Narrative Writing Brainstorm

DESCRIBE YOURSELF PERFORMANCE TASK

Open Ended

What’s a “topic sentence”? Define the term.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is most likely the topic sentence of the paragraph?

No one likes to eat with a dirty knife, fork, or spoon. It is important to completely wash all utensils before using them. Using clean, soapy water is best. Clean utensils won't transmit germs and bacteria. They also are more pleasant to eat with. No one likes to pick up a fork with food stuck on it!

• No one likes to eat with a dirty knife, fork, or spoon.

• It is important to completely wash all utensils before using them.

• Clean utensils won't transmit germs and bacteria.

• They also are more pleasant to eat with.

Multiple Choice

Choose the best topic sentence for the paragraph.

For example, a person can have breakfast in New York, board an airplane, and have dinner in Paris. A businesswoman in London can instantly place an order with a factory in Hong Kong by sending a fax. Furthermore, a schoolboy in Tokyo can turn on a TV and watch a baseball game being played in Los Angeles.

• Airplanes have changed our lives.

• Advances in technology have made the world seem smaller.

• The fax machine was an important invention.

• Global lifestyles are evolving.

​Write a topic sentence that

a) makes a claim

b) covers ALL of the details that this author wants to include in the paragraph​

​This topic sentence is NOT successful. It makes a claim, but doesn't cover all the details the author wants to include in the paragraph.

​This response is not successful. The author includes material that doesn't belong in the topic sentence; he basically wrote the whole paragraph. He does include a topic sentence ("my summer vacation was eventful") which is not specific to the details that the author wants to include in the paragraph.

​This topic sentence is just right. It makes a claim that covers all the details that the author wants to include in the paragraph.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is most likely the topic sentence of the paragraph?

The best trip my family ever took was to New Orleans, Louisiana. We drove there in two days. I didn't think it would be very interesting, but I was wrong. We saw the Mississippi River, rode a horse carriage in the French Quarter, and visited a cemetery where everyone was buried above the ground. I liked the food best, especially the New Orleans doughnuts called beignets.

• I didn't think it would be very interesting, but I was wrong.

• We drove there in two days.

• The best trip my family ever took was to New Orleans, Louisiana.

• I liked the food best, especially the New Orleans doughnuts called beignets.

Multiple Choice

Choose the best topic sentence for each paragraph.

I usually go skiing every weekend in the winter even though it is expensive. I love the feeling of flying down a mountain. The views are beautiful from the top of a mountain and along the trails. Even the danger of falling and getting hurt can’t keep me away from the slopes on a winter day.

• Skiing is expensive.

• Skiing is my favorite winter sport.

• Skiing is dangerous and potentially deadly.

• There are incredible views on the skiing trail.

Open Ended

What topic sentence would you write based on this plan?

Open Ended

What topic sentence would you write based on this plan?