How to write topic sentences
Every paragraph in your paper should begin with a topic sentence that expresses what the paragraph is about and includes two key elements: the topic of the paragraph and the central point. You then expand on the point with evidence and examples after the topic sentence.
Writing strong topic sentences
Although topic sentences aren’t the first or last thing you write, they are crucial to remember as you refine your writing style.
Step 1: Write a thesis statement
The thesis statement summarizes the purpose and argument of the entire paper: Food is an increasingly urgent environmental issue, and changing global patterns of food production and consumption is required to reduce humans’ impact on the planet.
Step 2: Make an essay outline and draft topic sentences
The topic sentences should be more specific than the thesis statement, but they should always be clearly related to it. The food industry has a significant environmental impact, according to research.
Step 3: Expand with evidence
The rest of the paragraph should build on that point with evidence, examples, or argumentation, keeping your paragraphs focused on the central idea expressed in the topic sentence.
Step 4: Refine your topic sentences
A topic sentence serves as a guide for the reader, indicating what to expect from the paragraph.
Topic sentences as transitions between paragraphs
Use the topic sentences to show how your ideas connect to what you’ve written so far, and consider how you might apply these concepts to today’s challenges in everyday life.
Emphasize and expand
If the paragraph goes into more detail or gives another example, it is likely to be referring to something that has already been discussed.
Compare and contrast
If the paragraph makes a comparison or introduces contrasting information, the topic sentence can use words that emphasize difference or conflict.
Topic sentences that introduce more than one paragraph
All of the examples above address the environmental impact of meat-eating versus veganism, and moving to a plant-based diet is the most obvious route to making food more sustainable in countries with high levels of meat consumption.
Where does the topic sentence go?
In an essay, the first sentence summarizes the main point that has been made thus far, and the topic sentence indicates that this paragraph will address evidence that complicates or contradicts that point. See an example essay with topic sentences.
Frequently asked questions about topic sentences
Let’s say you’re writing an essay about the effects of dietary choices on the environment. Each of these sentences expresses one main idea, and by listing them in order, we can see the overall structure of the essay at a glance.
What are 3 examples of a topic sentence?
Topic Sentences Examples:
- In a paragraph about a summer vacation: My summer vacation at my grandparents’ farm was filled with hard work and fun.
- In a paragraph about school uniforms: School uniforms would help us feel more united as a student body.
How do you identify a topic sentence?
The topic is simply who or what is being discussed in the paragraph, whereas the topic sentence includes the topic and the point being made about it. Knowing the topic will lead you to the topic sentence.
How do I write a topic sentence?
What is a topic sentence and how do you write one?
- Identify the main point of your writing.
- Write a sentence with a what and a why that connects to your main idea.
- Use the sentence you wrote as an opening statement.
- Create the first sentence in each supporting paragraph.
What is a topic sentence in literature?
A topic sentence is a sentence that introduces a paragraph by presenting the single topic that will be the focus of that paragraph, similar to how the thesis statement introduces an essay by presenting the main idea of the paper, the topic sentence introduces a paragraph by presenting the main idea of the paragraph.
What is topic example?
The topic is “pollution in ABC Town is the worst in the world,” and the controlling idea is “many reasons.” Topic Sentence Examples Topic Sentence: There are many reasons why pollution in ABC Town is the worst in the world. The topic is “pollution in ABC Town is the worst in the world,” and the controlling idea is “many reasons.”
What are key sentences?
Readers expect each paragraph to have a sentence or two that captures its main point, referred to as a “key sentence” because it expresses the paragraph’s central idea. A question or a two-sentence construction can also serve as the key.
What are the two main parts of a topic sentence?
The “topic sentence” is the sentence in which the paragraph’s main idea is stated; it is, without a doubt, the most important sentence in the paragraph. The topic sentence is usually made up of two parts: (a) the topic itself and (b) the controlling idea.
What are some topic sentence starters?
This essay discusses…… is explored…… is defined… The definition of… will be given… is briefly outlined…… is explored… The issue focused on……. is demonstrated… is included…
Can a topic sentence be a question?
The thesis statement and topic sentences cannot be questions in an academic essay; instead, they must be declarative statements that establish and advance your claim. Reviewing some key components of the research paper-writing process can help clarify why this is the case.
What is a good topic?
A good topic should be able to summarize the entire article in less than a sentence, answer a question, and have what journalists refer to as an “angle,” which is what distinguishes your content from that of others.
What is a clear topic sentence?
A good topic sentence is specific enough to give the reader a clear sense of what to expect from the paragraph, but not so specific that it gives everything away; think of it as a signpost, indicating which way your argument is going.
How can I start a sentence example?
Starting a sentence in a good way
- The most common sentence pattern is to start with the subject and then the verb: Weeds are important too because birds eat the seeds.
- Reverse the sentence to start with the dependent adverbial clause: Weeds are important too because birds eat the seeds.
Is called the topic sentence?
A topic sentence, also known as a focus sentence, is the first sentence in a paragraph that encapsulates or organizes the entire paragraph. Although topic sentences can appear anywhere in a paragraph, they are most often found at the beginning of academic essays.
What is topic sentence in paragraph?
The topic sentence is usually the first sentence of a paragraph because it provides an overview of the following sentences; the supporting sentences, which come after the topic sentence, help to develop the main idea by providing specific details related to the topic sentence.
How do you introduce a topic example?
Introductory remarks
- Set the scene of your story: who, when, where, what, why, and how?
- Share an anecdote (a humorous short story) that captures your topic.
- Ask a rhetorical question.
- Reveal a common misconception about your topic.