Writing+Skill+5

listen [|here] Writing Skill 5: WRITE SUPPORTING PARAGRAPHS ON READING PASSAGES A supporting paragraph on the ideas in the reading passage should be very brief. It should state the topic and the main points of the reading passage as briefly as possible. Look at the notes on the reading passage on hindcasting and the supporting paragraph that is based on the notes. .

TOPIC OF READING PASSAGE: hindcasting (trying to determine what

weather was like in the past) main points about the topiC:

• detailed weather records kept for less than a century

• proxies (information from various other fields) used to hindcast weather

The reading passage discusses the technique of hindcasting, which is a method used by meteorologists to try to determine what the weather was like in the past. According to the reading passage, detailed weather records have been kept for less than a century. As

a result, meteorologists have been able to find out what weather was like in the past by using proxies,which are pieces of information from other fields. .

As you read the supporting paragraph on the reading passage, you should note that it covers the topic and the main points of the reading passage very briefly. Now look at the notes on the listening passage on emotions and the supporting paragraph that is based on the notes.

TOPIC OF READING PASSAGE: similarities in emotions from culture to culture main points about the topic:

• same emotions around the world

• same facial expressions to show emotions around the world

• conclusion that emotions are intrinsic (natural)

In the reading passage, the author discusses some facts about emotions. These facts are that people around the world express the. same emotions and that people around the world use the earns facial expreeelone to show emotions. From these facts, the author draws

the conclusion that emotions are intrinsic, or natural, rather than acquired.or learned.

As you read the supporting paragraph on the reading passage, you should again note that it covers the topic and the. main points of the reading passage very briefly.

The following chart outlines the key information you should remember about writing sup­porting paragraphs on reading passages.