A good topic sentence is
specific enough to give a clear sense of what to expect from the paragraph
, but general enough that it doesn't give everything away. You can think of it like a signpost: it should tell the reader which direction your argument is going in.
How do you write a topic sentence for a research paper?
- Identify the main point in your piece of writing.
- Write a sentence that connects to your main idea with a what and a why.
- Use the sentence you created as an opening statement.
- Create the first sentence in each supporting paragraph.
- Use new information.
What is an example of a topic sentence?
Topic Sentence Examples
Topic Sentence:
There are many reasons why pollution in ABC Town is the worst in the world. The topic is “pollution in ABC Town is the worst in the world”
and the controlling idea is “many reasons.”
What are 3 examples of a topic sentence?
- In a paragraph about a summer vacation: My summer vacation at my grandparents' farm was filled with hard work and fun.
- In a paragraph about school uniforms: School uniforms would help us to feel more unity as a student body.
- In a paragraph about how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich:
What is a topic sentence in a research paper?
A topic sentence is a
sentence that introduces a paragraph by presenting the one topic that will be the focus of that paragraph
. The structure of a paragraph should imitate the organization of a paper.
What are some topic sentence starters?
Below is a list of possible sentence starters, transitional and other words that may be useful. This essay discusses … … is explored … … is defined …
The definition of … will be given
… is briefly outlined … … is explored … The issue focused on …. … is demonstrated … … is included …
Can a topic sentence be a question?
When you're writing an academic essay, neither the
thesis statement nor the topic sentences can be questions
. Instead, they need to be declarative statements that establish and advance your claim. Reviewing some key components of the research paper-writing process can help clarify why this is the case.
What is a topic sentence in writing?
The topic sentence is usually
the first sentence of the paragraph because it gives an overview of the sentences to follow
. The supporting sentences after the topic sentence help to develop the main idea. These sentences give specific details related to the topic sentence.
How do you write a topic sentence for a rhetorical analysis?
- Topic sentence: make a claim about the strategy used (the device/style/structure used to appeal to.
- Provide textual evidence of strategy: (introduce context, text, and claim) …
- Discuss, explain textual example in relation to the strategy and claim. …
- Provide more textual evidence of strategy to advance the idea. (
What is a topic sentence 3rd grade?
The topic sentence is the sentence in the paragraph that
gives the reader not only the general topic
, but also the main idea, or what the paragraph is trying to say about the topic.
What are key sentences?
The key sentence
expresses the central claim of a paragraph
. The rest of the sentences in the paragraph elaborate or support this claim; that is, they either proceed from or tend toward it—centrifugally or centripetally, if you will. … All the other sentences are there to help that central sentence deliver its message.
Which does a topic sentence require?
A topic sentence must
highlight the main idea of a paragraph
, letting the reader know what the paragraph will be about. The topic sentence must present an idea that will unify the rest of the paragraph while relating it back to the main thesis of the paper.
What is a topic sentence vs thesis statement?
In other words, the topic sentence is
to the paragraph what the thesis is to the entire essay, chapter, or book
. While the thesis gives unity to the essay, the topic sentence gives unity to the paragraph by developing one major point suggested in the controlling idea of the thesis.
How do you introduce a topic example?
- State an interesting fact or statistic about your topic.
- Ask a rhetorical question.
- Reveal a common misconception about your topic.
- Set the scene of your story: who, when, where, what, why, how?
- Share an anecdote (a humorous short story) that captures your topic.
