Sentence Detail

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 (but not always) the ____________ sentence of a paragraph.

• first

• second

• third

• last

What do supporting details do?

• Introduce the main idea

• Prove why the main idea is true

• Give a summary of the main idea

• Restate the main idea in different words

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, 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?

Which of these is in a the correct order for writing a paragraph?

• topic sentence, closing sentence, detail sentences

• detail sentences, topic sentence, closing sentence

• closing sentence, detail sentences, topic sentence

• topic sentence, detail sentences, closing sentence

What is the correct order of sentences for a single paragraph?

1)Harriet Tubman helped slaves to freedom.

2) John Brown led a small rebellion against slavery.

3)The anti-slavery movement began to grow in the 1850s.

4) Abraham Lincoln won the presidential election.

• 3, 1, 2, 4

• 4, 1, 2, 3

• 1, 2, 3, 4

• 1, 2, 4, 3

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.

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.

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. What would be a good topic sentence for this paragraph? 

• My Own business
• Last summer I started my dog washing business. 
• Mom helped me with my business.
• I have lots of dogs to wash on Saturday.