Pharagrap activity

From Rules for Writers, Building effectiveparagraphs (40-42).

Underline the topic sentence in thefollowing paragraph and highlight anymaterial that does not clarify or developthe central idea:

Quilt making has served as an importantmeans of social, political, and artisticexpression for women. In the nineteenthcentury, quilting circles provided one of thefew opportunities for women to forge socialbonds outside of their families. Once a weekor more, they came together to sew as wellas trade small talk, advice, and news. Theyused dyed cotton fabrics much like thefabrics quilters use today; surprisingly,quilters basic materials havent changedthat much over the years. Sometimes thewomen joined their efforts in support of apolitical cause, making quilts that would beraffled to raise money for temperancesocieties, hospitals for sick and woundedsoldiers, and the fight against slavery. Quiltmaking also afforded women women a means of artistic expression at a time whenthey had few other creative outlets. Withintheir socially acceptable roles ashomemakers, many quilters subtly pushedback at the restrictions on them byexperimenting with color, design, andtechnique.