Question

The information contained within a paragraph is based on the topic sentence of a paragraph. The topic sentence is generally the first sentence and expresses the main idea to be developed within the paragraph.

a) Look at the topic sentences below and discuss what kinds of information you would expect to follow.

1. The government of the United States of America consists of three main branches.

2. The world-wide increase in road transport is a serious threat to the natural environment.

3. Deforestation has a direct effect on food supplies.

4. Although development in the Third World is intended to increase self-reliance, the actual result is often increased dependence on the West.

5. There is a mistaken idea that, because of pocket calculators, children no longer need to learn how to do basic arithmetic.

6. When it comes to the arts, there is a clear case for subsidy.

7. There are no grounds for subsidizing the arts.

8. The British attitudes towards food are very different from the attitudes in my own country.

9. My grandfather/grandmother is/was very easy/difficult to get on with.

10. There are no justifications for any country possessing nuclear weapons.

11. There are a number of reasons to justify a country possessing nuclear weapons.

b) Take one of the sentences a write a paragraph.

Answer 1

1. three main branches of the United States of America and a description of each branch.

2. Explanation of how the increase in road transport is a serious threat to the natural environment

3. Explanation of how deforestation has a direct effect on food supplies.

4. Explanation of how development in the Third World is intended to increase self-reliance and explanation of why the actual result is increased dependence on the West.

5. Why the idea that because of pocket calculators, children no longer need to learn how to do basic arithmetic is wrong.

6. Why arts should be subsidised.

7. Why arts should not be subsidised.

8. The differences in attitudes towards food in the British and in my own country.

9. Why my grandfather/grandmother is/was very easy/difficult to get on with.

10. Why possessing nuclear weapons for any country is not justified.

11. Why possessing nuclear weapons for any country is justified.

b) 6. When it comes to the arts, there is a clear case for subsidy. Art is not used as a money-making tool and is only a way of expressing emotions and feelings of the artist in the form he has the talent of expressing in. But with people getting so materialistic and practically busy in their lives any kind of new art gets very less importance and attention from people and much of it is gone unnoticed and unappreciated. Hence this cannot form a source of income for the artists. This makes it important for subsidizing art.