THE PARAGRAPH
       TOPIC SENTENCE DEVELOPMENT   SAMPLES


                 __________________________________
                 |         TOPIC SENTENCE           |
                 |       -a generalization-         |
                 |----------------------------------|   
                 |                                  |
                 |             BODY                 |
                 |     --related particulars--      |
                 |----------------------------------|
                 |      CONCLUDING SENTENCE         |
                 |  -the generalization restated-   |
                 -----------------------------------

       1- PARTICULARS

           Today's car manufacturers have not only developed the fastest
       autos in history, but also the most comfortable and convenient.
       Soft, reclining, adjustable seats await the driver as he gets in.
       Even his feet get special attention, being cushioned on foamy floor
       carpets.  Starting the vehicle presents no problems with an
       automatic transmission.  A key is turned, a lever moved, and the
       car is off.  No matter what the weather is like,  the heater sends
       hot or cold air in to suit the occasion.  The car radio supplies
       music and news for the driver's enjoyment.  Sudden stops and sharp
       corners mean nothing as power brakes and steering can stop or turn
       the car on a dime.  Modern drivers never had it so good.


       2- ILLUSTRATION

           Sailing is an invigorating, strenuous, and enjoyable sport.
       For example, this summer my neighbour and I sailed his sixteen foot
       sailboat from Bayfield to Goderich and back again through four foot
       waves and while a twenty-five mile an hour wind was blowing.  The
       constant strain from being "hiked out" or leaning over the side to
       maintain an even keel and fighting the pull of the wind on the
       sheets was counteracted only by the invigorating breeze which kept
       us soaked with spray and wide awake.  This experience of sailing
       the boat at a speed of eight to ten knots through such bad
       conditions was one of the most enjoyable experiences we have ever
       had.  it is for this reason that I say that sailing is an
       invigorating, strenuous, and enjoyable sport.



                                        TURN OVER>>>>>>>>>>>>>


       DEVELOPMENT OF TOPIC SENTENCE                       p.2

       3- CONTRAST (Alternation of differences).

           Teenagers from the city live a different life from that of
       their country counterparts.  First of all, the adolescent from the
       city has more to entertain her.  But the country teens have nowhere
       to go.  In the city there is always a movie to watch, or a shopping
       centre in which to browse around and catch up on the latest styles,
       or the Y.W.C.A. where sports may be played.  But rural teens
       usually live more than three miles out of town, and if they are too
       young to drive, or can't have the car, they are stuck at home.  All
       the movie houses and shopping centres are either in town, or close
       to it.  For the city teen, there is always the telephone on which
       one may catch up privately on the local gossip.  But because there
       are quite a few people on the country party-line, the country teen
       can accomplish very few private conversations.  As a whole, urban
       teens lead a different life than rural teens.
                                        


       4- COMPARISON (comparison of SIMILARITIES)

           American students of the 1960s uncannily resembled Russian
       students of the 1860s.  Russian students of the 1860s wore long
       hair and beards, dressed very shabbily , seldom washed themselves
       (if at all), staged riots against the government, recited poetry
       without really understanding it, and sang folk songs to the
       accompaniment of the balalaika.  American students of the 1960s
       wore long hair and beards, dressed very shabbily, seldom washed
       themselves (if at all), staged riots against the government,
       recited poetry without really understanding it, and sang folk songs
       to the accompaniment of the guitar. Plus ca change, plus c'est la
       meme chose.

       5- ELIMINATION

           You may have been getting the wrong idea of high school
       education.  Education is not the learning of the parts of the
       miniscule flower, or the life cycle of the heptus hupabitis, or the
       process of rationalizing the quotient functions in advanced math.
       Education is not learning how Ramses II fought the mosquitoes, or
       how tall Napoleon was.  Education is not learning what kind of
       apple fell upon Newton's head, or how much force is needed to move
       a one ton truck five feet.  Education is thinking.  If you can't
       think, you are not educated.  All your facts and figures are
       useless if you cannot apply them to a solution.  Have you got the
       right view of high school education?