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.
The topic sentence should not be too general or too specific. When considering the options, look for a topic sentence that is general enough to show the paragraph's main idea instead of just one of its details. The answer should be specific enough that the reader understands the main idea of the paragraph.
The most important sentence in your paragraph is the topic sentence, which clearly states the subject of the whole paragraph. The topic sentence is usually the first sentence of the paragraph because it gives an overview of the sentences to follow.
What Makes a Good Topic Sentence? It is usually a one-sentence statement that indicates purpose, subject, or point of a paragraph. A topic sentence should be specific. It is the controlling idea for the paragraph.
Topic sentences usually start out as simple statements. But it's important to revise them as you write, making sure they match the content of each paragraph. 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.
○ Revised: The Dust Bowl left Oklahomans with barren fields and forced many of them to migrate to California where they competed with the locals for jobs. The first example is a bad topic sentence because it does not explain howthe Dust Bowl impacted people in Oklahoma and California.
Generally, a topic sentence should not be more than three lines long. However, you can also make it at least 30 words long.
An effective topic sentence combines a main idea with the writer's personal attitude or opinion. It serves to orient the reader and provides an indication of what will follow in the rest of the paragraph.
Topic sentences belong at the beginning or end of the paragraph and must make the reader understand the point of the paragraph better. The topic sentence being at the beginning of the paragraph makes it easier for the reader to understand what the paragraph will be about.
Topic Sentences: A topic sentence is a sentence that captures the meaning of the entire paragraph or group of sentences. It tells what the passage is mainly about. The topic sentence is the most important sentence in your paragraph. Carefully worded and restricted, it helps you generate and control your information.
Last summer my family went on an amazing picnic in a park. We brought freshly made ham sandwiches, apple pie and ice cold lemonade. While we enjoyed our picnic lunch under a tree, a small gray squirrel crawled close to us. Suddenly this squirrel grabbed my delicious piece of pie off my plate and scurried off.
A sentence follows Subject + Verb + Object word order. He (subject) obtained (verb) his degree (object).
Can a topic sentence be a question? Unlike the thesis statement, this sentence can be written in the form of a question. In such a case, the rest of the paragraph will be written as a response or answer.
Topic Sentence at the Beginning and the End of the Paragraph
Traditionally the topic sentence is the first sentence of the paragraph. In this lead position, it functions to introduce the examples or details which will explain the controlling idea.
Sometimes topic sentences are actually two or even three sentences long. If the first makes a claim, the second might reflect on that claim, explaining it further.
Start with a “topic sentence” Give 1-2 sentences of supporting evidence for (or against) your argument. Next, write a sentence analysing this evidence with respect to your argument or topic sentence. Finally, conclude by explaining the significance of this stance, or providing a transition to the next paragraph.
Again, look at this list of common subordinating words. Used at the beginning of a sentence, these words signal to you that a sentence opener follows: After, Although, As, Because, Before, If, Since, Unless, Until, When, While.