UNIVERSIDAD YACAMBU

Licenciatura Virtual en Contaduría Pública.

Idioma Avanzad Intensivo

Prof. Neyda Díaz

Participante: Nelson Torcate Mendez

Trabajo Nº 4: Homework 1

 

Topic Sentence

The topic sentence tells the reader what the paragraph is going to be about. It also helps you keep your writing under control. This is why a topic sentence is sometimes called the "main idea" of a paragraph.

 

Supporting Details or Developing Sentences

This is where you tell the reader about your topic by including specific details. All of the sentences in the body must relate to the specific topic of the paragraph and help it come alive for the reader. That is, all of the sentences in the body should contain details that make the topic more interesting or help explain it more clearly. These sentences should be organized in the best possible order. 

 

Closing Sentence or Clincher Sentence

The clincher sentence comes after all the details have been included in the body of the paragraph. The closing sentence reminds the reader what the topic of the paragraph is really all about, what it means. For example, let's say the topic sentence of a paragraph is "Mr. Brown must have been a drill sergeant before he became our gym teacher." A closing sentence for this paragraph could be something like the following: “I'm surprised that Mr. Brown doesn't make us march into the shower room after each class.”

 

Definition Paragraph

The definition paragraph is a definition sentence which has been expanded into a paragraph. The definition sentence becomes the topic sentence. Each category is expanded into major supporting sentences, and minor supporting sentences are added.

 

Classification Paragraph

In a classification paragraph, separate items are grouped into categories according to shared characteristics. Depending on the subject, you may be asked to classify people, organisms, things or ideas.

 

Descriptive Paragraph

It is required when you are asked to write about how something looks, sound, smells, tastes or feels. You should provide specific details of the most important features and use appropriate adjectives to describe attributes and qualities.

 

Comparison Paragraph and Contrast Paragraph

There are actually three types of paragraphs which can be written in this general area. The comparison paragraph discusses the similarities in subjects. The contrast paragraph points out differences. The comparison-contrast paragraph does both. The topic will dictate which type should be used.

 

Exercise 1

1. The city where I was born, Barquisimeto, is a quite large city.
2. One of the most attractive places in Europe is Italy, the country I would like to go to.
3. Working out helps us to be healthy and to obtain a good shape.

One of the most attractive places in Europe is Italy, the country I would like to go to. The Leaning Tower of Pisa and many more all belong to the country of Italy. Every year, millions of people come to visit the famous paintings, architectural buildings, and sample all of the wonderful pasta. Italy is one of the main tourist spots because it has so much history and adventure. There is no end to the learning when you visit Italy. The people there are very friendly and are extremely proud of their country. The temperature usually stays around eighty degrees.

Exercise 2

a) Definition Paragraph

Longitudinal dunes are long low ridges of sand that lie approximately at right angles to the trend of the sand waves, or parallel to the direction of the wind. Some of the ridges are almost straight; others are slightly wavy. They range up to 9 about 10 meters in height and 30 meters in width. Many are more than one and one-half kilometers long. Both sides of these dunes have practically the same slope and are usually covered with grass and shrubs. While the crest is usually bare of vegetation, on some dunes, even the crest is covered.

Where this occurs, it means that wind action has stopped on this particular dune.

 

b) Classification Paragraph

In a large bowl, sift together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Set the bowl aside. Melt the margarine in a small saucepan. Crack the egg into a medium-size bowl, then add the milk and melted margarine. Whisk until everything is well mixed, add the flour mixture to the egg mixture and whisk again until both mixtures are blended together. Put extra margarine in the saucepan and heat it on the stovetop on medium heat. It is hot enough when the margarine starts to bubble. Put some blueberries on top of each pancake. Cook your pancakes on medium heat until small bubbles appear on the top. Use a spatula to see when your pancakes are light brown on the bottom. When they are, flip them over with the spatula. Cook for another few minutes until the pancakes are light brown on the other side, then remove your pancakes and put them on plates.

 

c) Descriptive Paragraph

The lemur has a moist nose and a cleft upper lip. It has a striking fox like muzzle and a good sense of smell. Most lemurs have nails on the fingers and toes, except for the second toe, which bears a claw. This is called the ‘toilet claw,’ because it is used in grooming. Lemurs also groom their fur with the tongue and the lower front teeth, which slant outward almost horizontally. Generally speaking, lemurs and their relatives are small mammals with thick or woolly hair and large eyes. Some have long bushy tails; others, rat-like tails; a few, only a stub.

 

d) Comparison Paragraph

Dogs are social, gregarious creatures and are most content in a pack situation. A dog taken to his or her owner's work place to be with its owners will be just as happy as when it is at home. By comparison, a cat taken to its owner's workplace is usually very fearful and anxious. Cats are not, generally, gregarious and do not develop strong pack structures where leadership is an important function. Wild or feral cats are mostly solitary creatures, hunting alone. While they will form groups, this is more a sharing of a common territory than the establishment of a cohesive pack. Cats are extremely territorial and, when fights over territory occur, the result is that the loser learns to avoid that successor but not to leave the territory.

 

e) Contrast Paragraph

There are several characteristics which distinguish plants from animals.

Green plants are able to manufacture their own food from substances in the environment. This process is known as photosynthesis. In contrast, animals, including man, get their food either directly from plants or indirectly by eating animals which have eaten plants. Plants are generally stationary. Animals on the other hand, can usually move about. In external appearance, plants are usually green. They grow in a branching fashion at their extremities, and their growth continues throughout their lives. Animals, however, are very diverse in their external appearance. Their growth pattern is not limited to their extremities. It is evenly distributed and only occurs in a definite time period.