Elizabeth Celeste Coiman-Lopez, BAT, MS.
Houston Community College, School of Continuing Education
TOPIC SENTENCE: What the paragraph is about.
SUPPORTING IDEA #1: explains the idea expressed in the topic sentence.
DETAIL 1
DETAIL 2
SUPPORTING IDEA #2: explains the idea expressed in the topic sentence.
T
DETAIL 1
DETAIL 2
SUPPORTING IDEA #3: explains the idea expressed in the topic sentence.
DETAIL 1
DETAIL 2
Concluding Sentence:
•
•
summarizes the main idea from the topic sentence .
Similar to, but not exactly as the topic sentence.
HAMBURGER STRUCTURE
2
INFORMAL
vs. FORMAL WRITING
3
RULES:
1. Think of as many ideas as possible related to your topic.
2. Don’t worry about whether the ideas are good or bad.
3. Write down all the ideas you can think of.
TOPIC: My Goals
– Financial
– Health
– Music
– Entertainment
– Friends
– Family
BRAINSTORMING
4
•
•
The TOPIC SENTENCE is your road map.
It guides the reader through the
paragraph.
• It provides the reader with the main
idea of the paragraph.
• Let’s say you want to talk about pets in
this country. For example:
The three most popular pets in the
United States are dogs, cats, and fish.
• First, write the next sentence about
dogs.
• Then you could write about cats.
• Finally, you would include information
about fish.
• Open Sentence: all three items are
mentioned and named: SPECIFIC
The three most popular pets in the
United States are dogs, cats, and fish.
TOPIC SENTENCES
vs.
• The CONCLUDING SENTENCE is
used to wrap up, or end your
paragraph.
• The topic sentence and concluding
sentence should include the same
information.
• They should not use the exact
words.
• Closed Sentence: animals are
generally mentioned but not
named: GENERAL
There are several animals that
Americans prefer as pets.
NOTE: You can use…
Open sentence for the topic sentence and a
closed sentence for the concluding
sentence.
----OR---Closed sentence for the topic sentence and
an open sentence for the concluding
sentence.
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CONCLUDING SENTENCES
RULES
TRANSITION WORDS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Good paragraphs include IDEAS
that give information and
DETAILS about the main idea.
These sentences can give
descriptions, reasons, or
examples to help the reader
clearly understand the main idea.
Write 3 ideas.
Use TRANSITION WORDS for
each idea.
Write 2 details for each supporting
idea.
Explain each detail.






First, Next, Last,
First, Second, Third,
Generally, Furthermore, Finally,
In the first place, Also, Lastly,
To be sure, Additionally, Finally,
In the first place, Just in the same
way, Finally,
IDEAS AND DETAILS
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WEB GRAPHIC ORGANIZER
1. Debts
TITLE: ________________________
2.
1. Financial
1. Musical
Travel
1.
NAME: _________________________
Exercise
My
Goals
3. Music
2.
Healthy eating
2. Health
2.
Favorite music
instrument
SAMPLE WEB ORGANIZER
7

Use COMPLETE SENTENCES with Topic, Supporting Idea, and Concluding Sentences.
TITLE
TOPIC SENTENCE
SUPPORTING IDEA #1
DETAIL #1
DETAIL #2
SUPPORTING IDEA #2
DETAIL #1
DETAIL #2
SUPPORTING IDEA #3
My Goals
There are three important goals in life that can help you be happier, like having
good finances, a good health, and at the same enjoying music.
First, having a financial security will help to appreciate life.
1.
Debts
2.
Travel
Next, being healthy is very important in order to feel well and to be happy.
1.
Exercise
2.
Healthy eating
DETAIL #1
Last, enjoying music is a very important factor in keeping up with the life’s
problems.
1.
Musical Instrument
DETAIL #2
2.
CONCLUDING
SENTENCE
Favorite music
In conclusion, working hard toward these goals will help to be happier and to
enjoy life to the fullest.
SAMPLE OUTLINE
8
Heading
Elizabeth Coiman-Lopez
Mrs. Coiman-Lopez
HCC – Pathways - Writing
October 26, 2016
First Draft
My Goals
Indent
There are three important goals in life that can help to be happier,
like having good finances, a good health, and at the same enjoying music.
First, having a financial security will help to appreciate life. Paying all the debts,
you will have extra money to travel anywhere you want to go. You will be grateful
of what you have and you will be able to help other people. Next, being healthy
is very important in order to feel well and to be happy. Eating healthy is an
important step toward feeling well. Also, exercising regularly can keep the body
in shape and improve life. Last, enjoying music is a very important factor in
keeping up with the life’s problems. Practicing a musical instrument or learning to
play one, will help to have a sense of accomplishment. At the same time,
playing, singing, or listening to a favorite music can transport you away from any
problem you might have. In conclusion, working hard toward these goals will
help to be happier and to enjoy life to the fullest.
SAMPLE PARAGRAPH
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TOPIC: Are people in your community generally happy or
unhappy?
•
•
•
•
•
•
HAPPY
Safety
Healthy
Quite Community
Social Events
Friends
Financial equality
•
•
•
•
•
•
UNHAPPY
Unsafe
Unhealthy
Noisy Community
Nothing Social
No Friends
Different financial levels
BRAINSTORMING
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