The Topic Sentence 10.6

The Topic Sentence

​What is a topic sentence?

During this presentation, you will need to make notes in your composition book.

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What is a topic sentence?

Make Notes

What is a topic Sentence? How do you know if you have written a good topic sentence?

Answer the question

In your composition book, answer this question using the language function tool: What is a topic sentence, and how do you know if you have written a good topic sentence?

• _____ is best described as _____. _____ is understood as _____.​

What is a topic sentence? How do you know if you have written a good topic sentence?

Open Ended

Share what you wrote for your previous answer below.

What is a Topic Sentence?

The Topic Sentence

• ​A topic sentence appears at the beginning of a paragraph and contains information regarding the main idea about which the paragraph will be written. The rest of the paragraph will support the idea or claim from the topic sentence.

• Topic sentences are used to form paragraphs in many types of writing. These include constructed responses, literary analysis, expository writing, argument writing, and research writing.

What is a topic sentence?

Explain and describe a topic sentence using one of the following language function tools:

• Critical attributes of _____ include _____ and _____.

• _____ is understood as _____.​

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What is a topic sentence?

In Your notebook

Open Ended

Share what you wrote.

The topic sentence

Keys to Writing a Good Topic Sentence

While the goal of various types of writing may be different, the role of the topic sentence remains largely the same. Topic sentences should include the following:

• Topic: This is the general idea the writer wants to write about in the paragraph.

• Controlling Idea: This is the specific point about the topic that the paragraph will dive into.

By using topic sentences to clarify the main idea of each paragraph and show how it connects to the thesis, the writer can more effectively organize their ideas and help readers follow their logic.​

Keys to writing a good topic sentence

Examples of Good Topic Sentences

Examples of Good Topic Sentences

Strong topic sentences combine a clear mention of the topic to be analyzed as well as a specific point that is the driving force behind that analysis. The overarching topic may be the same throughout an essay, but the controlling ideas change for each paragraph in order to efficiently organize the writer's ideas. Here are some examples:

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Explain and describe a good topic sentence using one of the following language function tools:

• Critical attributes of _____ include _____ and _____.

• _____ is understood as _____.​

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What is a topic sentence?

In Your notebook

Open Ended

Share what you wrote.

Open Ended

Share what you wrote.

Multiple Choice

If your topic sentence is: 'Students get sick frequently because of stress and other pressures of academic life,' your topic is _______ and your controlling idea is _______.

• because of stress and other pressures of academic life; students get sick frequently

• either option; they're both part of your topic sentence

• students get sick frequently; because of stress and other pressures of academic life

• none of the answer choices

Multiple Choice

In a topic sentence, the topic tells readers

• what the paragraph is going to be about

• what the facts are that support the writer's position

• none of the answer choices

• all of the answer choices

Multiple Choice

The topic sentence will have:

• a controlling idea

• a topic

• a famous quote

• both a topic and a controlling idea

Multiple Choice

The topic sentence is:

• the main idea of the paragraph

• none of the answer choices

• the details that make complicated ideas easier to understand

• the purpose of the essay

Multiple Choice

In a topic sentence, the controlling idea tells readers

• what you want readers to believe or do

• what you want to say about your topic

• none of the answer choices

• what points you hope to make in your essay

On the next slide, you will be given a link to your first body paragraph (Says. Means. Matters. Body paragraph 1). Read through your writing, and create a topic sentence for that paragraph.​

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Create a page in your composition book entitled revising essay 1, and writing your topic sentence there.

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​Topic Sentence

​Next Steps

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Open Ended

Write your topic sentence here. Remember, this should be the same as what is in your composition book.