Topic Sentence
Paragraphs usually have topic
sentences. A topic sentence is
very useful for organizing a
paragraph because it states
what the entire paragraph is
about. A good topic sentence
should be a general sentence
that presents the topic clearly.
Topic sentences should always
contain both
(1) a topic and
(2) a controlling idea.
When your introduction contains a
clearly stated topic sentence, your
reader will know what to expect
and, therefore, understand your
ideas better.
A carefully thought out topic sentence will
serve two important functions. First, it will
provide you, the author, the means to stay
focused on your objective. It's a lot easier
to write if you know what you are going to
write about! Second, a clearly stated topic
sentence will provide readers with the tools
they need to clearly understand what you
have to say. These are important reasons to
carefully consider topic sentences before
beginning writing.
A good topic sentence should include
either of the following:
1. one clear topic
e.g. It is important to have friends, and also
to do well in school.
e.g. I don’t think I will ever have a better
friend than Heather.
2. an opinion or idea about the topic
e.g. Studying karate has given me strength
and self-confidence.
e.g. I have been studying karate.
Red: topic
Green: controlling ideas
People can avoid burglaries by taking
certain precautions.
There are several advantages to growing up
in a small town.
Fixing a flat tire on a bicycle is easy if you
follow these steps.
Choose the best topic sentence for each one.
Choose one of the following reasons why the other
sentences are not good topic sentences.
G: It is too general.
S: It contains too much specific
information.
C. It makes a concluding statement.
N. It is not related to the other
sentences.
P. It is a summary of only part of the
paragraph.
My car always smells like exhaust
fumes. I’ve had two flat tires this year.
Sometimes it won’t even start in the
morning.
a.
b.
c.
My car smells, has flat tires, and
won’t start.
So it’s time to get a new car.
I have a lot of trouble with my car.
Choose the main topic
1: What is the main topic?
a. Overcoming the depth of the water
b. Exploring the wreck of the Titanic
c. Getting light down into the
darkness
d. Dealing with the water pressure
2: What is the main topic?
a. Statue of Liberty
b. Eiffel Tower
c. Famous Architecture
d. Great Wall of China
e. Taj Mahal
3: What is the main topic?
a. Listening in class
b. Setting a specific time to study
c. Getting good grades
d. Getting quality sleep and exercise
4: What is the main topic?
a. Water temperature raises
b. Kills some species of fish
c. Industrial waste pours into Lake
Michigan
d. Bottom-feeding scavenger fish
proliferate
e. Destroys most water recreational sports
Thirty years ago, magnetic tape was used
only to record music and voices. Later, it
was also used to record computer programs
and data. The biggest use today, however,
is for videotape recording.
a. The uses of magnetic tape have
greatly increased.
b. Magnetic tape is good.
c. Magnetic tape has been used with
computers.
A long time ago, the apple was a symbol
of forbidden knowledge because of the
story of the Garden of Eden in the Bible.
Later, it became a traditional gift for
teachers. These days, many people think
of the computer company with the same
name when they hear the word “ apple.”
a. Apples taste good, too.
b. The apple has been a symbol of many
things.
c. An apple represents forbidden knowledge
because of the Bible, school because it
was a traditional gift, and a computer
company because it has the same name.