Topic Sentences

​Topic Sentences

Lesson Objective: Students will be able to construct topic sentences.

A topic sentence should:

• State your topic

• Be clear

• Engage your reader

• Give or provide a reason

• ​Provide enough specific information the question is asking (could be who, what, when, where, and or why).

Multiple Choice

1. Which sentence would be BEST to put at the

start of the paragraph below?

Jim likes to play football. His sister plays baseball. His brother is on a basketball team. His parents like to ski in the winter.

• A. Jim has a large family

• B. Jim's family enjoys sports

• C. Playing sports is good exercise.

Multiple Choice

Which is the BEST topic sentence that could

be put at the beginning of this paragraph?

I play basketball every weekend. My friends and I

play it at recess and after school. My mom took me

to a basketball game. I got to see Michael Jordan

play. That was the greatest because basketball is

my favorite game.

• A. Basketball is my favorite game.

• B. Michael Jordan was a great basketball player.

• C. Some people play both football and basketball.

Multiple Choice

Which would make the BEST topic sentence

for the paragraph below?

Matt likes dogs and playing soccer. Claire likes cats

and playing tennis. Matt likes to eat pizza. Claire's

favorite food is spaghetti.

• A. Matt and Claire like animals.

• B. Pizza and spaghetti taste good..

• C. Matt and Claire like different things.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence tells what the paragraph is

about?

Our family spent the vacation at the beach. It was

sunny and breezy. The sand felt warm under our

feet. We made sand castles and had lunch on our

blanket. It was a fun time.

• A. Our family spent the vacation at the beach.

• B. It was sunny and breezy.

• C. We made sand castles and had lunch on our

  blanket.

Multiple Choice

Which would be the BEST sentence to put at

the beginning of the following paragraph?

Georgia has a new flag. The flag has the state seal.

South Carolina's flag has a tree and the moon. The

flag of Wyoming has a buffalo.

• A. California's flag has a bear.

• B. Every state has a different flag.

• C. Georgia's flag is very interesting.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is the TOPIC sentence?

• Can weigh up to 280 pounds.

• They usually are black and white.

• Panda bears are interesting animals.

• Originated in China.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is the TOPIC sentence?

• Getting candy and dressing up is fun.

• Halloween is my favorite holiday.

• The scary music is creepy.

• I love Jack-o-lanterns lit up.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is a TOPIC sentence?

• My teacher is friendly and kind.

• She brings us treats.

• She shares stories with us about her family.

• She always leaves nice notes on our papers.

​Example:

* Create a topic sentence based on the writing prompts.

​Writing Prompt	​Topic Sentence
​Tell me about your favorite holiday movie.	​My favorite holiday movie is Four Christmases.
​Invent and describe a new food.	​The new food I have invented is called a ice taco.

Open Ended

Write a topic sentence ONLY for the writing prompt:

What is your favorite song and why?

Open Ended

Write a topic sentence for the writing prompt:

Tell me about a time you were proud of yourself.

• 3- 5 sentences

• Topic Sentence

• 1-3 Supporting Details

• 1 Concluding Sentence

• Capitalization

• Punctuation

​Writing Reminders!

Poll

Which part of the writing process do you find the most difficult?

• Spelling

• Brainstorming

• Sentence Writing

• Writing more than one sentence