Paragraph Structure - Identifying Errors

Guided Practice

Each of the topic sentences below is poorly written. A pull-down menu after each sentence lists the following possible problems with the topic sentence:

Too general
Too specific
Announcement
Negative statement
Fact

Select the problem that you think best characterizes each topic sentence.

  1. I like tennis.

    Too general: CORRECT! This topic sentence is too general.

    Too specific: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

    Announcement: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

    Negative statement: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

    Fact: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

  2. This paragraph will discuss the benefits of a healthy diet.

    Too general: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

    Too specific: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

    Announcement: CORRECT! This topic sentence is an announcement.

    Negative statement: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

    Fact: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

  3. The Subaru Forester has a 150-horsepower engine.

    Too general: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

    Too specific: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

    Announcement: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

    Negative statement: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

    Fact: CORRECT! This topic sentence is a fact.

  4. There are several reasons why you should drink eight glasses of water every day.

    Too general: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

    Too specific: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

    Announcement: CORRECT! This topic sentence is an announcement.

    Negative statement: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

    Fact: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

  5. Winters are cold in New England.

    Too general: CORRECT! This topic sentence is too general.

    Too specific: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

    Announcement: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

    Negative statement: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

    Fact: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

  6. People shouldn't smoke.

    Too general: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

    Too specific: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

    Announcement: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

    Negative statement: CORRECT! This topic sentence is a negative statement.

    Fact: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

  7. Monolingual dictionaries have one language, and bilingual dictionaries have two languages.

    Too general: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

    Too specific: CORRECT! This topic sentence is too specific.

    Announcement: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

    Negative statement: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

    Fact: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

  8. There are many people in Boston.

    Too general: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

    Too specific: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

    Announcement: CORRECT! This topic sentence is an announcement.

    Negative statement: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

    Fact: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

  9. Point-and-shoot cameras made after 1990 use 35mm film.

    Too general: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

    Too specific: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

    Announcement: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

    Negative statement: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

    Fact: CORRECT! This topic sentence is a fact.

  10. You can purchase French perfumes in expensive blue crystal bottles.

    Too general: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

    Too specific: CORRECT! This topic sentence is too specific.

    Announcement: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

    Negative statement: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

    Fact: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

  11. Winter is a good season.

    Too general: CORRECT! This topic sentence is too general.

    Too specific: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

    Announcement: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

    Negative statement: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

    Fact: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

  12. I will tell you how to refinish an antique.

    Too general: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

    Too specific: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

    Announcement: CORRECT! This topic sentence is an announcement.

    Negative statement: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

    Fact: INCORRECT. TRY AGAIN.

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