Topic Sentences

Which is a topic sentence?

• Thanksgiving is a popular American holiday

• Our meal is very traditional.

Which is a topic sentence?

• Many come to experience the rich culture and ocean waves.

• The natural beauty, warm climate, and surrounding waters make it a popular tourist destination.

• The state of Hawaii is a great vacation destination.

What is the topic sentence?

• The most important problem in our city is its inadequate public transportation system.

• A bus or streetcar that should arrive at 7:45 may not arrive until 8:00 or later.

• In order for people to get to their destinations on time, people must allow for waiting time at the bus and streetcar stops.

What does the topic sentence of a paragraph tell you?

• How many sentences the paragraph has

• A supporting detail about the topic

• The main idea of a paragraph

• A summary of the supporting details

The topic sentence is usually the ____________ sentence of a paragraph.

• first

• second

• third

• last

Which question would be most helpful when writing a topic sentence?

• What is the most interesting detail about this topic?

• How do I want this paragraph to end?

• What is the main thing I want to say about the topic?

• How does this sentence give evidence to support the main idea?

The topic sentence of a paragraph is "Adaptations help animals and plants survive in their environments."

Which of these details best supports the topic sentence?

• There are many different species of animals that live on Earth.

• Grasshoppers adapted to be bright green so they could blend in with grass.

• Harriet opened her book so she could read more about grasshoppers and other insects.

• My favorite insect is the grasshopper.

The supporting details of a paragraph include "We have lots of energy in the morning," and "Breakfast foods --like eggs, pancakes, and granola ---are delicious."

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

• It is hard to wake up in the morning.

• Evenings are more fun than mornings.

• Morning is the best time of day.

• I wake up at 7:30am everyday.

The supporting details of a paragraph include "Fossilized footprints help us understand an animal's size and weight," and "Fossilized teeth can give us hints about an animal's diet."

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

• Fossils help us learn more about animals and plants that lived on Earth many years ago.

• You can find fossils at natural history museums, like the one in New York City.

• Paleontologists are scientists who study fossils.

• When a species is extinct, it no longer exists on Earth.

Many cultures have their own versions of the same or similar fairy tales. For example, there are Cinderella stories from all over the world! They aren’t exactly the same, though. For instance, the fairy tale “How the Raja’s Son Won the Princess Labam” is from India. “Raja” is a title for king in India. In a Scottish version, the main character is named Rushen Coatie. Even though the details and words might be different, the basic story is similar.

What is the main idea of the passage?

• In Scotland, Cinderella is called Rushen Coatie.

• Cultures all around the world tell similar fairy tales.

• “Raja” is a title for king in India.

• There is only one version of the Cinderella story that people tell.