Paragraph Unit
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Lesson 4  Supporting or Detail Sentences

 

Rule

The first sentence of a paragraph tells the main idea. It is called the topic sentence. The sentences that follow the topic sentence explain or tell more about the main idea. These sentences are called supporting or detail sentences.

 

Read the following paragraph and discuss.

 

     Earthworms may be placed in large plastic jars or small terrariums. First you need to fill the container with alternating layers of sand, soil, and peat moss. Next add enough water to make the soil mixture moist but not soggy wet. Add fresh leaves to the top of the soil. Next place the container in an area away from sunlight. This area must stay between 55 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit. Finally cover the outside of the jar or terrarium with a dark colored paper. After about five days, you may remove the paper and observe what has happened.

 

Questions:

  1. Why do these sentences make a paragraph?

  2. What is the topic sentence of the paragraph? How are you able to identify the topic sentence?

  3. Read the five detail sentences.

  4. What is the purpose of the detail sentences?

worm6.gif (9919 bytes)

 

 

 

 

Practice 1

Write yes or no to tell whether each sentence supports the main idea.

 

Main Idea: Preparing a place to build a worm bin

  1. __________Find an area in which the temperature stays between 55 to 77 degrees Fahrenheit.

  2. __________It takes about 1,000 to1,500 worms to make a pound.

  3. __________ Apples, beans, banana peels, biscuits, cereal, cheese, egg shells, lemon peels, onion peels, pizza crust, potatoes, tea leaves and tomatoes are examples of foods that worms love to eat.

  4. __________Keep your bin away from a place where it could flood.

  5. __________ Because worms need oxygen be sure the air can circulate around the bin.
     

Main Idea: How to use a worm bin

  1. __________ Worms are decomposers.

  2. __________ Place old shredded cardboard or newspapers and old leaves in the bottom of your worm bin.

  3. __________ By breaking down decaying matter worms help enrich the soil.

  4. __________ Add a small amount dirt on top of the cardboard.

  5. __________ Add enough water to the worm bin to make the soil moist, but not soggy.

  6. __________ Earthworms tunnel through the earth, mixing together the layers of soil.

  7. __________ You will need two pounds of worms for every one pound of old vegetables and fruits that you add to the worm bin.

Practice 2 Multiple Choice

  1.      1)We held a poll at our school to determine which foods students liked the best. 2)Each student wrote down their favorite food. on a slop of paper. 3)We tallied all the votes and determined that more students liked pizza than any other food. 4)I love pizza, and eat it each week. 5)Steak was the second favorite with ice cream running a close third. 6)Conducting a poll was a fun way to find the students' favorite foods.

    Which sentence does not belong?

    a)  1
    b)  2
    c)  3
    d)  4
    e)  5
    f)   6
     

  2.      Students reading How to Eat Fried Worms conducted a survey of the best and worst foods served in our school's cafeteria. Students randomly selected ten students from each grade level. Students were asked which food served in our cafeteria they liked the least and the most. The survey gave the cafeteria workers a better idea about which foods to serve or not serve.

    Which fact below could be added to the paragraph to support the main idea?

    a) Although our school staff don't serve onion rings, I really like them and think they should.
    b) My favorite food is birthday cake, because it is sweet and reminds me of a party.
    c) In the study fifteen students listed spinach as their least favorite food.
    d) Once my brother ate a dog biscuit.
     

  3.      1)You can make an edible earthworm from Tootsie Rolls. 2)Tootsie Rolls are a chewy chocolate candy that have been manufactured for over 100 years. 3)First take the wrapper off the candy. 4)Then warm the Tootsie Roll for 15 seconds in the microwave oven. 5)Next roll the Tootsie Roll between your hands forming a worm shape. 6)To make the worm look real place it on top of chocolate flavored cookie crumbs. 7)You can fool your friends into thinking you are eating a real worm.

    Which sentence does not belong?

    a)  1
    b)  2
    c)  3
    d)  4
    e)  5
    f)   6
    g)  7
     

  4.      Billy accepted several dares. One time he had even slept all night long in an igloo the boys had built in their backyard.  Why do you think people like to dare Billy to do things? Why do you think Billy accepts their dares?


    Which fact below could be added to the paragraph to support the main idea?

    a) Betting between friends can cause hard feelings.
    b) Taking dare can be dangerous.
    c) Doon took a dare to climb a light pole.
    d)     Another dare Billy took was when it was ninety-five degrees in the shade he put on all his winter clothes, his father's raccoon coat, and his ski boots then walked up and down Main Street all afternoon.

Practice 3

Take the outline you made from Lesson 2 and the topic sentences you wrote in Lesson 3. Now you are ready to create paragraphs. On a piece of notebook paper copy your first topic sentence. (NOTE: Be sure to indent.) For each set of details listed under a topic write a good detail sentence. Put these sentences in paragraph form.

 

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Worm Information Source:  The Yuckiest Site on the Internet  http://yucky.kids.discovery.com/noflash/worm/pg000104.html

 

-------------Key-------------

Practice 1

  1. yes

  2. no

  3. no

  4. yes

  5. yes

  1. no

  2. yes

  3. no

  4. yes

  5. yes

  6. no

  7. yes

Practice 2

  1. d

  2. c

  3. b

  4. d

Practice 3 Answers will vary.

 

 

 

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