段落結構

第二課：Supporting Details

        當你決定了主題句 (Topic sentence)後，下一步便是提出論點，支持或說明你的主題句，包括：

       Examples, information, evidence, facts etc.

例如：

       A final examination in a course will give a student the initiative to do his or her best work throughout the course. Students who are only taking notes and attending classes in order to pass a few short tests will not put forth their best effort. For instance, some of my friends in drama, in which there is no final examination, take poor notes, which they throw away after each short test. Skipping classes also becomes popular. Imagine the incredible change a final examination would produce. Students would have to take good notes and attend all classes in order to be prepared for the final examination.

--- Suzanne Gremillion

     這段落的中心思想說明：“ The advantages of the final examination”。首句先點明主旨，並以戲劇班為例，加強主題的說服力，每句的意思都環繞著這個中心開展，作出比較，最後一句撮要本段意思。

     現以表列出此段之結構，令大家更容易明白。

Exercise:

1. Divide the following paragraph into three parts: introduction, supporting details and conclusion.
2. Which sentence has the main idea of the paragraph?
3. The writer must support his main idea. How many reasons or examples does the writer give?
4. Does the writer give details to explain each reason or example?
5. Does the writer use any special words in the discussion to help you understand how many reasons or examples he has?
6. What does the conclusion do? Does it give a summary, hope for a change or give advice?

      Times Squares is unquestionably the center of entertainment in New York City. There are nearly a hundred Broadway theaters and Off-Broadway stages. People can choose many kinds of musicals from international well-known classical to lively and unusual productions. For example, I have seen several Broadway shows like “Cats” and “Miss Saigon.” I enjoyed the emotional songs and experienced their joys and sadness. Besides Broadway theaters, there are a lot of movie theaters in which most recent Hollywood first-run films are shown. People can see different popular films and spend a whole day in these theaters. Moreover, during lunchtime, there are some street performances such as Jazz and Hard Rock. People crowd the street and listen to ethnic and experimental music with special sound effects. As a result, no one feels bored in Times Squares as it brings her or him a rich variety of entertainment like Broadway musicals, movies and street shows.

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