Practice with supporting ideas

Your topic sentence tells the reader what the paragraph will be about. The ideas stated in the rest
of the paragraph should all refer to the given topic and the controlling idea.

e.g. There are many ways to eat peanut butter. You can spread it on a slice of bread like butter,
or you can make it into a sandwich with jam. Peanut butter can be a major ingredient of very
tasty cookies as well as cakes and candies. It is delicious in ice cream. Peanut butter was
invented by George Washington Carver. My favorite way to eat peanut butter is to lick it off a
spoon.

Our topic sentence tells the reader that we are discussing peanut butter. The controlling idea is
“ways of eating it.” All of the sentences should be about ways of eating peanut butter. Are they?
No. the sentence “Peanut butter was invented by George Washington Carver” does not refer to
ways of eating peanut butter.

Exercise 1: Look at the following outlines. Circle the letter of the idea that does not support
the topic.

1. Ways to get rid of hiccups

a. breath into a paper bag
b. hold your breath to the count of 10
c. have some one frighten you
d. make an appointment with your doctor
2. Steps for planning a trip
a. purchasing a map
b. working late
c. making an itinerary
d. reserving a ticket
3. Reasons for car accidents
a. fast driving
b. drinking and driving
c. not following traffic regulations
d. giving signals
4. Advantages of small apartments
a. good school facilities
b. easy to clean
c. cheaper to furnish
d. relatively inexpensive
5. Characteristics of a good restaurant
a. efficient waiters
b. tasty food
c. jacket and tie required
d. pleasant atmosphere
Exercise 2: Read these paragraphs and cross out the one idea that doesn’t support the
topic sentence.

1. Working at a part-time job while studying at a university has many advantages. If students can
get a job in their area of study, they are gaining valuable experience and putting their
knowledge to use immediately. The extra money they can earn will be useful for meeting tuition
fees and enjoying university activities. Also, they will have the personal satisfaction of having
contributed to their own education. Students who need extra money can hold down a full-time
temporary job during their summer vacation.

2. Hobbies are important for many reasons. First, a hobby can be educational. For example, if the
hobby is stamp collecting, the person can learn about the countries of the world and even
some of their history. Second, engaging in the hobby can lead to meeting other people with the
same interests. A person can also meet other people by going to parties. Third, a person’s free
time is being used in a positive way. The person has no time to be bored or get into mischief
while engaged in the hobby. Finally, some hobbies can lead to future job. A person who enjoys
a hobby-related job is more satisfied with life.

3. There are several features of spoken English that make it difficult for me to understand. First,
many words are not pronounced as they are spelled, so when I learn new words through
reading, I sometimes don’t understand them when they are spoken. Second, native speakers
contract words and phrases. “What are you doing?” becomes “Whacha doin’?”. In my opinion,
people should write clearly. Third, native speakers have a wide range of accents. A British
accent is very different from a Texas one. Fourth, there are lots of idioms and slang
expressions. These expressions also differ depending on the area a speaker is from. Finally,
there are sounds that don’t exist in my language that do exist in English and vice versa. These
sounds are difficult for me to distinguish.

Exercise 3: Writing supporting ideas: Use the topic sentences that you wrote in the
previous lesson (Exercise 3, B, Writing topic sentences). Outline four supporting ideas

e.g. catching cold:

People can avoid catching cold by taking certain precautions.

a. avoid people with colds

b. get plenty of sleep

c. eat nutritious food

d. take vitamin C

Exercise 4: Writing supporting ideas in a paragraph. On your own paper, write out the paragraphs
you outlined in Exercise 3 by expanding your supporting ideas into complete sentences.
 Practice with details
To make a more fully developed paragraph, you need to add details to your supporting ideas. Your
ideas can be facts, examples, personal experiences or descriptions

E.g. 1. Look at this topic sentence:

The Smithsonian Institution is worth visiting for a number of reasons

The topic is “The Smithsonian Institution” and the controlling idea is “reasons for a visit”. Look at
the following supporting ideas and details:

Supporting idea 1: The Smithsonian Institution is composed of various museums that offer
something for everyone.

Detail - facts:

These museums consist of the National Museum of History and Technology, the National
Aeronautics and Space Museum, the National Collection of Fine Arts, the National Museum of
Natural History, and several others.

Supporting idea 2: A person can do more than just look at the exhibits.

Detail - example: For example, in the insect zoo at the National Museum of Natural History,
anyone who so desires can handle some of the exhibits.

Supporting idea 3: The museums provide unforgettable experiences.

Detail - personal experience: In climbing through Skylab at the National Aeronautics and Space
Museum, I was able to imagine what it would be like to be an astronaut in space.

Supporting idea 4: Movies shown at regular intervals aid in building an appreciation of our world.

Detail - descriptions: In the National Aeronautics and Space Museum, there is a theatre which
has a large screen. When the movies is shown, it gives the illusion that the viewer is in the moves
itself, either floating above the earth in a hot-air balloon or hang gliding over cliffs

E.g. 2:

Although seat belts have been shown to save lives, people give a number of reasons for not using
them. First, many people think they are a nuisance. They say the belt is uncomfortable and inhibits
freedom of movement. Second, many people are lazy. For them it is too much trouble to put on
and adjust a seat belt, especially if they are only going a short distance. Third, some people don’t
believe they will have an accident because they are careful and experienced drivers. They think
they will be able to respond quickly to avoid a crash. Finally, some people are afraid the seat belt
will trap them in their car. If they have an accident, they might not be able to get out of a car that is
burning, or they might be unconscious and another person won’t be able to get them out. All of
these reasons seem inadequate, since statistics show that wearing seat belts saves lives and
prevent serious injuries.

Exercise 5: On your own paper, rewrite the following “weak” paragraphs by answering the
questions and using those answers within the paragraph.

1. When you plant a tree, you are helping your environment in many ways. Your tree will provide
a home and food for other creatures. It will hold the soil in place. It will provide shade in the
summer. You can watch it grow and some day show your children or even grandchildren the
tree you planted.

a. What kind of home would the tree provide?

 b. What kind of food would the tree provide?

c. What kind of creatures might use the tree?

d. Why is holding the soil in place important?

e. Why is shade important?

2. Airplanes and helicopters can be used to save people’s lives. Helicopters can be used for
rescuing people in trouble. Planes can transport food and supplies when disasters strike. Both
types of aircraft can transport people to hospitals in emergencies. Helicopters and airplanes
can be used to provide medical services to people who live in remote areas.

a. In what situations do people need rescuing by helicopters?

b. What kinds of disasters might happen?

c. What kinds of emergencies may require transporting people to hospitals?

d. How can helicopters and airplanes be used to provide medical services to people in remote
areas?

3. Studying in another country is advantageous in many ways. A student is exposed to a new

culture. Sometimes he or she can learn a new language. Students can often have learning
experiences not available in their own countries. A student may get the opportunity to study at
a university where leading experts in his or her field may be teaching.

a. How can exposure to a new culture be an advantage?

b. How can learning a new language be an advantage?

c. What kinds of experiences might a student have?

d. What are the benefits of studying under leading experts?

Exercise 6: The following paragraphs are weak. They could be improved by adding details. On
your own paper, write your own questions. Then make the paragraph stronger by inserting the
answers to your questions.

1. Even though airplanes are fast and comfortable, I prefer to travel by car. When travelling by
car, I can look at the scenery. Also, I can stop along the road. Sometimes I meet interesting
people from the area I am travelling through. I can carry as much luggage as I want, and I don’t
worry about missing flights

2. Wild animals should not be kept in captivity for many reasons. First, animals are often kept in
poor and inhumane conditions. In addition, many suffer poor health from lack of exercise and
indicate frustration and stress through their neurotic behaviour. Also, some animals will not
breed in captivity. Those animals that mate often do so with a related animal such as a sister or
a brother. In conclusion, money spent in the upkeep of zoos would be better spent in protecting
the natural habitats.

3. Good teachers should have the following qualities. First, they must know the material they are
teaching very well. Second, they should be able to explain their knowledge. Third, they must be
patient and understanding. Last, they must be able to make the subject matter interesting to
the students.