Writing an Effective Topic Sentence
What is a topic sentence? Every paragraph you write must have a topic sentence that
clearly presents its main idea. It should be the most general sentence in your paragraph.
The other information you include explains, supports, or discusses the main idea. In this
class, make sure that your first sentence in your paragraph is your topic sentence.
When writing the main statement for your short essay, avoid the following:
 Announce the topic sentence.
 Have a topic sentence that is too narrow
 Have a topic sentence that is too broad
I. Are the following good topic sentences? Why?
__________1. This paper will be about the person I admire the most.
__________2. One of the most satisfying experiences occurred when I volunteered at the
day-care center a the Whosoever Gospel Mission.
__________3. In this paragraph I will write about my childhood.
__________4. Having my tonsils removed when I was six was a dramatic experience.
__________5. Many laws are not properly enforced.
6. The legal drinking age is not enforced strictly enough in my community.
__________6. I want to write about why the Internet is an excellent teaching tool.
__________7. Learning to write properly has enhanced my self-confidence.
__________8. Child abuse is something to think about.
__________11. My name is Cory and I think teenagers should abstain from having sex.
__________12. My father can always be counted on when the family faces difficulties.
__________13. Cigarette smoking should be banned on campus.
__________14. Some instructors are masters at teaching their students.
__________15. Required courses are a bad idea.
__________16. Science majors should not be required to take a foreign language.
__________17. The risk of heart disease can be lowered in several ways.
__________18. Many jobs require computer skills.
Andy Lopez
English 64
Prof. Harmetz
February 11, 2003
Attending College Changed my Life
The most unforgettable experience in my life is when I graduated from Jefferson
High School. I graduated from Jefferson High in 1998, but I decided to go to Trade-Tech
because I did not have the money to go to USC or UCLA. Also, I needed to work
because I wanted to help out my parents and to be able to buy my own things. For
example, I needed to pay for my school supplies, but I also wanted to buy new clothes,
shoes, and other personal necessities. That is why Trade-Tech was for me. I could
continue my education and work at the same time.
But like many other students, I had problems getting used to the new life of a
college student. In the Fall 1998 semester my grades were poor. I got C’s and D’s. I
also had problems following instructions and meeting my instructors’ expectations. I felt
that they expected too much from me, especially in English classes. The professors
assigned too many reading and writing assignments, and I often felt overwhelmed.
Because I also had a full-time job, I barely had enough time to do homework or to eat a
good meal. But what hurt me the most was that I was not getting enough sleep. I was
getting four to six hour of sleep.
In Spring 1999, I decided to only take two classes, so I only finished History 11
and English 64. They were difficult courses but very interesting because I learned so
much about important historical figures, such as George Washington and Abraham
Lincoln. I also learned how to read and write properly because one of my English
professors, Mrs. Rose, kept telling her students that without knowing how to read and
write English, we could not function in the real world. In fact, I remember her saying
that people were handicapped if they were not proficient at reading and writing. Once I
started to read and enjoy it, college got a lot easier. My grades improved, and I finally
felt like a regular college student. I had even saved enough money to buy a used car, a
black 1995 Honda, Accord.
The last semesters at Trade-Tech were easy and even fun. But time had flown by
so quickly that without even realizing it, I had applied and been accepted to UCLA for
the Fall 2001 semester. I do not know how I did it, but I was going to be attending the
school of my dreams. At first being accepted to a prestigious university like UCLA
seemed unreachable, but through persistence and hard work, I eventually achieved my
goal.
Now that I have completed my education, I often look back at those three years
that I spent at Trade-Tech. In fact, I consider them the most important years of my life
because Trade-Tech was my stepping stone for what has now become a great business
career.