Supporting and Concluding Sentences (Keys)

Activity 1 Predicting Paragraph Content from the Controlling Idea

Read each topic sentence. Circle the main idea. Underline the controlling idea. Then predict the
kind of information you will find in the paragraph.

1. New York and Boston attract millions of tourists, but I think one of the best cities to visit on the
east coast of the United States is Washington, D.C.

What kind of information do you think is in this paragraph?

Some of your predictions might be: Touristic attractions – restaurants – discos – activities to do-
etc

2. One of the people that I most admire is my great-grandmother Carla.

What kind of information do you think is in this paragraph?

Some of your predictions might be: Why she / he admires Carla: personality traits, anecdotes, etc

3. The Grand Palace is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Thailand.

What kind of information do you think is in this paragraph?

Some of your predictions might be: Why it is one of the most popular destinations, probably a
description.

Activity 3 Matching Supporting and Topic Sentences

Read the two topic sentences below. Then read the list of supporting sentences. Match each
supporting sentence with the corresponding topic sentence by writing the correct topic sentence
number on the line beside the supporting sentences. Notice that each sentence is labeled in
parentheses with the kind of supporting sentence that it is.

Topic sentences

TS 1: Low-fat diets are an excellent way to stay healthy and trim.

TS 2: High-protein diets are favored by athletes and competitors.

Supporting sentences

a. These foods help build muscles and increase energy. (fact) 2

b. They are preferred by the general public because they help with weight reduction. (reason) 1

c. Low-fat diets are recommended by most physicians. (fact) 1

d. Many athletes eat high-protein foods, such as meat, beans, and nuts. (example) 2

e. Low-fat foods include fruits, vegetables, and pasta. (example) 1

f. Because they are easy to find in stores, low-fat foods are convenient. (reason) 1

g. Athletes generally eat high-protein diets to give them more energy. (reason) 2

h. Crispy steamed vegetables and grilled fish and chicken are all tasty parts of a low-fat,

heart-friendly diet. (description) 1

Activity 4 Asking Questions about Topic Sentences

Read each topic sentence. What information would you expect the writer to include in the
paragraph?

Write a question that the supporting sentences should answer. Use a who? what? where? when?
why? Or how? question.

In 2008, smoking was banned in all public facilities. Why was smoking banned?

1. Texas is home to several kinds of poisonous snakes. Which snakes/snake types?

2. Classrooms without windows have negative effects on students. Which negative effects do they
have?

3. Computer technology will one day eliminate the use of libraries. How? When?

4. Quebec City is a wonderful place to raise children. Why? What does it offer?

5. I will never forget the day I got married. Why? What happened?

Activity 5 Brainstorming Topic Sentences

For each of the general topics in the left column, brainstorm some ideas in the space provided.
Then write a topic sentence with a controlling idea in the right column. Underline the controlling
ideas.

1. vacation

types (summer; honeymoon)

5 common destinations (national parks,

Caribbean islands)

memories (Why was it special?)

I will never forget my summer vacation.

2. mathematics

Difficult subject

My favourite subject

Maths are a tough subject for 85% of the population.

3. a best friend

Personality traits

Why he/she is special

My best friend makes my life simpler.

4. a meal you ate at a restaurant

My favourite meal ever

a strange dish

Having snails was the worst decision I could ever make.

5. a (specific) sport (football)

The most popular sport in Argentina

Business

Football is

Activity 6 Asking for More Information

Choose two of your topic sentences from Activity 5 and write them below. Then write four
questions about each topic. Remember to use who? what? where? when? why? or how?
questions. If you cannot think of four questions, brainstorm some ideas with a classmate.

Your answers depend on your topic sentences. If you have questions or doubts, make notes and
ask me about them in our video conference.

Activity 7 I dentifying the Unrelated Sentence

Read the paragraphs on pages 79–81. In each paragraph, underline the one sentence that does
not belong because it is not connected closely with the supporting ideas in the topic sentence.
My Evaluation of Dining at Fresh Market

The menu at Fresh Market, one of the newest restaurants in

downtown Springfield, consists of only five main dishes that are simple

but very delicious. My number one dish there is pasta with fresh

vegetables. The pasta is cooked just right, and the vegetables include

broccoli, onions, tomatoes, and corn. My second favorite main dish is

the spicy chicken and brown rice soup. The chicken is a little hot for

some people’s tastes, but many people really like the fact that you get

brown rice instead of the usual bland white rice. The other main dishes

are fried chicken with curry potatoes, Greek salad with grilled shrimp,

and fried fish with vinegar chips. All three of these use the freshest

of ingredients and taste great. This paragraph will not include any

information about the beverages at this restaurant. If you eat a meal at

Fresh Market, I am sure you will enjoy it tremendously.

Counting the Continents

The number of continents should be a simple fact, but the number

you identify depends on where you live. In the United States, students

learn that there are seven continents. These seven are North America,

South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and Antarctica. In

Europe, however, students learn that there are six continents. They learn

that North America and South America are one continent, which they

call the Americas. Panama is the southern end of North America, but it

used to be part of Colombia, which is in South America. In some places,

Europe and Asia are combined into one continent called Eurasia. In other

places, Antarctica is not considered a continent. It is very interesting that

different cultures clearly disagree on the definition of a continent and

therefore the number of continents on our earth.

Traveling between Rome and Paris

There are three good options for traveling between Rome and

Paris. The fastest way is by plane. However, flying between these two

cities can be a little expensive unless you can find a discounted airline

ticket. The second way is by train, which is very popular with many

tourists. In fact, Rome and Paris are visited each year by millions of

students from all over. The train fare is not so expensive and the service

is very good, but the overnight trip takes about 14 hours. Finally,

many people take a bus. The bus is the cheapest of the three options,

but it takes up to 22 hours, which means it takes the most time. If you

research each of these three travel options, you will find the best way for

you to travel between Rome and Paris.

Activity 8 I dentifying Supporting Sentences

Read each paragraph on pages 82–84.

1. For each of the underlined, numbered sentences, write good supporting sentence or unrelated
sentence on the corresponding lines below the paragraph. (One sentence in each paragraph is
unrelated to the topic.)

2. Write a reason for each choice.

Remember: All the supporting sentences must be related to the topic sentence. The first
paragraph has been done for you.

Underwater Adventure

Snorkeling can be one of the most amazing adventures you

can ever take part in. 1 Floating on the water and watching the fish
swim below you is a unique experience. It is normal to be nervous in

the beginning, but once you are in the water, the anxiety goes away as

you slowly notice the new world around you. Coral reefs are the best

places to snorkel because hundreds, sometimes thousands, of fish and

other sea creatures live among the coral. 2 Depending on where you

snorkel, you can see tiny squids, turtles, sea cucumbers, lobsters, and

many other animals. 3 I saw a shark the last time I was snorkeling,

and it really scared me. It is truly a beautiful sight, one that you can

hardly believe is happening. When you are underwater, the world you

know is blocked out, and the silence makes the overall experience more

magical. If you want to have one of the most beautiful experiences that

anyone can ever have, you should try snorkeling for a day.

1 Floating on the water and watching the fish swim below you is a unique experience. GOOD

2 Depending on where you snorkel, you can see tiny squids, turtles, sea cucumbers, lobsters, and
many other animals. GOOD

3 I saw a shark the last time I was snorkeling, and it really scared me. UNRELATED

Sweet Dreams

When people have a hard time falling asleep at night, there are three

things that they can do to relax before going to sleep. 1 One of the most

pleasant ways to relax is to imagine a beautiful and peaceful place. This

requires a creative mind, but it is very effective. Another common method

is to practice deep-breathing exercises. These rhythmic exercises are good

for getting rid of the tension that causes people to stay awake. 2 A third

method is to listen to relaxing music, especially soft music. 3 Soft music

is also popular because it helps students study better. Some people have

developed unique ways to help them fall asleep, but these three methods
are extremely effective for the majority of people with sleep problems.

1 One of the most pleasant ways to relax is to imagine a beautiful and peaceful place. GOOD

2 A third method is to listen to relaxing music, especially soft music. GOOD

3 Soft music is also popular because it helps students study better. UNRELATED