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How to Handle Write a Good Topic Sentence Step by Step
When write a good topic sentence leaves you confused, worried, or unsure what it means, a clear step-by-step approach can help you sort the signal from the stress. This guide explains how to understand the situation, reflect on what matters, choose a practical next step, and know when to ask for trusted support.
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Part
1
Writing a Successful Topic Sentence
1
State your main idea clearly.
Because your topic sentence is likely the first sentence of the paragraph, it needs to clearly state the subject matter of your paragraph without being wordy or difficult to understand. It must include your topic and an opinion, or your controlling idea.Make sure that the following sentences have details related to your topic sentence.
- Because your topic sentence is likely the first sentence of the paragraph, it needs to clearly state the subject matter of your paragraph without being wordy or difficult to understand.
- It must include your topic and an opinion, or your controlling idea.Make sure that the following sentences have details related to your topic sentence.
- Because your topic sentence is likely the first sentence of the paragraph, it needs to clearly state the subject matter of your paragraph without being wordy or difficult to understand.
- It must include your topic and an opinion, or your controlling idea.Make sure that the following sentences have details related to your topic sentence.
- Because your topic sentence is likely the first sentence of the paragraph, it needs to clearly state the subject matter of your paragraph without being wordy or difficult to understand.
2
Balance the topic sentence between specifics and general ideas.
The topic sentence needs to relate the paragraph to the thesis statement of the essay. However, you need to make sure that your topic sentence strikes a good balance between the broad and the narrow.
- The topic sentence needs to relate the paragraph to the thesis statement of the essay.
- However, you need to make sure that your topic sentence strikes a good balance between the broad and the narrow.
- The topic sentence needs to relate the paragraph to the thesis statement of the essay.
- However, you need to make sure that your topic sentence strikes a good balance between the broad and the narrow.
- The topic sentence needs to relate the paragraph to the thesis statement of the essay.
3
Hook your reader.
One of the many important roles of a topic sentence is to draw the readers in. Bring up questions in their minds that you intend to answer. An effective way to do this is to drop them straight into the action. This is possible whether your paper is fiction or nonfiction, and can be done in a number of ways:
- One of the many important roles of a topic sentence is to draw the readers in.
- Bring up questions in their minds that you intend to answer.
- An effective way to do this is to drop them straight into the action.
- This is possible whether your paper is fiction or nonfiction, and can be done in a number of ways:
- One of the many important roles of a topic sentence is to draw the readers in.
4
Give a reasonable opinion.
The body of your paragraph is meant to prove your topic sentence. Therefore, your topic sentence should state something that you think or believe that can be supported by concrete evidence. You can choose to state an opinion in your topic sentence, but do so only if you are able to back it up in the following paragraph. Take, for example, the topic sentence “Growing herbs will further your appreciation for fresh cooking.” The phrase “further your appreciation” states something that you believe, and you can now spend the rest of the paragraph explaining why you believe what you believe.
- The body of your paragraph is meant to prove your topic sentence.
- Therefore, your topic sentence should state something that you think or believe that can be supported by concrete evidence.
- You can choose to state an opinion in your topic sentence, but do so only if you are able to back it up in the following paragraph.
- Take, for example, the topic sentence “Growing herbs will further your appreciation for fresh cooking.” The phrase “further your appreciation” states something that you believe, and you can now spend the rest of the paragraph explaining why you believe what you believe.
- The body of your paragraph is meant to prove your topic sentence.
5
Use the topic sentence as a transition.
Topic sentences that also work as transitions can help guide your readers through your argument, which can keep them from getting lost. Think of this sentence as a “bridge” between the main idea of the previous paragraph and the main idea of this next paragraph.
- Topic sentences that also work as transitions can help guide your readers through your argument, which can keep them from getting lost.
- Think of this sentence as a “bridge” between the main idea of the previous paragraph and the main idea of this next paragraph.
- Topic sentences that also work as transitions can help guide your readers through your argument, which can keep them from getting lost.
- Think of this sentence as a “bridge” between the main idea of the previous paragraph and the main idea of this next paragraph.
- Topic sentences that also work as transitions can help guide your readers through your argument, which can keep them from getting lost.
Part
2
Planning Your Topic Sentences
1
Write an essay outline.
Every paragraph of your essay should have a main idea, point, or goal that you’re trying to get across. The topic sentence will identify that main idea. For you to write good topic sentences, you need to know what your paragraphs are going to be about. An outline will help you do that.
- Every paragraph of your essay should have a main idea, point, or goal that you’re trying to get across.
- The topic sentence will identify that main idea.
- For you to write good topic sentences, you need to know what your paragraphs are going to be about.
- An outline will help you do that.
- Every paragraph of your essay should have a main idea, point, or goal that you’re trying to get across.
2
Understand the connection between thesis statements
and topic sentences. A thesis statement presents the main idea, goal, or argument of your essay. It may be an analytical thesis, such as “In King Lear, William Shakespeare uses the theme of fate to critique the religious beliefs of his era.” Or, it may be a thesis that attempts to persuade the reader of something, such as “Public funding for education should be expanded.” Topic sentences are like the mini-thesis statements of each paragraph.
- and topic sentences.
- A thesis statement presents the main idea, goal, or argument of your essay.
- It may be an analytical thesis, such as “In King Lear, William Shakespeare uses the theme of fate to critique the religious beliefs of his era.” Or, it may be a thesis that attempts to persuade the reader of something, such as “Public funding for education should be expanded.” Topic sentences are like the mini-thesis statements of each paragraph.
- and topic sentences.
- A thesis statement presents the main idea, goal, or argument of your essay.
3
Look at some examples.
If you are new to writing topic sentences, it can help to look at some examples. The Purdue OWL has several pages with sample topic sentences. UNC Chapel Hill has a helpful online handout on paragraph development that includes a “model” paragraph and explains how to develop your own, from topic sentence to conclusion.
- If you are new to writing topic sentences, it can help to look at some examples.
- The Purdue OWL has several pages with sample topic sentences.
- UNC Chapel Hill has a helpful online handout on paragraph development that includes a “model” paragraph and explains how to develop your own, from topic sentence to conclusion.
- If you are new to writing topic sentences, it can help to look at some examples.
- The Purdue OWL has several pages with sample topic sentences.
Part
3
Avoiding Common Problems
1
Avoid introducing yourself.
Although topic sentences vary in structure and content from person to person, at least two things can be assumed about your paper: 1) that you have a title and entire paper to introduce a topic, and 2) your personal information is present somewhere on your essay. Therefore, never use statements such as “I am going to tell you…” or “My paper is about…” or “I studied [this] which is important because of [this]”. The paragraphs/essay should tell me that information without an awkward topic sentence presentation.
- Although topic sentences vary in structure and content from person to person, at least two things can be assumed about your paper: 1) that you have a title and entire paper to introduce a topic, and 2) your personal information is present somewhere on your essay.
- Therefore, never use statements such as “I am going to tell you…” or “My paper is about…” or “I studied [this] which is important because of [this]”.
- The paragraphs/essay should tell me that information without an awkward topic sentence presentation.
- Although topic sentences vary in structure and content from person to person, at least two things can be assumed about your paper: 1) that you have a title and entire paper to introduce a topic, and 2) your personal information is present somewhere on your essay.
- Therefore, never use statements such as “I am going to tell you…” or “My paper is about…” or “I studied [this] which is important because of [this]”.
2
Don’t list off information.
Although you want to give your readers a taste of what they can expect in your upcoming paragraph, you don’t want to show all your cards right at the beginning. Don’t make a list of what you’re going to talk about, but instead give a small taste of what is to follow in your paragraph. You don’t need to explain everything in your topic sentence, just mention it so the reader knows what to expect.
- Although you want to give your readers a taste of what they can expect in your upcoming paragraph, you don’t want to show all your cards right at the beginning.
- Don’t make a list of what you’re going to talk about, but instead give a small taste of what is to follow in your paragraph.
- You don’t need to explain everything in your topic sentence, just mention it so the reader knows what to expect.
- Although you want to give your readers a taste of what they can expect in your upcoming paragraph, you don’t want to show all your cards right at the beginning.
- Don’t make a list of what you’re going to talk about, but instead give a small taste of what is to follow in your paragraph.
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References
- https://advice.writing.utoronto.ca/planning/topic-sentences/
- https://wts.indiana.edu/writing-guides/paragraphs-and-topic-sentences.html
- https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/academic_writing/paragraphs_and_paragraphing/index.html
- https://stlcc.edu/student-support/academic-success-and-tutoring/writing-center/writing-resources/topic-sentence-paragraph.aspx
- https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/paragraphs/topicsentences
- https://wts.indiana.edu/writing-guides/how-to-write-a-thesis-statement.html
- https://delmar.edu/offices/swc/_resources/Composition/topic-sentence-transition-formula.pdf
- https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/writingprocess/outlining
- https://writingstudio.gsu.edu/files/2021/02/ThesisStatementTopicSentenceRelationship.pdf
- https://www.touro.edu/departments/writing-center/tutorials/topic-sentence/
- https://purdueglobalwriting.center/topic-sentence-and-paragraph-organization/
- https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/paragraphs/
- https://learn.saylor.org/mod/book/tool/print/index.php?id=69773&chapterid=64461
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