An essay: Organisation

An essay: Organisation

Organisation

the way in which something is done or arranged

Topic Sentences

In English, a paragraph is usually about one main idea. The topic sentence tells us the main idea. It is usually the first sentence in a paragraph.

Supporting sentences

All of the other sentences in the paragraph are about the topic sentence. They must all be relevant to the main idea. These sentences are called supporting sentences. Supporting sentences help the reader understand the main idea by giving more information about it. Supporting sentences about similar ideas should be grouped together in a paragraph.

Multiple Choice

Which one is the topic sentence in this paragraph?

Firstly, whether languages or sciences are more useful depends very much on what job a person would like to do. If they want to be a doctor, or a great inventor, of course they will need to study science subjects. However, there really is not much point in studying science subjects if students decide to be a history teacher, or work in a shop.

• Firstly, whether languages or sciences are more useful depends very much on what job a person would like to do.

• If they want to be a doctor, or a great inventor, of course they will need to study science subjects.

• However, there really is not much point in studying science subjects if students decide to be a history teacher, or work in a shop.

Topic sentence & supporting sentences

• In the previous paragraph the topic sentence talks about what job a person would like to do.

• The supporing sentences provide examples and give arguments to illustrate the topic sentence.

• Different jobs are mentioned: a doctor, a great inventor, a history teacher or work in a shop.

Multiple Choice

Choose an appropriate topic sentence for the following supporting sentence.

Of course, teens also spend time with their families, especially during the school holidays, but overall they spend more time with friends.

• One day every teenager will leave their home and start a life without their parents and family, but for most people their family is always part of their life.

• Teenagers spent a lot of time with their friends during term time, both at school and outside the school.

• As for support, teens have a family that always help them.

Sequencing words

• Sequence words are especially important in narrative essays, where you must guide your reader through the events of your story.

• Sequence words can be used at the start of each paragraph to clearly mark out what happened first, next and so on.

• In addition, you can also use sequence transition words for essays that are informational and communicate historical events.

Multiple Choice

_____, whether languages or sciences are more useful depends very much on what job a person would like to do.

• Meanwhile

• All of a sudden

• Firstly

Multiple Choice

She was sick and didn’t study for a month. _____, she got a good mark in the test.

• Although

• Whereas

• However

Multiple Choice

_____ he had injured his leg, he played until the end of the match.

• Despite

• Although

• However

Multiple Choice

_____ the bad road conditions were extremely bad, there were no accidents.

• In spite of

• However

• Yet

Multiple Choice

People couldn’t reach the mountain by road _____ the snow.

• moreover

• because of

• unless

Multiple Choice

He stood on the chair. ______, he could reach the top shelf of the bookcase.

• Because of

• Due to

• As a result

Multiple Choice

He was seriously ill. _____, he refused to see a doctor.

• In spite of

• Because

• Moreover

Time to write!