A2 Lesson 1: Understanding that Sentences on One Topic Go Together
You know how to write good sentences. But when we write in English, we don't just write a long list of sentences. We organize1 them into groups called paragraphs2.
Today, we will learn the most important rule of a paragraph: all the sentences in one paragraph must be about the same topic3.
What is a Paragraph?
Think of a paragraph as a basket for fruit. If your topic is "Mangoes," you only put sentences about mangoes in that basket. A sentence about your motorcycle does not belong. A paragraph works the same way; all the sentences connect to one main idea.
A Good Paragraph ✅ (All sentences are about the same topic)
My motorcycle is very useful. I use it to go to work every day. It is red and black, and it is not very old. It helps me travel around Kampot easily.
The topic is "My motorcycle." Every sentence gives information about the motorcycle.A Bad Paragraph ❌ (One sentence is off-topic4)
My motorcycle is very useful. I use it to go to work every day. My sister likes to read books. It helps me travel around Kampot easily.
The sentence "My sister likes to read books" does not belong. It is not about the motorcycle.✍️ First Paragraph Checklist
When you look at a paragraph, ask these questions:
- ✔️ What is the one main topic of this paragraph?
- ✔️ Read each sentence. Does every sentence tell me more about this topic?
- ✔️ Is there one sentence that is about a different topic? If yes, it should be removed.
🧠 Practice Quiz: Find the Sentence That Doesn't Belong
Read the paragraph below and find the one sentence that is off-topic.
Paragraph:
My new phone is fantastic. The camera takes beautiful pictures. I enjoy drinking iced coffee. It has a very long battery life and the screen is big and bright.
Which sentence does not belong?
Answer: "I enjoy drinking iced coffee." This sentence is not about the new phone.
📝 Homework: Group the Sentences
Below is a list of jumbled sentences about two different topics. Your job is to organize them into two correct paragraphs.
Jumbled Sentences:
- My dog's name is Blackie.
- My job is very interesting.
- He has short, black fur and a long tail.
- I am a receptionist at a hotel in Kampot.
- He loves to play with a ball and go for walks.
- I talk to guests from many different countries.
Write Paragraph 1 (Topic: My Job) and Paragraph 2 (Topic: My Dog) in your notebook.
(See the correct answer by looking at the organized paragraphs below.)
Paragraph 1 - My Job
My job is very interesting. I am a receptionist at a hotel in Kampot. I talk to guests from many different countries.
Paragraph 2 - My Dog
My dog's name is Blackie. He has short, black fur and a long tail. He loves to play with a ball and go for walks.
Vocabulary Glossary
- Organize: (Verb) - រៀបចំ - To arrange or put things in a neat, logical order. ↩
- Paragraph: (Noun) - កថាខណ្ឌ - A group of sentences about one main idea, usually starting on a new line. ↩
- Topic / Main Idea: (Noun) - ប្រធានបទ / គំនិតចម្បង - The one subject that a piece of writing is about. ↩
- Off-topic: (Adjective) - ខុសប្រធានបទ - Not about the main subject; irrelevant. ↩
- Connect: (Verb) - ភ្ជាប់ - To join or be related to something.