1. ASManager2.zip Driver
2. b_start.txt File Contents

b_start.txt Driver File Contents (ASManager2.zip)

Name: <  >
Class: <  >
Date: <  >



Good Start

Almost anything you write consists of paragraphs. The paragraph is to the writer what the brick is to the stone mason.

A strong, well-ordered paragraph usually has three characteristics:

1. Topic Sentence -- The topic sentence contains the one main idea of the paragraph. The topic sentence is often the first sentence in the paragraph.

2. Supporting Details -- Sentences that expand on the topic of the paragraph are called supporting details. There may be one or more supporting details.

3. Summary Sentence -- The summary sentence is usually the last sentence in a paragraph. It ties together the ideas expressed in the paragraph.

In this file you will practice writing topic sentences. Later on you will be able to practice adding supporting details and writing good summary sentences.


Topic Sentence

A topic sentence contains two basic parts: a subject and an important comment about that subject. Below, various subjects are listed with a comment about each one. For each sample, a sentence which could be used as a topic sentence for a paragraph is written for you. Each sample is followed by another subject and comment for you to write into a sentence to be used as a topic sentence for a paragraph. Have fun writing your sentences following the <  > angle brackets.

Sample 1

Subject: Waves
Comment: They're rolling, crashing, spraying

Possible Topic Sentence: The waves rolled endlessly toward the shore, crashing against the rocks and spraying high in the air.

Now it's your turn! In this exercise, your subject is wind.

Subject: Wind
Comment: Whistling, howling, tearing

Write your sentence here.

<  >


Name and save this file now. (Press ctrl+S, type a name for the file, and press enter.)

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Sample 2

Subject: Night woods
Comment: Deep silence

Possible Topic Sentence: There was a strange, deep silence about the forest that night.

Now it's your turn.

Subject: Empty house
Comment: A quiet, hollow feeling

<  >


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Sample 3

Subject: Sister's diary
Comment: Bill is going to steal it

Possible Topic Sentence: "She's gone! Now I can read her diary," muttered Bill, as he opened the door to his sister's room.

Now it's your turn. Try using a quote this time.

Subject: Grandma's fresh-baked cookies
Comment: Sally and Pete aren't supposed to eat them, but....

<  >


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Sample 4

Subject: Short cut through the graveyard
Comment: Spooky

Possible Topic Sentence: Many scary tales have been told about children who have taken a short cut through the graveyard.

Now it's your turn.

Subject: The night watchman at the junkyard
Comment: He's mean and has a vicious dog.

<  >


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Sample 5

Subject: Walking barefoot in the mud
Comment: It's squishy and cool and oozy

Possible Topic Sentence: Cool mud squished up between my toes and oozed across the top of my foot with each step I took.

Now it's your turn.

Subject: Walking in hard-soled shoes across a marble floor
Comment: There are clicking, echoing sounds

<  >

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Writing a Paragraph

Pick one of the possible topic sentences you wrote above and write three to five detail sentences about that topic.

To begin your paragraph, you may scroll back to the topic sentence and make a copy below, or you may simply retype the sentence.

<  >


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Rewrite/Edit

Look back at the paragraph you just wrote. Do all the ideas develop, explain, or support the topic sentence? Do the sentences follow each other in a logical way?

Have you written complete sentences? Are all the words spelled correctly? Do you want to add more details to make your paragraph more interesting to read?

Make any changes you want and then have your partner or a friend read the paragraph to make sure everything fits together.


If you haven't done so already, name and save this file now. (Press ctrl+S, type a name for the file, and press enter.)


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end of activity
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