The topic sentence is without a doubt the most important sentence in any body paragraph. Get it wrong and the paragraph will likely fail in its main objective. Get it right, and the rest of the paragraph should practically write itself. However despite its importance, it is also the sentence which writers are most likely to get wrong. The following article will describe a fool proof method for writing topic sentences that can be used all the way from middle school up until college.
The Topic Sentence
The purpose of the topic sentence is to inform the reader the one thing this paragraph is about. It must include a main topic, a topic statement, and may include a number expression. Below are the three main components of the topic sentence.
The Topic Sentence
The purpose of the topic sentence is to inform the reader the one thing this paragraph is about. It must include a main topic, a topic statement, and may include a number expression. Below are the three main components of the topic sentence.
1. Main Topic
The main topic is the central subject of the paragraph. It should only be one or two words and is almost always a noun. If you are struggling to find the main topic, try and find the subject in the sentence, as this is usually the main topic too. For example, if you are writing a paragraph on “Why Snow Leopards are an Endangered Species”, then the main topic would be “snow leopards” since that is the subject of the sentence. If you are writing an essay (with three or more body paragraphs), then every paragraph must be about the same main topic.
2. Topic Statement
The topic statement is what the writer wishes to state about the main topic, or in other words their “belief”. One paragraph should only allow for one statement. If there is more that the author wishes to state about the main topic, then they need to write additional paragraphs. As with all writing, the “Goldilocks Principle” applies when writing the topic statement. This means the topic statement shouldn’t be too specific, but also should not be too general (it needs to be just right). Too specific means that there won’t be anything left to talk about. Too general and the reader won’t understand your main point. Examples of each can be found below.
3. Number Expression
In many cases, it is a good idea for a writer to include a number expression in their topic sentence. The purpose of a number expression is to guide the structure of the paragraph and to inform the reader of how many points to look out for. Generally speaking, the best number of points to make in a paragraph is three. Most good number expressions start with a preposition such as in , for or due to. Some common number expressions are:
- For three key reasons
- In these main ways
- According to several sources
- Due to these three causes
Teacher Tips:
- As you can see, it does not matter what the order is for the main idea, controlling idea and number expression, so long as it is clear.
- Don’t ever use the phrase “I believe” in a topic sentence, as it makes the topic sentence sound weak. “I believe” is implied but never stated directly. State the belief as if it were a fact.
Conclusion
The topic sentence is by far the most important sentence of a paragraph, but can also be the most difficult to get right. Following a set structure like the one above can help to ensure your topic sentence satisfies its main objective of informing the reader of the paragraphs main topic and guiding the paragraphs structure.
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