groups who live in Los Angeles.

31. Topic Sentences

32. Topic Sentences
Pg. 48 in textbook

33. Topic Sentences

34. More Topic Sentence Practice

35. More Topic Sentence Practice

36. More Topic Sentence Practice

37. More Topic Sentence Practice

38. More Topic Sentence Practice

39. More Topic Sentence Practice

40. More Topic Sentence Practice

41. Ways of Improving Topic Sentences
Certain phrases help FOCUS a Controlling Idea:
‘for a number of reasons’
‘for three main reasons’ (Or the number of reasons you have)
‘in the following ways’
Make it more specific:
Tennis is an enjoyable sport for both young and older people. Now show WHY with reasons for young people and older people.

42. Create the Topic Sentence

43. Create the Topic Sentence

44. Language Practice

45. She really does not. Begins arrives has are do

46. Homework

47. Homework