Topic Sentences

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 the paragraph

• A summary of the supporting details

The topic sentence is the ________ sentence of a paragraph.

• first

• second

• third

• last

Which of these is most likely a topic sentence?

• Out of all the pizza toppings, pepperoni is the best.

• First, pepperoni is salty, crispy, and chewy.

• I usually order pepperoni on my pizza, but today I got olives.

• In conclusion, pepperoni is a perfect pizza topping.

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 every day.

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.

Which of the following is a well-written 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.

• I want to tell you about Hawaii.

What would be a good topic sentence for this paragraph?

First, I made flyers describing my service and prices. Mom and I delivered them to all the houses in our neighborhood. A few days later my neighbors dog was my first customer. The owner thought I did such a nice job that he told all his friends. I've been in business almost a year and I'm so busy. Every Saturday I have about seven dog washing appointments. I hope to save enough money to buy a pet store some day.

• My own business

• Mom helped me with my business.

• Last summer I started my own dog walking business.

• I have lots of dogs to wash on Saturday.

_________________________________________ . 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.