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.
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.”
Which would make the best topic sentence?
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.
What is a topic sentence in an essay?
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.
How do you identify a topic sentence?
The topic is simply the who or what being discussed in the paragraph, while the topic sentence includes the topic and the point being made about it. Knowing the
topic
will point you towards the topic sentence. Circle the words used most often in the paragraph.
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 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.
How do you start a 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 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 a body paragraph?
Topic Sentence (
always the first sentence in your body paragraph
) – It introduces your readers to your third and final example. In body paragraph #3, state the third point in support of the thesis. For example, your topic sentence for body #3 could read, “Music is a great motivator.”
How do you restate a topic sentence?
Restate the big idea of the topic sentence using different words or a different order.
Think about your message
. What do you want your reader to know or understand and introduce that idea in one sentence. Summarize the big idea of the paragraph without repeating the exact same words.
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 I find a topic?
To find the specific topic,
look for more than one person, place, or idea repeated or referred in a paragraph
. 2. Look for pictures or words in special print.
What is a topic sentence or main idea?
The topic is the general subject of a paragraph or essay. Topics are simple and are described with just a word or a phrase. The main
idea is a complete sentence
; it includes the topic and what the author wants to say about it. If the author states the main idea in his paragraph it is called a “topic sentence.”
What are the two main parts of a topic sentence?
The topic sentence generally is composed of two parts:
(a) the topic itself and (b) the controlling idea
. Writing effective topic sentences, however, involves more than merely stating the subject of the paragraph.
