ENGLISH 8

Quarter 4 – Module 2
Reading Comprehension
Lesson
IDENTIFYING POSITIONS OF
Lesso
n 1 A TOPIC SENTENCE

What Is It

Directions: Based on the activity above you were able to identify the main idea presented in
each group of pictures which leads you to the next level of understanding the lesson.
Essential questions:
 What helps you identify the main idea of the pictures?
_______________________________________________________
 Without much presentation of pictures do you think you can guess the main
idea? Why?
_______________________________________________________

A PARAGRAPH is a series of sentences that support a main idea, or point. A paragraph typically starts with
the main idea or point (also called the topic sentence), and the rest of the paragraph provides specific
details to support and develop the point.

The TOPIC SENTENCE states the main or the general idea of the paragraph. The topic sentence states
the subject and the purpose of the paragraph. The topic sentence in a paragraph summarizes what the
entire paragraph is all about. In most academic essays, though, the topic sentence is at the beginning.

Features of a topic sentence:

 it states the main idea it addresses one aspect of the subject that can be
adequately covered in one paragraph;
 it controls the other sentences in the paragraph; it is more general than the
sentences that develop it

POSITIONS OF TOPIC SENTENCE:

1. AT THE BEGINNING

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Topic sentence is usually found at the beginning of a paragraph, where it gives a preview of
and direction to the sentences that come after it.
Examples:

A brownout for students would be a horrendous disaster. The students will not
be able to check their mail. They cannot receive their e-mails either. They cannot use
the fax machine too.

Student life today is not what it was then. Students log on to web sites instead of
going to libraries. Computers look for grammatical and typographical errors in their
papers unlike before when students reviewed, reread, and reedited their work for
hours.

2. AT THE MIDDLE

Less frequently, topic sentence comes in the middle of the paragraph, especially when the
paragraph is part of a longer piece of writing.
Examples:
The bird next to me was immature. He still had brown and tawny plumage instead of
the predominantly black color of the adult. For one thing, he may never have seen
another human being. But there is a better explanation; in remote Galapagos Islands,
there are hardly any land mammals, and the hawk is very nearly the sole predator. With
no enemies and almost no competitors, it has nothing to fear and plenty to eat.

Dancing and chanting, Polynesian students give visitors to the Polynesian Culture
Center a glimpse of Hawaii’s post. Through its exhibitions, the Polynesian Culture
Center shows visitors the many elements of Hawaiian culture brought to Hawaii
by Polynesians. For example, the Center shows the similarities between the
Polynesian and Hawaiian villages with life-size models. In addition, the Center
dramatizes Hawaiian legends of ancestors journeying across oceans

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3. AT THE END

Sometimes, however, topic sentence comes at the end of the paragraph, where it draws a
conclusion or functions as a summary.
Examples:

The mountain air around a lake invigorates and pleases me. I like a lake’s
underwater life, such as minnows and trout, and I enjoy observing the plant life around
me. Most important, a lake usually has no chemicals because lake water is clean,
natural, and more refreshing for swimming. I prefer swimming in a mountain lake.

I cannot cut and paste excerpts without my computer. I need my CD-ROM to check
the spelling and change fonts of my paper. I do all these on my computer at my own
leisure. I really don’t know how to write a paper without doing it directly on the
computer.

(https://www.slideshare.net/raneybacus3/the-paragraph-and-topic-sentence)

What’s More
Activity 2: True or False

Activity 2: Write TRUE if the sentence tells a correct idea about topic sentence and FALSE if
not.
___________1. The topic sentence does not entirely tell the idea of the paragraph.
___________2. The topic sentence states the subject and the purpose of the paragraph.
___________3. The topic sentence gives the reader the idea of what he/she is going to
read.
___________4. Topic sentence is usually found at the beginning of a paragraph.
___________5. A paragraph must only contains one main idea.
___________6. A paragraph is a group of related sentences that present and develop one
main idea.
___________7. A topic sentence maybe found at the beginning, middle and end of the
paragraph.
___________8. The topic sentence in a paragraph summarizes what the entire paragraph is
all about.
___________9. One cannot identify the topic sentence if he/she does not understand the
whole paragraph.
___________10. A topic sentence is usually a question.

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What I Have Learned
A
Activity 3: HONING THE MIND
Directions: Read  the  paragraphs.  Underline  the  topic  sentence and identify where it is
located. (Beginning, Middle, End).

1. My  brothers  all  have  jobs.  My  oldest  brother,  Edward,  is  a  doctor  at  the
hospital  in  the  centre  of   the  city,  and  the  second  oldest,  Daniel,  is  an
accountant  in  an  office  near  our  home.  My  youngest   brother  is  a  policeman.
I  am  the  only  brother  who  is  still  at  school.
Answer: _________________________
https://bit.ly/3d9ShJf

2. Miniature golf is both fun and relaxing. Because of the wide variety of course
themes, playing each individual course is like taking a mini-vacation. You can play
in exotic locales like jungles or pirate islands. You can travel in time and play in
different places in history. Or you can take a leap of the imagination and play under
the sea, in space, or in alien worlds. For a very low price, you can take a different
vacation every time you play! 
Answer: __________________

https://bit.ly/2UVpy4S

3. First of all, celebrities have to look almost perfect all the time. There’s always a
photographer ready to take an unflattering picture of a famous person looking
dumpy in old clothes. Celebrities also sacrifice their private lives. Their personal
struggles, divorces, or family tragedies all end up as front-page news. Last, and
most frightening of all, celebrities are in constant danger of the wrong kind of
attention. Threatening letters and even physical attacks from crazy fans are things a
celebrity must contend with. Thus, being a celebrity is often difficult.
Answer: ___________________
https://bit.ly/2Bjdhjw

4. People lie for different reasons.One common reason is to avoid hurting someone’s
feelings. For example, a friend might ask, “Do you like my new haircut?“ If you think

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it’s ugly, you might still answer, “Yes.” Another common reason for lying is to avoid
a fight. 6Say a friend angers you and then asks, “Are you upset with me?” You
might answer, “No,” to avoid an argument. People also lie so that they’ll fit in, as
when you listen to a boring person and politely say, “That’s interesting.” In addition,
people lie to avoid spending more time with someone. For instance, you might lie, “I
have to go now.” Answer: ________________________

https://bit.ly/2Bjdhjw

5. There are several positive ways to encourage your family to exercise more often.
To begin with, get them to exercise more often by emphasizing how good they’ll
feel and how much better they’ll look if they work out on a regular basis. A second
method you can use is to set an example. If they see you walking to stores rather
than driving, they might be encouraged to do likewise. Finally, make exercise a
family activity, suggest that the whole family go hiking or camping.
Answer: _________________________

https://bit.ly/2Bjdhjw

Lesson
e
Distinguishing Between
s General and
s
Specific Statements
o
n

4 9
What Is It

General Ideas usually express the point or main idea of a piece of writing.
They present the topic of a paragraph, essay, or a book and make a
statement about it, usually a claim that needs to be proven.

Specific Ideas provide evidence to further define the general or main idea
and prove that it is valid.

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Sample Paragraph 1:

1 My dog Pan is so much fun to play. 2 One reason he’s fun is because he
loves to play catch. 3 What’s also fun is that he follows me around the house
with a toy and drops it on my foot, so I will kick it. 4 Additionally, he can
catch just about anything, but his favorite thing to catch is a Frisbee. 5 Finally,
he loves it when I pretend like I’m falling dead, and he runs over to lick me. 6
All these reasons show why I really have fun playing with Pan.

In paragraph 1, the first sentence is the general statement. There is only one
general idea. General idea can be presented at the beginning or at the end of
a paragraph. The general idea has function to tell you (as the reader) what
the author is going to say. While statements 2-5 are the specific ideas or
supporting details that support the main idea. And the last

statement is the concluding sentence.

What Is It

General Ideas usually express the point or main idea of a piece of writing.
They present the topic of a paragraph, essay, or a book and make a
statement about it, usually a claim that needs to be proven.

Specific Ideas provide evidence to further define the general or main idea
and prove that it is valid.

Sample Paragraph 1:

1 My dog Pan is so much fun to play. 2 One reason he’s fun is because he
loves to play catch. 3 What’s also fun is that he follows me around the house
with a toy and drops it on my foot, so I will kick it. 4 Additionally, he can
catch just about anything, but his favorite thing to catch is a Frisbee. 5 Finally,
he loves it when I pretend like I’m falling dead, and he runs over to lick me. 6
All these reasons show why I really have fun playing with Pan.

In paragraph 1, the first sentence is the general statement. There is only one
general idea. General idea can be presented at the beginning or at the end of
a paragraph. The general idea has function to tell you (as the reader) what

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the author is going to say. While statements 2-5 are the specific ideas or
supporting details that support the main idea. And the last

statement is the concluding sentence.

Sample Paragraph 2:

1.The country of Israel is now one of the most progressive countries of the world.
2 It was born in 1948. 3 Jews from all parts of the world came to settle in Israel.
4.They cleared the land, they planted crops, they built industrial and manufacturing
centers. 5 Today, the income per capita of Israel is higher than most countries of the east.

In sample paragraph 2, the first sentence is the general statement. There is

only one general idea. General idea can be presented at the beginning or at
the end of a paragraph. The general idea has function to tell you (as the
reader) what the author is going to say. While statements 2-4 are the specific
ideas or supporting details that support the main idea. The last statement is
the concluding sentence.

What I Have Learned

Activity 4A: Let’s Do It!

What is the General Word?
Directions: Give the general term of the following words?
Example: pants, T-shirt, gloves, socks- clothes

Specific Word General Word

1. pincers, screw driver, hammer, drill

2. piano, guitar, drums, violin

3. boxing, basketball, football, skate board

4.
5. tiger, bear, snake, lion

6. oil, water, ink, gasoline

7. tenor, bass, alto, soprano

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