Eliminating SentencesDetermining which sentence does not belong in the paragraph…

(1) A trip to the ocean can be a relaxing escape from the everyday pressures of life. (2) A sailboat glistening on the horizon provides a mental escape to faraway places. (3) The rhythm of the ocean beating against the sand is sedating music to a troubled mind. (4) A slow gentle breeze can relax your tensions. (5) You should always be careful to avoid overexposure to the sun at the beach. (6) The next time you need a calming experience, escape to the ocean and let it relax you.

A. sentence 1 B. sentence 3 C. sentence 4 D. sentence 5

(1) A trip to the ocean can be a relaxing escape from the everyday pressures of life. (2) A sailboat glistening on the horizon provides a mental escape to faraway places. (3) The rhythm of the ocean beating against the sand is sedating music to a troubled mind. (4) A slow gentle breeze can relax your tensions. (5) You should always be careful to avoid overexposure to the sun at the beach. (6) The next time you need a calming experience, escape to the ocean and let it relax you.

A. sentence 1 B. sentence 3 C. sentence 4 D. sentence 5

(1) A trip to the ocean can be a relaxing escape from the everyday pressures of life. (2) A sailboat glistening on the horizon provides a mental escape to faraway places. (3) The rhythm of the ocean beating against the sand is sedating music to a troubled mind. (4) A slow gentle breeze can relax your tensions. (5) You should always be careful to avoid overexposure to the sun at the beach. (6) The next time you need a calming experience, escape to the ocean and let it relax you.

A. sentence 1 B. sentence 3 C. sentence 4 D. sentence 5

Take a look at the topic sentence of the paragraph.

Sentences that are not directly related to the topic sentence of the paragraph need to be eliminated.

(1) When I first brought my cat home from the Humane Society she was a mangy, pitiful animal. (2) She was so thin that you could count her vertebrae just by looking at her. (3) Apparently she was declawed by her previous owners, then abandoned or lost. (4) Sometimes she meows a lot in the middle of the night and wakes me up. (5) Since she couldn't hunt, she nearly starved. (6) Not only that, but she had an abscess on one hip. (7) The vets at the Humane Society had drained it, but it was still scabby and without fur.

A. sentence 1 B. sentence 3 C. sentence 4 D. sentence 5

(1) When I first brought my cat home from the Humane Society she was a mangy, pitiful animal. (2) She was so thin that you could count her vertebrae just by looking at her. (3) Apparently she was declawed by her previous owners, then abandoned or lost. (4) Sometimes she meows a lot in the middle of the night and wakes me up. (5) Since she couldn't hunt, she nearly starved. (6) Not only that, but she had an abscess on one hip. (7) The vets at the Humane Society had drained it, but it was still scabby and without fur.

A. sentence 1 B. sentence 3 C. sentence 4 D. sentence 5

(1) When I first brought my cat home from the Humane Society she was a mangy, pitiful animal. (2) She was so thin that you could count her vertebrae just by looking at her. (3) Apparently she was declawed by her previous owners, then abandoned or lost. (4) Sometimes she meows a lot in the middle of the night and wakes me up. (5) Since she couldn't hunt, she nearly starved. (6) Not only that, but she had an abscess on one hip. (7) The vets at the Humane Society had drained it, but it was still scabby and without fur.

A. sentence 1 B. sentence 3 C. sentence 4 D. sentence 5

Take a look at the topic sentence of the paragraph.

Sentences that are not directly related to the topic sentence of the paragraph need to be eliminated.

(1) Although most people consider piranhas to be quite dangerous, they are, for the most part, entirely harmless. (2) Piranhas rarely feed on large animals; they eat smaller fish and aquatic plants. (3) When confronted with humans, piranhas’ first instinct is to flee, not attack. (4) Their fear of humans makes sense. (5) Far more piranhas are eaten by people than people are eaten by piranhas. (6) They fry or grill the fish and then serve them with coconut milk or tucupi, a sauce made from fermented manioc. (7) If the fish are well-fed, they won’t bite humans.

A. sentence 2 B. sentence 3 C. sentence 5 D. sentence 6

(1) Although most people consider piranhas to be quite dangerous, they are, for the most part, entirely harmless. (2) Piranhas rarely feed on large animals; they eat smaller fish and aquatic plants. (3) When confronted with humans, piranhas’ first instinct is to flee, not attack. (4) Their fear of humans makes sense. (5) Far more piranhas are eaten by people than people are eaten by piranhas. (6) They fry or grill the fish and then serve them with coconut milk or tucupi, a sauce made from fermented manioc. (7) If the fish are well-fed, they won’t bite humans.

A. sentence 2 B. sentence 3 C. sentence 5 D. sentence 6

(1) Although most people consider piranhas to be quite dangerous, they are, for the most part, entirely harmless. (2) Piranhas rarely feed on large animals; they eat smaller fish and aquatic plants. (3) When confronted with humans, piranhas’ first instinct is to flee, not attack. (4) Their fear of humans makes sense. (5) Far more piranhas are eaten by people than people are eaten by piranhas. (6) They fry or grill the fish and then serve them with coconut milk or tucupi, a sauce made from fermented manioc. (7) If the fish are well-fed, they won’t bite humans.

A. sentence 2 B. sentence 3 C. sentence 5 D. sentence 6

Take a look at the topic sentence of the paragraph, as well as the context of the argument being developed..

Sentences that are not directly related to the topic sentence of the paragraph need to be eliminated.

(1) Advertising affects our lives everyday. (2) Brand names are common household words. (3) We start each day using the toothpaste, soap, and breakfast foods promoted by advertisers. (4) Ads have made the cars we drive signs of our success. (5) We can determine how successful we are based on how the car we drive is portrayed in ads. (5) Our choices of food, dress, and entertainment are swayed by ads. (6) Not one aspect of American life is untouched by advertising.

A. sentence 6 B. sentence 5 C. sentence 3 D. sentence 2

(1) Advertising affects our lives everyday. (2) Brand names are common household words. (3) We start each day using the toothpaste, soap, and breakfast foods promoted by advertisers. (4) Ads have made the cars we drive signs of our success. (5) We can determine how successful we are based on how the car we drive is portrayed in ads. (5) Our choices of food, dress, and entertainment are swayed by ads. (6) Not one aspect of American life is untouched by advertising.

A. sentence 6 B. sentence 5 C. sentence 3 D. sentence 2

(1) Advertising affects our lives everyday. (2) Brand names are common household words. (3) We start each day using the toothpaste, soap, and breakfast foods promoted by advertisers. (4) Ads have made the cars we drive signs of our success. (5) We can determine how successful we are based on how the car we drive is portrayed in ads. (5) Our choices of food, dress, and entertainment are swayed by ads. (6) Not one aspect of American life is untouched by advertising.

A. sentence 6 B. sentence 5 C. sentence 3 D. sentence 2

Take a look at the immediately preceding sentence (4). Does sentence 5 contribute any new information, or does it simply repeat the same idea?

Sentences that are simply repeating information that has already been stated should be eliminated.