Topic Sentences
If a thesis is a road
map to a paper, then a topic sentence is a guide to a paragraph. Therefore, you should think of topic
sentences as kinds of mini-theses, organizing and enabling the development of
each paragraph in a paper.
Each paragraph should have its own topic sentence and should
focus on only one main idea or point.
Every time you move into a new idea, you need a new paragraph and a new
topic sentence.
A topic sentence has
several important functions:
·
it substantiates or supports an essay’s thesis
statement;
·
it unifies the content of a paragraph and
directs the order of the sentences; and
·
it advises the reader of the subject to be
discussed and how the paragraph will discuss it.
Readers generally look to the first few sentences in a
paragraph to determine the subject and perspective of the paragraph. That’s why
it’s often best to put the topic sentence at the very beginning of the
paragraph. In some cases, however, it’s more effective to place another
sentence before the topic sentence—for example, a sentence linking the current
paragraph to the previous one, or one providing background information.
There are two types
of topic sentences: obvious and implied.
You should probably focus on obvious topic sentences. For most classes, it is best to be
straightforward and to state your point as clearly and early as possible. Remember: the goal of your essay/paragraph is
to get your point across in a clear, concise, and persuasive manner. You don’t want to confuse your reader or your
instructor.
Obvious Topic
Sentences
These sentences should come at the beginning of your
paragraph, preferably in the first or second sentence (since you want to leave
room to effectively transition from one paragraph to the next
Good Example (of a
clear, effective, and obvious topic sentence):
Burnout is a potential problem for hardworking and
persevering students to fight. A preliminary step for preventing student
burnout is for students to work in moderation.
Students can concentrate on school every day, if they don’t overtax
themselves. One method students can use
is to avoid concentrating on a single project for an extended period. For
example, if students have to read two books for a midterm history test, they
should do other assignments at intervals so that the two books will not get
boring. Another means to moderate a
workload is to regulate how many extracurricular projects to take on. When a workload is manageable, a student’s
immunity to burnout is strengthened.
This example shows an effective topic sentence because it
has both the subject (burnout) and the treatment (―is a potential problem for
hardworking and persevering students to fight).
It also uses specific language (―hardworking and persevering students). For example, the author didn’t simply say
students, he said hardworking and persevering students. The sentence also specifically states that in
the paragraph, the author is going to discuss how to fight burnout.
Some points to
remember…
1. A topic sentence has a subject and a treatment;
the subject is what you intend to write about.
The treatment is what you intend to do with your subject.
Example:
Glendora
High School offers a well-balanced academic program.
Subject treatment
The subject
does not necessarily come first. It may
come at the end, the middle, or even interrupt the treatment.
Example:
Four
factors establish Elvis Presley
as the greatest entertainer of the
twentieth century: appearance,
Treatment subject treatment
singing
ability, style, and influence.
2. A topic sentence should not be a quote. It should be your own point in your own
words. Use quotes for support.
3. Make sure to use specific words in your topic sentence –
it shouldn’t be ―vague, too broad, or too narrow.
Example of a bad
topic sentence:
Vague (unclear):
Public schools are great.
Better: Public
schools do as well academically as private schools, according to statistics.
The first topic sentence uses vague language (great). What is great about the schools? Is it great academically, socially,
etc.? The second topic sentence is much
more specific and the reader knows the author is going to discuss how public
schools compare to private schools academically.
4. For essays, your topic sentences need to tie into your
thesis (the essay’s main idea).
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