Cycle: A2-11: Writing Activity

Name: Date: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

UNIT 4 THE BODY

SUPPORTING SENTENCES
llJ Read the following paragraph and underline the topic sentence. (Remember, the topic sentence gives the
main idea of the paragraph.)
Last week, I caught a very bad cold. At first, I only had a sore throat. Then I started to cough and sneeze a
lot. My mom took my temperature, and it was warmer than normal. I went to bed early, but I wasn't really
tired, so I drank some chamomile tea to help me sleep. The next day, I felt a little better. And after four days,
the cold was finally gone .

./ List the details from the paragraph in the correct columns.

the symptoms I the mother's actions I the writer's actions the length of the illness

./ A good paragraph contains atopic sentence and details. The sentences with details are called supporting
sentences because they support the idea in the topic sentence.

DRead the following paragraph then eross out the sentence that is NOT agood supporting sentence.
I do several things every day to stay healthy. For example, I always get some exercise. On some days I run
or play tennis, and on other days I just go for a long walk. Another thing I do to stay healthy is to watch my
diet. I avoid sweets. and I eat as many vegetables as possible. My dad is the best cook in the family. Finally,
I get enough sleep at night. That way, I feel good in the morning and I have the energy to exercise.

./ All of the supporting sentences should give details about the topic sentence.

D Write two more supporting sentences for this paragraph.

My brother Paul has an unhealthy lifestyle. Heworks too hard, and he never takes time to relax.

In addition, -----------------------------------------------
--------------------------------- . Healso _______________

I worry about my brother because of these unhealthy habits.

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T-202 Writing Activity 4
 Cycle: A2 -11: Writing Activity

Name: Date: - - - - - -- - - - - - - -- -

UNIT 5 CHALLENGES
NARRATIVES
B Number the supporting sentences in the correct sequence.
Topic sentence: I had a frightening experience last Sunday.
Supporting sentences:
____ After I got on the bus, I heard some strange sounds.
____ Fortunately, nobody was hurt, but we were all quite scared!
____ Every time the bus slowed down, there was a loud squealing sound, and then a low "clunk" when
the bus stopped.
____ I wanted to go downtown, so I took the bus.
____ After a few minutes, the bus driver tried to stop to pick up some passengers, but the bus kept
going!
____ It didn't stop until the driver went into an area with grass and some small trees.

./ Compare your answers in pairs and read the paragraph aloud to each other.

./ Which verb tense does the writer use to tell the story?

D Narratives are a type of writing for telling stories. They describe things that happened, often in the past.
./ Think of something that happened to you. Choose one of these adjectives to use in your topic sentence:

interesting Iunny unusual surprising unlucky

0 Now write your own narrative.

I had a(n) _____________ [adjective] experience ___________ [when?].

./ When you're finished, check the verbs in your paragraph. Did you use the simple past tense to describe
things that happened?

./ Read your narrative paragraph aloud to a classmate or the whole class.

Photocopiable © 2015 National Geographic Learning, Cengage Learning
Writing Activity 5 T-203