Understanding Paragraph Structure and Content

This video lesson by Alex McCart focuses on the structure of a North American paragraph, particularly for students preparing for university or the TOEFL test. It covers the cultural differences in writing styles, emphasizing the formulaic approach in North American writing. The lesson details the components of a paragraph: the topic sentence, the body, and the closing sentence. An example paragraph about Toronto is provided to illustrate these concepts. The video concludes with a reminder to practice and a resource for further learning.

What is the primary purpose of this lesson?

• To teach students how to write stories.

• To prepare students for North American university writing and the TOEFL test.

• To explain the differences between Chinese and North American essays.

• To discuss the history of North American universities.

In North American writing, what is the first part of a paragraph?

• The conclusion.

• The body.

• The topic sentence.

• The introduction.

What should a good topic sentence include?

• A summary of the paragraph.

• An interesting topic and opinion.

• A list of arguments.

• Detailed descriptions.

What is the role of the topic sentence in a paragraph?

• To provide a summary.

• To list supporting details.

• To introduce the main idea.

• To conclude the paragraph.

What is the main function of the body of a paragraph?

• To introduce the topic.

• To provide supporting details and arguments.

• To restate the topic sentence.

• To conclude the paragraph.

How can details in the body of a paragraph be organized?

• By length.

• Randomly.

• Alphabetically.

• By order of importance or chronology.

What is the function of the body in a paragraph?

• To conclude the paragraph.

• To introduce the topic.

• To provide supporting details.

• To restate the topic sentence.

What is the purpose of the closing sentence in a paragraph?

• To introduce a new topic.

• To provide more details.

• To restate the topic and keep the audience thinking.

• To list references.

What should a closing sentence do besides restating the topic?

• List all the supporting details.

• Introduce a new argument.

• Provide a summary of the essay.

• Keep the audience thinking.

What is the topic sentence in the example paragraph about Toronto?

• Toronto has a diverse population.

• Toronto is the capital of Ontario.

• The city of Toronto has many wonderful attractions.

• Toronto is a large city.