Writing: Building Strong Paragraphs
B1 Lesson 3: Using Supporting Sentences
Listen to the lesson examples here.
Before You Start 🧠
Key Vocabulary (Click 🔊)
Let's learn these important words for this lesson.
What is a Supporting Sentence?
A Topic Sentence makes a promise to your reader. (e.g., "My city is a great place to live.")
Supporting Sentences keep that promise. They give the "Why?" or "How?". They must be specific and relevant.
Good vs. Bad Support
Look at these two examples. The "Good" example gives specific, relevant reasons. The "Bad" example is general and goes off-topic.
For example, it improves logical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Also, students with coding skills often have more job opportunities.
Coding is very popular these days. (This is too general. It doesn't explain *why* it's valuable.)
My cousin is a computer programmer. (This is not relevant. It's about your cousin, not the skill's value.)
Your Toolkit: 3 Ways to Support a Topic Sentence
Here are three easy ways to add good support to your writing. Click 🔊 to hear the examples.
Give specific information. Answer "How much?", "How many?", or "What kind?".
- Weak: The new café is busy.
- Good: The new café is busy. It serves over 300 customers every day.
Use "For example," or "For instance," to show what you mean.
- Weak: Angkor has amazing carvings.
- Good: Angkor has amazing carvings. For instance, the walls of Angkor Wat are covered with scenes from the Ramayana.
Use "because" or "This is because" to explain *why*.
- Weak: I am saving money.
- Good: I am saving money because I want to buy a new motorbike.
Practice What You Learned 🎯
Quiz: Find the Bad Supporting Sentence
Read the topic sentence. One of the supporting sentences (A, B, or C) is "bad" (irrelevant or too general). Find the bad one. Click "Check Answers" when done.
Topic: "Siem Reap is a great city for tourists."
Which sentence does NOT support this topic?
Topic: "My new smartphone is very useful."
Which sentence does NOT support this topic?
Key Vocabulary Reference (Click 🔊)
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Supporting Sentence
A sentence that gives information to prove or explain the topic sentence.
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Relevant
Directly connected to the main topic. (Opposite: Irrelevant).
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Specific
Clear, exact, or detailed. (Opposite: General).
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For example / For instance
Words you use to introduce a specific case.
Your Writing Mission ⭐
Write Your Own Supporting Sentences
Choose one topic sentence below. Then, in your notebook or in the comments, write two (2) good supporting sentences. Try to use a Detail, an Example, or a Reason.
Topic 1: My favorite type of food is ______________.
Topic 2: It is important to ______________ (e.g., *exercise*, *learn English*, *save money*).
Topic: "I enjoy my weekends."
(Example): For example, I often go to the countryside with my friends.
(Reason): This is because I need to relax after a long week of work.