Paragraphs 4

This task is about identifying the main parts of a paragraph.

Question Change answer

a) Rawiri wrote a paragraph to persuade the principal that it would be a good idea to start the school day later in the morning.
The sentences of the paragraph are jumbled up.  Drag them into the right order.
  • starting-school-day-p4.png
  • for-example-p4.png
  • if-students-p4.png
  • for-these-reasons-p4.png
  • in-addition-p4.png

Question

b)  Here is Rawiri's paragraph.

Starting the school day later in the morning may help improve students’ school results.  For example, at Monkseaton High School, absenteeism has dropped by as much as 27 percent since the introduction of a 10am start to the school day.  If students are at school more often, they are likely to make better progress in their learning.  In addition, experts on sleep patterns believe that teenagers have different body clocks to younger or older people, and are able to concentrate best later in the day.  For these reasons, a later start to the school day is likely to have a positive effect on students’ achievements.

 

Read the paragraph again, then decide whether the sentence below is a topic sentence, a supporting sentence, or a summary sentence.

For example, at Monkseaton High School, absenteeism has dropped by as much as 27 percent since the introduction of a 10am start to the school day.

    • Topic sentence

    • Supporting sentence

    • Summary sentence

Question

Starting the school day later in the morning may help improve students’ school results.  For example, at Monkseaton High School, absenteeism has dropped by as much as 27 percent since the introduction of a 10am start to the school day.  If students are at school more often, they are likely to make better progress in their learning.  In addition, experts on sleep patterns believe that teenagers have different body clocks to younger or older people, and are able to concentrate best later in the day.  For these reasons, a later start to the school day is likely to have a positive effect on students’ achievements.

 

c)  Decide whether this sentence is a topic sentence, a supporting sentence, or a summary sentence.

 

In addition, experts on sleep patterns believe that teenagers have different body clocks to younger or older people, and are able to concentrate best later in the day.

    • Topic sentence

    • Supporting sentence

    • Summary sentence

Question

Starting the school day later in the morning may help improve students’ school results.  For example, at Monkseaton High School, absenteeism has dropped by as much as 27 percent since the introduction of a 10am start to the school day.  If students are at school more often, they are likely to make better progress in their learning.  In addition, experts on sleep patterns believe that teenagers have different body clocks to younger or older people, and are able to concentrate best later in the day.  For these reasons, a later start to the school day is likely to have a positive effect on students’ achievements.


d)  Decide whether this sentence is a topic sentence, a supporting sentence, or a summary sentence.


Starting the school day later in the morning may help improve students’ school results

    • Topic sentence

    • Supporting sentence

    • Summary sentence

Question

Starting the school day later in the morning may help improve students’ school results.  For example, at Monkseaton High School, absenteeism has dropped by as much as 27 percent since the introduction of a 10am start to the school day.  If students are at school more often, they are likely to make better progress in their learning.  In addition, experts on sleep patterns believe that teenagers have different body clocks to younger or older people, and are able to concentrate best later in the day.  For these reasons, a later start to the school day is likely to have a positive effect on students’ achievements.

 

e)  Decide whether this sentence is a topic sentence, a supporting sentence, or a summary sentence.

 

If students are at school more often, they are likely to make better progress in their learning.

    • Topic sentence

    • Supporting sentence

    • Summary sentence

Question

Starting the school day later in the morning may help improve students’ school results.  For example, at Monkseaton High School, absenteeism has dropped by as much as 27 percent since the introduction of a 10am start to the school day.  If students are at school more often, they are likely to make better progress in their learning.  In addition, experts on sleep patterns believe that teenagers have different body clocks to younger or older people, and are able to concentrate best later in the day.  For these reasons, a later start to the school day is likely to have a positive effect on students’ achievements.

 

f)  Decide whether this sentence is a topic sentence, a supporting sentence, or a summary sentence.

 

For these reasons, a later start to the school day is likely to have a positive effect on students’ achievements.

    • Topic sentence

    • Supporting sentence

    • Summary sentence

Question 1Change answer

g)  Choose one of the topics below and write a paragraph to persuade your reader of your opinion. Make sure your paragraph has a topic sentence, two or more supporting sentences, and a summary sentence.
 
  • Should products intended for human use be tested on animals?
  • Should the speed limit on the open road be raised?
  • Should students be allowed to eat during class?

Question 1Change answer

Read through your paragraph carefully. Think about the following questions, then edit your paragraph.
 
Have I written a clear topic sentence that tells the reader what the paragraph will be about?
Have I written one or more supporting sentences that provide detail about my main idea?
Have I written a summary sentence that rounds off the paragraph and refers back to my main idea?