Paragraph Writing: Concluding, Topic, and Supporting Sentences

Choose the best possible topic sentence for the supporting sentences below.

North Americans send cards for many occasions. They send cards to family and friends on birthdays and holidays. They also send thank-you cards, get well cards, graduation cards, and congratulation cards. It is very common to buy cards in stores and send them through the mail, but turning on the computer and sending cards over the Internet is also popular.

• Sending cards is very popular in North America

• Birthday cards are the most popular kind of card

• It is important to send thank-you cards

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Choose the best possible topic sentence for the supporting sentences below.

I enjoy summer sports like water skiing and baseball. The weather is usually sunny and hot, so I can go to the beach almost every day. Gardening is my hobby and I spend many summer days working in my garden. Unfortunately, the days pass too quickly in summer.

• I like to garden in summer.

• Summer is my favorite season.

• Summer is too short.

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Choose the best possible topic sentence for the supporting sentences below.

First of all, we need money to repair old roads and build new roads. We also need more to pay teachers’ salaries and to pay for services such as trash collection. Finally, more tax money is needed to give financial help to the poor citizens of the city. It is clear that the city will have serious problems if taxes are not raised soon.

• We should raise city taxes.

• City taxes are too high.

• City taxes pay for new roads.

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Choose the best possible topic sentence for the supporting sentences below.

For example, a person can have breakfast in New York, board an airplane, and have dinner in Paris. A businesswoman in London can instantly place an order with a factory in Hong Kong by sending a fax. Furthermore, a schoolboy in Tokyo can turn on a TV and watch a baseball game being played in Los Angeles.

• Airplanes have changed our lives.

• Advances in technology have made the world seem smaller.

• The fax machine was an important invention.

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Choose the best possible topic sentence for the supporting sentences below.

One thing you must consider is the quality of the university’s educational program. You also need to think about the school’s size and location. Finally, you must be sure to consider the university’s tuition to make sure you can afford to go to school there.

• It is expensive to attend a university in the United States.

• There are several factors to consider when you choose a university to attend.

• You should consider getting a good education.

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Write a topic sentence for this paragraph.

_____________________________. Paul has a variety of hobbies that he is passionate about. He has collected stamps and coins ever since he was a child. He is very proud of his valuable collections. Paul also enjoys painting and drawing. Recently he has become interested in gardening. Out of all his hobbies, Paul’s favorite one is reading. He usually reads at least one book every week. Paul keeps busy with all of his hobbies.

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Write a topic sentence for this paragraph.

_____________________________. My mother is an exceptional cook who loves to create a variety of dishes. I can’t wait to come home from school and eat the delicious meals she has prepared. She is famous for her desserts like peach pie and chocolate soufflé. She is always experimenting with new recipes and trying different ingredients. No one in the world can cook the way my mother does.

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Write a topic sentence for this paragraph.

_____________________________. My car is old and has several mechanical issues that need fixing. It never starts in cold weather. The horn and the left turn signal don’t work properly. Worst of all, the radio only gets one station and the CD player is completely broken. I wish I could get a new car.

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Write a topic sentence for this paragraph.

_____________________________. I am very satisfied with my job for various reasons. First and most importantly, the work is very interesting. I learn new things every day and I get to travel a lot. In addition, my boss is very nice. She is always willing to help me when I have a problem. I have also made many new friends at my job. Last, but not least, the salary is fantastic.

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Write a topic sentence for this paragraph.

_____________________________. My recent trip was filled with a series of unfortunate events. To start things off, my plane was six hours late. When I finally got to my hotel, I was very disappointed. It was small and dirty. On the third day, my wallet was stolen.

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