Paragraph Writing
The first sentence of a paragraph is called _____.
Topic Sentence
1) First, some students postpone difficult assignments because they are unsure how to begin them.
2) In addition, students may delay their work when they feel tired, stressed, or overwhelmed by too many tasks.
3) Second, smartphones, social media, and online games can easily distract students from their responsibilities.
4) There are several reasons why students often procrastinate on their schoolwork.
5) Therefore, difficult assignments, digital distractions, and stress are some of the major reasons why students procrastinate.
4 - 1 - 3 - 2 - 5
(1) Smartphones have become an essential part of many students' daily lives.
(2) Students use their phones to communicate with classmates about assignments and group projects.
(3) They can also quickly contact their teachers when they have questions about schoolwork.
(4) Many students choose different smartphone brands based on the camera quality, design, and price.
(5) As a result, smartphones make it easier for students to stay connected with people involved in their education.
Sentence 4
It is related to smartphones and students, but focuses on choosing smartphone brands, not using smartphones to maintain educational communication.
A paper consisting of several paragraphs that support one main point is called _____.
Essay
The last sentence of a paragraph is called _____.
Concluding Sentence
1) Therefore, shared interests, information exchange, and a sense of belonging are some of the main reasons why students join online communities.
2) Second, students can exchange information, advice, and recommendations with other members of the community.
3) Many students join online communities for several reasons.
4) In addition, online communities can provide a sense of belonging for students who may not find people with similar interests in their everyday lives.
5) First, these communities allow students to connect with people who share similar interests, hobbies, or experiences.
3 - 5 - 2 - 4 - 1
(1) Part-time employment can help college students develop greater independence.
(2) Students who earn their own money can pay for some of their personal expenses without depending entirely on their parents.
(3) Having a regular income may also allow students to make their own decisions about how they spend their money.
(4) Some students choose jobs in restaurants, retail stores, or tutoring centers because these workplaces offer flexible schedules.
(5) In addition, earning money through their own work can give students a stronger sense of responsibility for their financial needs.
(6) Therefore, a part-time job can help students become more financially independent.
Sentence 4
It discusses where students work and their job preferences, while the controlling idea is how part-time employment develops financial independence.
If a paragraph has a topic sentence to explicitly show its main idea, an essay has _____.
A Thesis Statement
A topic sentence has two elements, namely ____
1) Topic
2) Controlling Idea
1) They also use social media to learn by watching educational videos, following informative accounts, and discussing academic topics with others.
2) Therefore, social media has become a significant part of how students communicate, learn, and spend their free time.
3) Social media has become an important part of how students communicate, learn, and spend their free time.
4) Many students use platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube to stay connected with friends and discover new information.
5) During their free time, many students also turn to social media for entertainment by watching short videos, following trends, and exploring content that interests them.
3 - 4 - 1 - 5 - 2
(1) Comparing academic achievement with classmates can influence students' perceptions of their own abilities.
(2) Students may feel more confident when they discover that their grades are similar to or higher than those of their classmates.
(3) On the other hand, students who consistently receive lower grades than their classmates may begin to doubt their academic abilities.
(4) Some students compare their grades before deciding which subjects they should spend more time studying.
(5) Academic competition can also encourage students to participate more actively in classroom discussions and group projects.
(6) Consequently, comparing academic performance with others can affect how students evaluate their own academic competence.
Sentence 5
It is related to academic competition, but shifts the focus to classroom participation and projects, rather than students' perceptions of their own academic abilities.
The followings are the function of _____ in an essay.
(1) Attract the reader's interest
(2) Place to find the thesis statement or the main idea.
(3) Optionally, place to find a list of points that support the thesis.
Introductory Paragraph
Which of the following sentences is most probably a topic sentence?
1) Some students face financial difficulties that make it hard for them to pay tuition fees, accommodation, and other educational expenses.
2) In addition, personal problems, such as family responsibilities, health issues, or a lack of emotional support, may make it difficult for students to continue their education.
3) Academic challenges can cause students to feel overwhelmed, especially when they struggle to understand difficult subjects or maintain good grades.
4) There are several reasons why students drop out of college before completing their studies.
5) Therefore, financial difficulties, academic challenges, and personal problems are some of the major reasons why students decide to drop out of college.
Sentence Number 4
1) As a result, online learning can be useful, but students need strong self-discipline to benefit from it.
2) At the same time, studying from home can make it harder for some students to stay focused because they are surrounded by social media, games, and other distractions.
3) Digital platforms allow students to access lessons, videos, and learning materials without being physically present in a classroom.
4) Students may also feel less motivated when they have limited interaction with their teachers and classmates.
5) The way students learn has changed significantly since online learning became more common.
5 - 3 - 2 - 4 - 1
(1) Online learning has changed the way students participate in classroom activities.
(2) Digital discussion forums give quieter students opportunities to express ideas that they might not share during face-to-face discussions.
(3) Students can also respond to their classmates' ideas after having more time to organize their thoughts.
(4) Some students prefer online classes because they can attend lessons from home without spending time traveling to campus.
(5) Recorded lessons may provide additional opportunities for students to review explanations before participating in later activities.
(6) Thus, online learning can create more flexible opportunities for students to take part in academic discussions and activities.
Sentence 4
It is related to online learning and presents a benefit, but focuses on convenience and transportation, rather than student participation.
What are two common methods of organization that we can use to organize ideas in an essay?
Time Order
Emphatic Order
Which of the following sentences is most probably the topic sentence?
1) A large number of students put off important tasks until the last possible moment.
2) Difficult assignments may feel overwhelming, so students often choose easier activities such as watching videos, playing games, or checking their phones instead.
3) For this reason, learning to manage time effectively is an important part of becoming a successful student.
4) Some students also delay their work because they believe they can perform better when they are under pressure.
5) Unfortunately, last-minute work can lead to stress, poor-quality assignments, and insufficient sleep.
Sentence number 1
1) Young people today often feel that they need to measure up to the people around them.
2) When they believe that others are doing better than they are, they may feel disappointed, insecure, or pressured to improve themselves.
3) These constant comparisons can make students focus more on what they lack than on their own progress and abilities.
4) Therefore, comparing themselves with others can have a strong influence on how students view themselves and their achievements.
5) Students may compare their grades with their classmates, their appearance with their friends, or their achievements with those of people their age.
1 - 5 - 2 - 3 - 4
(1) Comparing themselves with others can strongly influence how students evaluate their own abilities and achievements.
(2) Students may feel more confident when they discover that their academic performance is similar to that of their classmates.
(3) They may also feel encouraged when they notice that they have developed skills that some of their peers have not yet mastered.
(4) However, students who constantly see others achieving more may become dissatisfied with their own progress.
(5) Some students respond to these comparisons by setting higher goals and working harder to improve their performance.
(6) Students may also compare their future career plans with those of their peers when choosing a university major.
(7) Therefore, comparing themselves with others can significantly shape students' confidence in their own abilities and achievements.
Sentence 6
It concerns comparison with peers, but shifts from self-confidence and evaluation of abilities/achievements to choosing a university major and career planning.
According to Your Lecturer, how many supporting paragraphs should an essay at least have?
A) One
B) Two to Three
C) Three to Four
D) Four
B