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 good topic sentence?
- 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 are the qualities of a good topic sentence?
- Signals the topic and more focused ideas within the paragraph.
- Presents an idea or ideas that are clear and easy to understand.
- Provides unity to the paragraph (clarifies how all supporting ideas relate).
- Links to the purpose or thesis of your 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 …
What is a good topic?
A good topic
should explain the whole article in less than a sentence
. A good topic should answer a question. A good topic should have what journalists call ‘an angle'. Your angle is what sets your content apart from other people's.
What is a clear topic sentence?
A topic sentence is
the first sentence of a paragraph that summarizes the topic and the controlling idea of the paragraph
. A topic sentence should include a topic, a controlling idea, and the writer's viewpoint.
What is topic and topic sentence?
A topic sentence is
a sentence that introduces a paragraph by presenting the one topic that will be the focus of that paragraph
. … Just like the thesis statement gives the main idea of the paper at the essay level, the topic sentence gives the main idea at the paragraph level.
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.
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.
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 makes a topic sentence weak?
What makes a weak topic sentence?
Being too specific, too vague, too unrelated to the paragraph
— all of these should be avoided.
What are the five features of a good topic sentence?
- Make It Clear. A strong topic sentence includes clear, specific language and avoids the use of vague, empty words. …
- Keep It Concise. …
- Don't Be Boring. …
- Be Emphatic. …
- Use Active Voice.
What are the four important features of a topic sentence?
- Topic sentence – tells what the paragraph is about. …
- Indented – short distance from the margin.
- All sentences or supporting details are about one single topic. …
- Concluding sentence – summarizes, restates, or evaluates the most significant ideas of the paragraph.
