1

Academic Writing Skills

Topic 7: Understanding Text Organization (Tutorial)
Task 1
Identify the topic and controlling idea in the given topic sentences.
1. There are many reasons why pollution in ABC Town is the worst in the world.
2. To be an effective CEO, one must have certain characteristics.
3. There are many possible contributing factors to global warming.
4. Fortune hunters encounter many difficulties when exploring a shipwreck.
5. Dogs make wonderful pets because they help you to live longer.
6. Crime in poverty-stricken areas occurs as a result of a systematic discrimination.
7. Teen pregnancy may be prevented by improved education.
8. Cooking requires a number of different skills.
9. It is important to be ready before buying house.
10. Graduating from high school is important for many reasons.
11. Having a first child is difficult because of the significant adjustments in your life.
12. Remodeling a kitchen requires research and a good eye.

Task 2
Identify the Topic Sentence in the given paragraphs.
Paragraph 1
Hurricanes, which are also called tropical cyclones, exert tremendous power. These violent
storms are often a hundred miles in diameter, and their winds can reach velocities of
seventy-five miles an hour, or more. Furthermore, the strong winds, and heavy rainfall that
accompany them can completely destroy a small town in a couple of hours. The energy that
is released by a hurricane in one day exceeds the total energy consumed by mankind
throughout the world in one year.

BOM 8, BAF 4, BPT 13, BTS 2 (January 2022) Zikura International College
 2

Paragraph 2
Does a hot, humid summer’s day make you feel grumpy? Does a rainy day make you feel
depressed? The weather seems to affect people’s moods. Hot weather makes some people
irritable, while others love the heat, and are very happy and cheerful on a summer’s day.
Others do not mind the heat but say they hate it when it is humid because the humidity
makes them tired.

Paragraph 3
In most schools, courses are offered in English, math, science, geography, history and
physical education. Some schools also offer art, music, industrial science, home economics,
computer science, foreign languages, business studies, and even agricultural lessons. A lot of
schools provide the opportunity before, during or after school for students to participate in
sport, cultural clubs, and other activities. Schools are also there to help students with
problems, reward students for achievement, and punish students for unacceptable
behaviour, and in some case, even to feed students in addition to educating them. Schools
address a large variety of needs.

TASK 3
Identify the following elements in the given paragraph.
1. Topic sentence
2. Topic
3. Controlling idea.
4. Explanation.
5. Examples.
6. Concluding sentence.

Gold, a precious metal, is prized for three important reasons. Firstly, gold has a lustrous
beauty that makes it suitable for jewelry and ornamental purposes. Secondly, it is resistance
to corrosion. For example, an ancient Roman coin remains as untarnished today as the day it
was minted two thousand years ago. Furthermore, for many years, gold has been used in
hundreds of industrial applications. Its most recent use has been in astronauts’ suits.

BOM 8, BAF 4, BPT 13, BTS 2 (January 2022) Zikura International College
 3

Astronauts wear gold-plated heat shielding for protection outside the ship. In conclusion,
gold is not only treasured for its durability and beauty, but also for its utility.

Task
*Choose a topic of your choice
*Write one body paragraph (including at least three supporting details )
*Type the paragraph (label the parts; topic sentence, supporting details, details,
concluding sentence)

BOM 8, BAF 4, BPT 13, BTS 2 (January 2022) Zikura International College