English 9 and Bible Miss McCoy Lesson #12: Topic Sentences, Drama

Paragraph Writing Recall: a paragraph is a group of sentences focused on one main Idea. Each paragraph contains a TOPIC SENTENCE. Your topic sentence is usually at the start of the paragraph.

Topic Sentences The topic sentence contains the central idea around which a paragraph is developed. A good topic sentence serves as a foundation for a good paragraph.

Topic Sentences A good Topic Sentence has the following five characteristics: 1.It introduces the topic of a paragraph without announcing it. 2.It hooks the reader. 3.It plants questions in the readers' mind.

Topic Sentences 4. It uses thought-provoking words. 5. It is usually the first sentence. Not all topic sentences will contain every single characteristic.

Topic Sentences A topic sentence is NOT simply a statement of fact. A fact does not contain any controlling ideas that can be easily explained, described, illustrated or analyzed.

Topic Sentences There are two kinds of topic sentences: 1. A statement of opinion A statement of opinion contains some form of judgment and the paragraph will support the opinion in the topic sentence.

Topic Sentences 1. A statement of opinion Example: The computer is the greatest invention of the twentieth century.

Topic Sentences 2. A statement of intent A statement of intent contains no opinion; instead, it informs the reader of what will be objectively explained in the paragraph.

Topic Sentences 2. A statement of intent Example: The common seasoning monosodium glutamate (MSG) has negative side effects.

~ A topic sentence must predict or promise what follows, so it cannot be a question. Topic Sentences

Weak: Should schools provide free computers for their students? Better : Since schools should assist students in their studies, they must offer students the advantage of free and easy access to computers. Topic Sentences

~Phrases such as “I think” or “in my opinion” weaken topic sentences. Your writing is always your opinion, so you don’t need these phrases unless they are central to the idea that you are trying to convey. Topic Sentences

Weak: I think that it is important for every woman to carry mace or pepper spray. Better: As violent criminals take over the city streets, women must carry mace or pepper spray to protect themselves.

Topic Sentences ~ A topic sentence needs to be clear and specific, so that it can predict and summarize the rest of the paragraph for the reader.

Topic Sentences Weak: Public transit is terrible. Better: Incapable of providing reliable, comfortable service, the San Francisco Municipal Transit system is failing its ridership.

Topic Sentences ~A topic sentence must be coherent so that the reader can use it as a key to the rest of the paragraph.

Topic Sentences Weak: The differences of their classes, indeed, were not more potent than the differences among the population. Better: Bosnia is split apart not by any economic class differences, but by racial and ethnic conflicts.

Topic Sentences ~The rest of the sentences must: Fulfill the promise set by the topic sentence. Be on the same topic. Relate to each other as well as the topic sentence.

It helps to think of a topic sentence as working in two directions. It relates the paragraph to the essay's thesis, and so acts as a signpost for the argument of the essay. It also defines the scope of the paragraph itself. Therefore, it decides the direction of the essay.

Topic: Friends Who- Jen and Tony are my best friends. What- Friendship means three things. Where- At school I have many friends. When- I met my best friend last summer.

Assignment Your topic: People/Person you admire most. Come up with FOUR Topic Sentences for this topic. Follow all the rules! Think of the different ways you can write about this topic when forming your sentences.

Story Time  Revisiting The Ten Commandments  Learning About Drama

Drama Written to be acted by players on a stage before an audience. This definition may be applied to motion picture drama as well as to the traditional stage. Still has the basic elements of plot, conflict, and characters.

Drama Written in DIALOGUE ~character’s name, then the lines he speaks. Includes STAGE DIRECTIONS Also known as a PLAY

Drama Plays are divided into Acts. Acts are divided into scenes. Act and scene divisions mark passage of time or change in setting.

God Rules: The Ten Commandments by S.A. Keith

Based on Exodus Characters: -Narrator -Moses -Pharaoh -Slave Master -Israelite Slaves

Narrator: Thousands and thousands of years ago, God’s people, the Israelites, were slaves in Egypt. Their slave masters were cruel and worked them very hard. Slave Master: Slaves make bricks to build the pyramids!

Narrator: The Slave Masters beat their slaves and even killed their children! Slave Master: Everyone beat your slaves! Narrator: The Israelites cried out to God for help. Slaves: Help us God!

Narrator: So God sent Moses to save them. Moses: People I've come to help you! Narrator: God told Moses to go to Pharaoh to tell him to free the Israelites. Moses: Let my people go! Narrator: But Pharaoh was a very stubborn king and refused to obey God.

Pharaoh: [to Moses] No way. Narrator: But God would not be stopped. So he sent many plagues on Egypt to punish Pharaoh for not freeing the Israelites. God told Moses to tell Pharaoh, again, to free his people, the Jews. Moses: [to Pharaoh] Let my people go!

Narrator: But Pharaoh would not obey God. So God sent more plagues of frogs and flies to cover the land. In the final plague, Pharaoh's son was killed. Pharaoh: [to the Israelites] Get out of Egypt!

Drama How was this story different than the other stories we have read?

Drama How was this story different than the other stories we have read? ~Play (written to be performed) ~Dialogue ~Stage Directions

Resources rules-ten-commandments.htm