Effective Strategies for Writing Strong Topic Sentences

TOPIC SENTENCES TIPS ON HOW TO WRITE A TOPIC SENTENCE

A topic sentence is the one sentence in a paragraph usually the first that informs readers of what s to come. WHAT IS A TOPIC SENTENCE? It provides important context and lets the reader know what the paragraph is about. It introduces the main idea of a paragraph and supports the details that follow

WHAT IS A TOPIC SENTENCE They are also called umbrella sentences, because a topic sentence must cover everything mentioned in the rest of the paragraph.

- Make it easy to develop a paragraph from this sentence: A good topic sentence is thorough. It gives you enough content and context to write a whole paragraph discussing them. HOW TO WRITE A TOPIC SENTENCE - Make it precise: Avoid making vague or general statements that don t make your main point difficult to understand. -Make it short: Make everything easier to understand by sticking to one main point. You ll have the rest of your paragraph to add the details that expand, prove, or describe your topic.

EXAMPLES Make it easy to develop a paragraph The first true self-driving cars appeared in the 1980s This sentence refers to a clear idea (self-driving cars), which is good, but it is simply telling you a fact. It does not make it easy to write a paragraph about that subject. It gives you nothing to talk about Technological advancements in the 1980s introduced the first self-driving cars This one includes that same idea, but you can support it with facts that elaborate how this came to be.

EXAMPLES MAKE IT PRECISE I am going to explain how self-driving cars are better for the environment. The main topic is correct but this statement is too general. It doesn t have any precise point of discussion. (Also, the words I am going to explain just add unnecessary words to your sentence. Try to avoid them) While self-driving cars do not eliminate pollution, their improved efficiency is a huge step toward a cleaner future. This sentence gives you a lot to discuss. It makes it clear that you are going to talk about things like the efficiency of self-driving cars and the way they will help the environment in the future.

EXAMPLES Make it short and clear Self-driving cars should be a priority because they re better than environment-polluting gas-guzzlers, and in just a few years, traffic will become so awful that no one will be able to get to where they need to. Too long. Main idea is unclear (talks about pollution and traffic). No main point to support. Not very good. Given how much self-driving cars could positively impact society, the automotive industry should make research and funding a priority Focuses on one main idea, which makes it easier to write important sentences in the rest of the paragraph. We know that the paragraph is going to be about the positive impact of self-driving cars on society

HERE ARE SOME Is your main idea clear? Can your topic sentence direct the other sentences in your paragraph? Can you develop your main idea in one paragraph? Does it have linkers to transition from the previous paragraph (however, in addition, etc).? Is your topic sentence thorough, precise, and short? QUICK QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF ABOUT YOUR TOPIC SENTENCES:

TEST We are going to look at some examples, and decide if the topic sentences make it easy to develop a paragraph. We are also going to see how they can be improved. 1. University students should not read manga. 2. Manga use pictures and dialog to tell stories. 3. There are many different types of manga. 4. I think that manga are part of modern Japanese culture. 5. My friends and I all like manga so I will write about them.

Can it be developed? YES. This can be developed by giving reasons why university students should not read manga 1. UNIVERSITY STUDENTS SHOULD NOT READ MANGA. Can it be improved? YES. It will probably be difficult to argue that they should NEVER read manga. It might be a good idea to change the sentence. For example: University students should not only read manga. OR Rather than only reading manga, university students should read a wide range of material, including newspapers, novels by famous writers, and non-fiction paperbacks.

Can it be developed? NO. This is just a description of manga. It answers the question What are manga? , but does not lead to any questions itself 2. MANGA USE PICTURES AND DIALOGUE TO TELL Can it be improved? YES. It needs a topic sentences that leads to more questions. For example: STORIES In a successful manga, the pictures and dialogue are not just good in themselves; they interact with each other to produce a satisfying final product. This gives us questions like: How does this happen? Can the writer explain this by giving an example of a successful manga, or comparing a successful manga with a less successful one?

. Can it be developed? YES. This can be developed by giving examples of the different types 3. THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF MANGA Can it be improved? It could probably be made a little more interesting by adding a little more information. For example: There are many different types of manga because there are many different types of reader.

4 4. I THINK THAT MANGA ARE PART OF MODERN JAPANESE CULTURE. Can it be developed? YES.. This can be developed by explaining why manga are part of modern Japanese culture. Can it be improved? YES. I think that should be removed because it is makes the argument look weak. It would also be better to explain part more clearly, for example by changing it to an important part.

Can it be developed? NO. It is clear that the writer has chosen manga as the topic, but there is no focus. We do not know what the writer wants to explain or justify. There are no questions to answer 5. MY FRIENDS AND I ALL LIKE MANGA SO I WILL WRITE ABOUT Can it be improved? YES. We need to change the whole sentence in order to give it some real focus. THEM. Although some educators and politicians criticize manga, in fact they have many good points. This give us the following question: What are the good points?

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