Topic Sentences

Argumentative Topic Sentences

Does your topic sentence relate to the thesis?

Thesis= mom, topics = chidlren

Related to thesis

Convincing

​​Makes a claim

Concise

Is your topic sentence convincing to your readers?

Does your topic sentence make a claim (vs. a fact)

Does your topic sentence "pack a punch"? Is it to the point? (avoid words like "i think, basically, literally, kind of...)

Multiple Select

Topic sentences should (select all that apply)

• Be conscise

• Be related to the thesis

• Be convincing

• Make a claim

Paragraph 1 Topic Sentence: Dogs need a balanced diet to live up to their full potential.

Paragraph 2 Topic Sentence: Exercise is a healthy part of any dog's life.

Paragraph 3 Topic Sentence: During emergencies, veterinary care is the most effective way to ensure dog's saftey.

Topic sentences related to thesis

Topic sentences not related to thesis

​THESIS

Dogs are neglected at alarming rates due to owners who do not feed them a balanced diet, provide exercise, or seek veterinary care during emergencies.

Paragraph 1 Topic Sentence: Dogs are a wonderful pet to have.

Paragraph 2 Topic Sentence: Some dogs get aggressive towards young children.

Paragraph 3 Topic Sentence: There are over 10,000 dog owners in Massachusetts.

Multiple Choice

Students across the United States should be required to take a personal finance class, personal finance is an essential part of understanding your own money as well as the world economy.

Which topic sentence best supports this thesis?

• Students should get to choose the classes they take

• World economy can be easily understood if one understand personal finance.

• The world economy is in bad shape today.

Multiple Choice

Students across the United States should be required to take a personal finance class, personal finance is an essential part of understanding your own money as well as the world economy.

Which topic sentence best supports this thesis?

• Taking a personal finance class is essential to understanding your money.

• There are over 100,000 students in the USA.

• Science is a good alternative to personal finance

Multiple Choice

Children who are left home alone at an early age learn coping skills that help them be more self-reliant, critical thinkers, and leaders.

What is the topic of this thesis?

• Coping skills

• Children

• Critical thinking

Multiple Choice

Children who are left home alone at an early age learn coping skills that help them be more self-reliant, critical thinkers, and leaders.

What is the claim of this thesis?

• Staying home alone at an early age is helpful for adults.

• Staying home alone at an early age is not good for kids.

• Staying home alone at an early age is good for kids.

Multiple Choice

Children who are left home alone at an early age learn coping skills that help them be more self-reliant, critical thinkers, and leaders

What is a good topic sentence for a paragraph following this thesis?

• Independence is an essential skill that can be taught at an early age.

• Children left home alone often get into accidents.

• Children can not learn to be a leader from a young age, staying home alone does nothing to help them.

Open Ended

Write your own topic sentence for this thesis.

Children who are left home alone at an early age learn coping skills that help them be more self-reliant, critical thinkers, and leaders