English ____
Research: Topic Sentence Worksheet
Name_______________________________
Date ________________________________
Adapted from galeschools.com
All good paragraphs begin with a topic sentence. This sentence lets everyone know the main idea of
that particular paragraph – or in this case, the main idea of your sub-topic.
To write a good topic sentence, you must:
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Figure out what the main idea is for the paragraph
Communicate the main idea in your own words
Step 1) What is the sub-topic addressed in this paragraph? The answer is the focus of that paragraph.
Step 2) What is important about this sub-topic? (How did it influence or change America?)
Let’s say your teacher asked you to write a paragraph of your paper on the ways Prohibition impacted
the 1920’s in America.
What is this sub-topic about? Prohibition!
Do you know what was important about Prohibition in the 1920’s? If you do, you’re ready to write your
topic sentence. If you do not, you’ll need to conduct more research on Prohibition.
Step 3) Make a list of important words related to the sub-topic. If you were writing a report on
Prohibition, here is a list you might make:
alcohol
organized crimeboot
speakeasies
amendment
legging
police
law
moonshine
Constitution
hard to enforce
rum runners
temptation
US cities
illegal
1920’s
Step 4) Identify the best words from your list. The best words will indicate what is important about
your topic AND sound the best to you.
Step 5) Write a sentence using these words. Here is an example.
Prohibition amended the Constitution of the United States to make alcohol illegal, and it was a difficult
law to enforce.
Step 6) Read your topic sentence with a critical eye.
 Is it specific?
 Is it clearly stated?
 Does it demonstrate an impact on the US?
 Does your research support your claim?
 Is it well-written (correct grammar & usage, strong word choices, etc.)
Sub-topic 1
Step 1) What is the sub-topic addressed in this paragraph? _________________________________
Step 2) What is important about this sub-topic? (How did it influence or change America?)
Step 3) Make a list of important words related to the sub-topic:
Step 4) Identify the best words from your list by circling them. The best words will indicate what is
important about your topic AND sound the best to you.
Step 5) Write a sentence using these words:
Draft 1:
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Draft 2:
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Draft 3:
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Step 6) Read your topic sentence with a critical eye.
 Is it specific?
 Is it clearly stated?
 Does it demonstrate an impact on the US?
 Does your research support your claim?
 Is it well-written (correct grammar & usage, strong word choices, etc.)
Sub-topic 2
Step 1) What is the sub-topic addressed in this paragraph? _________________________________
Step 2) What is important about this sub-topic? (How did it influence or change America?)
Step 3) Make a list of important words related to the sub-topic:
Step 4) Identify the best words from your list by circling them. The best words will indicate what is
important about your topic AND sound the best to you.
Step 5) Write a sentence using these words:
Draft 1:
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Draft 2:
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Draft 3:
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Step 6) Read your topic sentence with a critical eye.
 Is it specific?
 Is it clearly stated?
 Does it demonstrate an impact on the US?
 Does your research support your claim?
 Is it well-written (correct grammar & usage, strong word choices, etc.)
Sub-topic 3
Step 1) What is the sub-topic addressed in this paragraph? _________________________________
Step 2) What is important about this sub-topic? (How did it influence or change America?)
Step 3) Make a list of important words related to the sub-topic:
Step 4) Identify the best words from your list by circling them. The best words will indicate what is
important about your topic AND sound the best to you.
Step 5) Write a sentence using these words:
Draft 1:
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Draft 2:
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Draft 3:
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
Step 6) Read your topic sentence with a critical eye.
 Is it specific?
 Is it clearly stated?
 Does it demonstrate an impact on the US?
 Does your research support your claim?
 Is it well-written (correct grammar & usage, strong word choices, etc.)