Lesson 29b Remove Irrelevant Details

1
Lesson 29b Remove Irrelevant Details

• Today we will eliminate unimportant sentences
  from paragraphs to improve their unity.
• Irrelevant detail an unimportant fact that does
  not support the main idea of a paragraph and
  should therefore be taken out.

2
Which sentence in this paragraph does not support
the main idea?

• My neighbor Wanda is the craziest lady in town.
  She only comes out at night to look in peoples
  windows. Newspapers from decades ago fill her
  living room to the ceiling. Loud singing noises
  can be heard from her house every morning. My
  other neighbor Jake thinks shes weird. A very
  strange smell is coming out of her garage. Little
  kids fear her.

3
Which sentence in this paragraph does not support
the main idea?

• My neighbor Wanda is the craziest lady in town.
  She only comes out at night to look in peoples
  windows. Newspapers from decades ago fill her
  living room to the ceiling. Loud singing noises
  can be heard from her house every morning. My
  other neighbor Jake thinks shes weird. A very
  strange smell is coming out of her garage. Little
  kids fear her.

4
Which sentence in this paragraph does not support
the main idea?

• Disneyland is the greatest theme park in
  Southern California. Their rides range from
  thrilling to relaxing, so there is something for
  everybody, no matter their age. Restaurants of
  all kinds can be found to accommodate every
  taste. My cousin prefers Magic Mountain. Each and
  every land has its own theme and feel to it. A
  day spent at Disneyland is a good day!

5
Which sentence in this paragraph does not support
the main idea?

• Disneyland is the greatest theme park in
  Southern California. Their rides range from
  thrilling to relaxing, so there is something for
  everybody, no matter their age. Restaurants of
  all kinds can be found to accommodate every
  taste. My cousin prefers Magic Mountain. Each and
  every land has its own theme and feel to it. A
  day spent at Disneyland is a good day!

6
Which sentence in this paragraph does not support
the main idea?

• Cats make better pets than dogs. Not only
  are cats quieter and less messy, but they also
  require far less maintenance. While dogs need
  constant attention and upkeep, cats, on the other
  hand, are independent and can take care of
  themselves. Russian Fighting Hamsters also make
  good pets. Both cats and dogs have their pros and
  cons, but the cat comes out on top for easiest
  pet care ever.

7
Which sentence in this paragraph does not support
the main idea?

• Cats make better pets than dogs. Not only
  are cats quieter and less messy, but they also
  require far less maintenance. While dogs need
  constant attention and upkeep, cats, on the other
  hand, are independent and can take care of
  themselves. Russian Fighting Hamsters also make
  good pets. Both cats and dogs have their pros and
  cons, but the cat comes out on top for easiest
  pet care ever.

8
Which sentence in this paragraph does not support
the main idea?

• The L.A. Lakers are the greatest team in the
  NBA. They have won so many national championship
  titles it is almost impossible to count. The
  Lakers stand for determination, integrity, and
  sportsmanship. These men are willing to give 100
  of themselves to their team and work together to
  achieve a common goal. My dad likes the Lakers
  but he also likes the Bulls. Just look to the
  Lakers for the most outstanding team in the
  entire NBA.

9
Which sentence in this paragraph does not support
the main idea?

• The L.A. Lakers are the greatest team in the NBA.
  They have won so many national championship
  titles it is almost impossible to count. The
  Lakers stand for determination, integrity, and
  sportsmanship. These men are willing to give 100
  of themselves to their team and work together to
  achieve a common goal. My dad likes the Lakers
  but he also likes the Bulls. Just look to the
  Lakers for the most outstanding team in the
  entire NBA.

10
Classwork

• Write a 5-sentence paragraph about any sports
  team. (Make it up if necessary.) Start with a
  main idea, then add RELEVANT supporting details.