TOPIC SENTENCE AND PARAGRAPH

Topic Sentence should be simple, avoid general statement. Breakdown a general statement
into several more simple or specific statement
Examples of Thesis Statement
(G/S) Indonesia is a big country (Idonesia adalah sebuah negara besar
(G/S) Durian has a specific taste (Durian mempunyai rasa yang istimewa)
(G/S) Organic soil is a fertile soil (Tanah organik adalah tanah yang subur)
(G/S) Accesive N fertilizer may cause plant succulency (Pupuk N yang berlebihan
menyebabkan sukulensi pada tanaman)
(G/S) Insects cause food supply (Hama mempengaruhi persediaan pangan)
(G/S) Previous late-night heavy rain fall drawn the dust on streets (Hujan lebat tadi malam
menghanyutkan debu di jalanan)

I.

Form and organization of a paragraph.

The sentences can be structurally organized into three parts:
A. Opening/Introduction=Topic Sentence
B. Outline/Supporting Sentences
C. Concluding/Closing Sentence/Transitional Statement
This is the mechanic of writing.

Example 1:
A.

Opening/Introduction=Topic Sentence
Rubber has helped to create our present day modern civilization.

B.

Outline/Supporting Sentences
1.
Transportation and electricity
2.
Eighty percent of rubber usage in the automotive industry
3. Rubber for mechanical goods such as transmission and conveyer belts,
packing and buses
4.
Rubber in footwear and cable insulation
5.
Rubber coated fabrics to obtain waterproof properties
6.
Latex for foam rubber, dipped goods and prophylactics

C.

Concluding/Closing Sentence/Transitional Statement

Thus, we can say that we owe much of our present modern life to rubber.

Example 2:
A.

Opening/Introduction=Topic Sentence
Ornamental, landscape, or horticulture has become an integral part of any wellplanned building enterprise.

B.

Outline/Supporting Sentence
1.
a collection of trees and shrubs for color of landscape
2.
a big business for plant growers
3.
need for garden designer
4.
illustrations: landscape horticulture for office buildings and along the
various toll roads in the capital city of Jakarta

C.

Concluding/Closing Sentence/Transitional Statement

Landscape horticulture is a common phenomenon in big cities in Indonesia

Example 3:
A.

Opening/Introduction=Topic Sentence
There are two types of mushrooms: the edible and inedible kinds.

B.

Outline/Supporting Sentence
1.
2.
3.
4.

C.

definition of both types

characteristics of both types
names of both types in plant science
cultivation of the edible kind mushroom poisoning from the inedible kind

Concluding/Closing Sentence/Transitional Statement

One should be able to differ between the edible and the poisonous one.