Topic Sentences

TOPIC SENTENCES!​

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Poll

What is the best Pizza topping?

• CHEESE ONLY!

• Pepperoni!

• Peppers (or other veggies)

• Other!

Multiple Choice

A topic sentence in a literary analysis response/essay is...

• A sentence that introduces your quote to the reader.

• A hook to pull your reader in.

• A sentence that captures the main idea/point of the paragraph.

• A rare species of bird found in the Sahara desert.

Multiple Choice

A good topic sentence should be...

• Broad. You really don't want your reader to know which direction you will go.

• Specific and clear. You want to lead with your clear assertion.

• An introductory sentence that doesn't fully reveal your idea.

• A question 

​Okay, that was easy!

• ​A topic sentence is...

  • ​Clear

  • ​Detailed

  • ​A full assertion

  • ​ALWAYS tied to the thesis

Multiple Choice

Which ASP topic sentence is the STRONGEST?

• There are many points in the text where friendship is important.

• The author shows friendship's importance using Gene and Finny.

• Friendship is all about what you think and feel. It definitely helps you find yourself.

• The author uses Gene and Finny to show that jealousy can destroy a friendship.

​Why?

• ​Option 1 is too surface level and general. It merely points out that friendship exists in the novel.

• ​Option 2 is more detailed than 1, but it still doesn't actually assert anything about their friendship (other than the idea that it exists)

• ​Option 3 is a mess! Pronouns and very general

​Option 4!

​This is a clear assertion. It is exploring a topic (friendship), but the author brings this to the next level by ASSERTING that jealousy is what ruins their friendship. This sentence now asserts something about the text.

Multiple Choice

What feedback would you give this topic sentence: Gene feels guilt throughout the novel.

• This is true, but what is the point? Answer the "so what?" and add detail.

• This is a really strong topic sentence!

• This is too specific. It needs to be more broad.

Multiple Choice

Choose the best topic sentence option for this thesis: John Knowles' A Separate Peace demonstrates that loss of innocence is essential to self-discovery.

• Gene is only able to truly discover his own identity after dealing with the loss of his best friend.

• Gene deals with a lot of traumatic experiences in the novel.

• Loss of innocence happens all over the world; you don't really know who you are until you struggle.

• Gene tries to be Finny throughout the novel by wearing his clothes and imitating him.

​Why?

​John Knowles' A Separate Peace demonstrates that loss of innocence is essential to self-discovery.

​

Gene is only able to truly discover his own identify after dealing with the loss of his best friend.

Multiple Choice

Let's try this again: John Knowles' A Separate Peace demonstrates that loss of innocence is essential to self-discovery.

• Finny discovers who he really is after he dies.

• Leper, a character who was timid and shy for most of the novel, finds his voice after his traumatic experience in basic training.

• Gene discovers that his guilt and jealousy for Finny has ruined their friendship

• Loss of innocence happens to Gene multiple times throughout the course of the novel.

​Why?

​John Knowles' A Separate Peace demonstrates that loss of innocence is essential to self-discovery.

​

​Leper, a character who was timid and shy for most of the novel, finds his voice after his traumatic experience in basic training.

Open Ended

Create THE G.O.A.T topic sentence for this thesis statement: John Knowles' A Separate Peace shows that friendships become stronger through conflict and disagreement.

Poll

How are we feeling about topic sentences?

• 1 (Topic what?)

• 2 (I am still struggling a little bit)

• 3 (Got it!)

• 4 (I am a topic sentence WIZARD!)