Question: 1. What is the main idea of the first paragraph?
a. The girl’s name is Ayu Okvitawanli.
b. Mysterious murders. c. The youngest novelist in Indonesia.
d. Mysterious novel. Answer: c. The youngest novelist in Indonesia. The point of the first paragraph
makes about a topic Additionally, a paragraph has 3 structures; they are a topic sentence,
supporting details, and a concluding or transitional sentence McWorther, 2010; Wingersky et. al, 1999. The explanations of them in brief are presented in the
following parts.
2.1.3.1 A Topic Sentence
The main idea of a paragraph usually presented in a sentence, and that sentence is known as a topic sentence which the most general statement in the
paragraph. As what Wong, 1998:366 assumes that topic sentence is the sentence in a paragraph that states the main idea. McWorther 2010:140 says that a topic
sentence should make clear what the paragraph is about its topic and make a point about the topic. At last, although a topic sentence can be located anywhere in a
paragraph, it is usually in the first or the last McWorther, 2012:151. Here is the example of topic sentence in the question:
Ayu Okvitawanli The girl’s name is Ayu Okvitawanli. Now, she is 13 years old and she
is in the first year of SMP Penabur, Jakarta. She becomes one of the people recorded in MURI Museum Rekor Indonesia. Do you know why? Yes, she is
the youngest novelist in Indonesia. Her novel is entitled Siapa Pembunuh Misterius itu? This novel tells about mysterious murders.
Ayu enjoys studying and reading very much. Her favorite subjects are Science, Math, and English. Her favorite writers are N.H Dini, J.K. Rowling,
and the queen of detective stories: Agatha Christie.
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Mandiri: Practice Your English Competence for VII grade SMP, Erlangga, written by Nur Zaida, 2009:57
Question: 1. What is the topic sentence of the first paragraph?
a. This novel tells about mysterious murders. b. Ayu is the youngest novelist in Indonesia.
c. The girl’s name is Ayu Okvitawanli.
d. One of the people recorded in MURI. Answer: b. Ayu is the youngest novelist in Indonesia. The sentence that states
the paragraph’s main idea
2.1.3.2 Supporting Details
The sentences that explain and support the topic sentence are called supporting details. These details may be facts, evidence, reasons, statistics, personal
experience, definitions and examples McWorther, 2012; Wong, 1998. In addition, it necessary to provide concrete details that work together to support the topic sentence.
Here is the example of supporting details in the question: Ayu Okvitawanli
The girl’s name is Ayu Okvitawanli. Now, she is 13 years old and she is in the first year of SMP Penabur, Jakarta. She becomes one of the people
recorded in MURI Museum Rekor Indonesia. Do you know why? Yes, she is the youngest novelist in Indonesia. Her novel is entitled Siapa Pembunuh
Misterius itu? This novel tells about mysterious murders.
Ayu enjoys studying and reading very much. Her favorite subjects are Science, Math, and English. Her favorite writers are N.H Dini, J.K. Rowling,
and the queen of detective stories: Agatha Christie. Mandiri: Practice Your English Competence for VII grade
SMP, Erlangga, written by Nur Zaida, 2009:57 Question:
1. What subjects does Ayu like? a. Math
b. English and Science c. Math and English
d. English, Math and Science
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Answer: d. English, Math and Science These subjects explain about Ayu’s favorite
subjects as stated in the seventh line of the second paragraph
2.1.3.3 A Concluding or Transitional Sentence
