### Class Summary Report
#### Title:
Understanding and Crafting Effective Topic Sentences
#### Synopsis:
In this lesson, students practiced identifying and creating strong topic sentences, distinguishing between topics and controlling ideas, and ensuring paragraph unity. The objective was to enhance students’ ability to write coherent paragraphs with a clear focus, essential for effective academic writing.
#### Attendance:
– Absent: Aseel, Jibakit (left early, unsure if returned)
– Total Absent: At least 2 students
#### Topics Covered:
1. **Introduction to eCourse Platform**
– Students informed about the addition to eCourse.
– Textbook and homework assignments to be accessed via eCourse.
2. **Exercise on Identifying Topics and Controlling Ideas (Page 14)**
– Exercise 4: Circling topics and underlining controlling ideas in sentences.
– Discussion on the definition of a disaster, a driver’s license, and the impact of English proficiency.
3. **Prediction Exercise**
– Writing predictions about paragraph content based on given topic sentences.
4. **Evaluating Topic Sentences**
– Identifying strong and weak topic sentences.
– Discussion on the concept of ‘authenticity’ using examples like Persian rice and Beshbarmak.
5. **Writing Improved Topic Sentences**
– Students corrected weak topic sentences to make them more specific and informative.
6. **Paragraph Unity and Coherence**
– Explanation of unity in writing.
– Analysis of a sample paragraph for unity.
– Exercise on identifying supporting details that match the topic sentence.
#### Actionable Items:
– **Platform Familiarization**
– Ensure all students have access to and understand how to use eCourse.
– **Follow-up on Absentees**
– Check in with Aseel and Jibakit regarding their absences.
– **Review of Key Concepts**
– Reinforce the distinction between topics, controlling ideas, and supporting details in future lessons.
#### Homework:
– Complete Exercise 3 (Problems 4 through 7) on Page 19 of the PDF available on eCourse.
– Focus on creating strong topic sentences and ensuring paragraph unity.