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Outlining Exercise: Sing-A-Grams

Remember:

A thesis or a topic sentence must sound more like a conclusion than like an introduction.
A topic sentence must set up one logical sub-division of the thesis.
The topic sentences must be organized around one basis of sub-division. They should not overlap.
Following are four choices for the thesis sentence for a theme about work. Pick the best choice. The other three are poor thesis sentences.

Two years ago, I worked for five months at a place called SING-A-GRAMS where I delivered entertaining messages to clients.
Working at SING-A-GRAMS had its good points and its bad points, such as having to wear embarassing costumes and abusive clients.
Working at SING-A-GRAMS was frustrating.
Abusive clients made me quit SING-A-GRAMS.

Following are four choices for the topic sentence of the first paragraph of development. Pick the best choice. The other three are poor topic sentences or do not fit the pattern.

In the performance of my duties, I had to dress up in costumes.
I particularly remember my embarrassment when fighting off an abusive client wearing a skimpy French maid costume.
Some of the costumes were hot and stuffy.
The costumes were ridiculous.

Following are four choices for the topic sentence of the second paragraph of development. Pick the best choice. The other three are poor topic sentences or do not fit the pattern.

Then there was my supervisor.
My supervisor repeatedly caused extra work by giving me inaccurate information about the deliveries.
One time my supervisor created problems when she sent me to an address in Davie when it turned out that the client was in Dania.
With an incompetent supervisor and abusive clients, I had troubles on almost every delivery.

Following are four choices for the topic sentence of the third paragraph of development. Pick the best choice. The other three are poor-topic sentences or do not fit the pattern.

I don’t know which gave me more headaches: the costumes or my boss.
With all these problems, I got more and more frustrated.
Although my job was to offer a special fun experience, many of the clients reacted beyond the bounds of good taste.
Although working a SING-A-GRAMS was not worth the frustration, I have to concede that the salary and tips were terrific.

Answers

Remember:

A thesis or a topic sentence must sound more like a conclusion than like an introduction.
Thesis and topic sentences are complete sentences, not fragments or titles.
A topic sentence must set up one logical sub-division of the thesis.
The topic sentences must be organized around one basis of sub-division. They should not overlap.

Following are four choices for the thesis sentence for a theme about work. Pick the best choice. The other three are poor thesis sentences.

Two years ago, I worked for five months at a place called SING-A-GRAMS where I delivered entertaining messages to clients. No focus or conclusion offered.
Working at SING-A-GRAMS had its good points and its bad points, such as having to wear embarassing costumes and abusive clients. Two contradictory conclusions. What is the point?
Working at SING-A-GRAMS was frustrating.
Abusive clients made me quit SING-A-GRAMS. No pattern below has three topic sentences about clients.

Following are four choices for the topic sentence of the first paragraph of development. Pick the best choice. The other three are poor topic sentences or do not fit the pattern.

In the performance of my duties, I had to dress up in costumes. A fact without a conclusion.
I particularly remember my embarrassment when fighting off an abusive client wearing a skimpy French maid costume. Limits the paragraph to this one incident and leaves out too many others.
Some of the costumes were hot and stuffy. Too specific. The costumes had other problems. And the French maid costume may have been “hot,” but it wasn’t stuffy.
The costumes were ridiculous.

Following are four choices for the topic sentence of the second paragraph of development. Pick the best choice. The other three are poor topic sentences or do not fit the pattern.

Then there was my supervisor. Offers only a topic without a point about the topic.
My supervisor repeatedly caused extra work by giving me inaccurate information about the deliveries.
One time my supervisor created problems when she sent me to an address in Davie when it turned out that the client was in Dania. Too specific. Other instructions caused other problems.
With an incompetent supervisor and abusive clients, I had troubles on almost every delivery. Puts two causes in one paragraph.

Following are four choices for the topic sentence of the third paragraph of development. Pick the best choice. The other three are poor-topic sentences or do not fit the pattern.

I don’t know which gave me more headaches: the costumes or my boss. Useless transition puts two causes in one paragraph, and does not even introduce the third cause.
With all these problems, I got more and more frustrated. Repeats the thesis.
Although my job was to offer a special fun experience, many of the clients reacted beyond the bounds of good taste.
Although working a SING-A-GRAMS was not worth the frustration, I have to concede that the salary and tips were terrific. Contradicts the thesis instead of offering a third reason.
Last updated 09/24/2006

This document is protected by copyright. It may be used and reproduced only for non-profit educational use.