Remove the sentence that does not belong
Key Notes :
Definition and Objective:
- The activity involves identifying a sentence that doesn’t fit with the others in a given set of sentences.
- The goal is to develop skills in understanding context, coherence, and organization of ideas.
Context Clues:
- Encourage students to read all sentences carefully and look for clues in the sentences (such as common topics, key words, and logical flow).
- The sentence that doesn’t belong may introduce an unrelated topic or idea.
Topic Consistency:
- Teach students to check if all sentences are related to the same topic. If one sentence shifts the topic, it is likely the one that doesn’t belong.
Logical Connections:
- Help students understand that some sentences may be facts, others may be opinions, or some might explain something, while others might describe or offer an example.
- The sentence that doesn’t belong may disrupt the logical flow of the other sentences.
Identifying Repetition or Support:
- Point out that most sentences should support or build upon each other. If a sentence doesn’t fit into the argument or description, it might not belong.
Practice with Examples:
Provide examples where students have to identify which sentence is out of place.
Example:
- My dog loves to run in the park.
- My dog enjoys playing fetch with me.
- My dog is very friendly.
- The moon is made of cheese.
(The sentence “The moon is made of cheese” doesn’t belong.)
Learn with an example
Read the paragraph about where durians are not allowed and why. One sentence does not fit the topic. Remove that sentence to improve the focus of the paragraph.
If you’re going to eat a durian, you have to know the rules. This fruit is popular in Southeast Asia, but it smells so horrible that you can’t take it everywhere. A durian smells something like old socks and onions, and its stink travels far. It’s not allowed on public transportation or taxis in the island country of Singapore. It is also illegal to litter and feed pigeons in Singapore. In other parts of Asia, durians aren’t welcome in some hotels and public places. Watch out for those ‘No Durians’ signs!
The paragraph is about where durians are not allowed and why. This sentence does not fit the topic:
It is also illegal to litter and feed pigeons in Singapore.
So, it should be taken out of the paragraph to improve the focus.Back to practice
Read the paragraph about Lin-Manuel Miranda’s successes in theatre and film. One sentence does not fit the topic. Remove that sentence to improve the focus of the paragraph.
Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote his first musical play In the Heights when he was at university. Later, Miranda had the idea to use rap music to tell the story of Alexander Hamilton, one of America’s early leaders. He turned this idea into the popular musical Hamilton, which he also starred in. In 2016, his show won eleven Tony Awards, which are the Broadway theatre awards. That year, the Academy Award for Best Picture went to the film Spotlight. Miranda also received many awards for the songs he wrote for the 2016 film Moana.
The paragraph is about Lin-Manuel Miranda’s successes in theatre and film. This sentence does not fit the topic:
That year, the Academy Award for Best Picture went to the film Spotlight.
So, it should be taken out of the paragraph to improve the focus.
let’s practice!
Read the paragraph about what the different parts of Buenos Aires are like. One sentence does not fit the topic. Remove that sentence to improve the focus of the paragraph.
Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, has many distinct neighbourhoods. One area has many homes painted in bright colours, while another offers great views of the river. In the Recoleta neighbourhood, nice hotels and restaurants line the streets. La Boca, a less fancy outer neighbourhood, is home to a famous football stadium. In the city centre, there are narrow streets that were built in the sixteenth century. But tall office buildings and modern shops are also found in Buenos Aires’s centre. New York City also has many interesting neighbourhoods, including Greenwich Village and Harlem.