Writing A Topic Sentence
The topic sentence can be defined as the sentence that can capture the real meaning of a group of sentences or paragraph. This is the sentence that can tell about what the passage is about. This is also called as focus sentence. It is written to summarize or organize the thought of the whole paragraph. In most major paragraphs, putting such sentence must be written carefully. For academic essays, the topic sentence would usually be found at the beginning of the paragraph yet it can appear anywhere in the paragraph in other essays.
To properly know how to write a topic sentence, it can be helpful to think of it as something that works in two ways at once. This is necessary as it relates the paragraph in to the essay’s thesis. It then acts as an indication for the entire argument of the paper. Furthermore, it defines the scope of the paragraph too. Example of topic sentence lesson:
The majority of restaurants generate more income by adding a special ingredient to their food called “magic sauce”.
If the writing topic sentences will control the rest of the paragraphs that will be written, all the sentences must have a relation to restaurants, making profits and the sauce. An example is:
It is made from edible oil. The condiment is never mentioned anywhere in the menu.
As you see, the sentence fits well to be called as a topic sentence because it describes the composition of the magic sauce. Another topic sentence activities sample:
Moreover, this is an industry’s secret that is why it is not listed anywhere.
“Moreover” is considered as a transitional phase in the topic sentence games that still relates to the component of the magic sauce as a well kept secret of most restaurants.
The magic sauce is composed of a substance that may cause temporary amnesia to customers.
Next is for the paragraph to move to the short term effect of the sauce to consumers. An example of the topic sentence practice is:
Once the consumer realizes how much money was spent for the food with no nutritional value, many people already swore not to buy it again.
This is an example of the topic sentence lessons that can have a longer term effect:
After some time, the component found on the magic sauce will take effect. Such effect can be depended on the return and spent. It can be older but definitely not wiser.
As a final point, the paragraph on how to make a topic sentence must be finished with a claim that is contained in the topic sentence. It is the fact that many restaurants generate more money because of the magic sauce contained in their food.
Topic Sentence Analysis
Usually, topic sentences work as a mini thesis statement. The topic sentence similarly makes a claim of some kind. The topic sentence should be the single force present in the paragraph just like the thesis statement that works as a single force seen in an essay. Also, just like the thesis statement, once there is a claim in the topic sentence, the paragraph that will follow should expound, discuss and prove it in some means. The topic sentence ensures to make a point and to provide reasons and samples that can support it.
Given all the definition of how to write topic sentences, it can still be a little complicating to understand its actual role. Hence, to further understand, it would be ideal to picture any paragraph with its own mini essay with its own thesis, support and even conclusion. Below are the parts of the paragraph that matches the parts of the essay:
Paragraph:
Topic sentence
Explanation and analysis
Summary
Essay level:
Thesis statement
Paragraph of the body
Conclusion
As seen above, the essay starts with an introduction. This presents the thesis statement and arguments that essay will later develop. Basically, every paragraph will begin in a topic sentence that can provide the emphasis of that particular paragraph. It informs the readers that the subtopic of the paragraph will give support to the evidence.
In order for a topic sentence to be considered strong, it must be placed at the beginning of the paragraph. If writing a topic sentence is not at the beginning, it must be at least somewhere near to it.
Place of the topic sentence
Remember that the topic sentence does not always have to be the first sentence of a paragraph. In teaching topic sentence, it however must come early in the paragraph so as for it to inform readers that it is the focus of the paragraph. At times, placing a transition sentence before the topic sentence is ideal. This can build the continuity among the topics.
Specifics
In teaching topic sentences, it must be focused than the thesis sentence. It is good to ensure that the claim can be analyzed, argued and supported in the body of the paragraph.
It is best to avoid direct quotations
For most, the first sentence of the paragraph can be a quotation. Yet, a topic sentence cannot be a quotation. It must be a sentence you have written on your own words. Quotations can be used somewhere in the paragraph where it can support the topic sentence.
Some tips:
Doing an outline is a good way to get started in writing topic sentences just in case you may find it hard to write one. Naturally, if you are new in writing task, writing an effective one can truly be a challenge. With the outline, the sub points and the points written can be the topic sentences for the paragraph that you will write.
Another tip is considering that the functions of the topic sentence is similar when written at the paragraph level like that of the thesis at the essay level, it can be advantageous to check some proper ways to write thesis statement first. Such can quickly be found on the web. With that, writing topic sentence can be quicker and simpler.
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