This video called "How to Write Topic Sentences in Essays, IELTS, TOEFL, &. More" highlights strategies for writing a topic sentence. This is a great place to start if this is a new concept for you.
"How to Write Topic Sentences in Essays, IELTS, TOEFL, &. More" by Learn Academic English is licensed under a Standard YouTube License.
Imagine reading one long block of text with each idea blurring into the next. You are likely to lose interest in a piece of writing that is disorganized and spans many pages without breaks. Paragraphs separate ideas into logical, manageable chunks, with each paragraph focusing on only one main idea and presenting coherent sentences to support that one point. Because all the sentences in one paragraph support the same point, a paragraph may stand on its own.
Effective paragraphing makes the difference between a satisfying essay that readers can easily process and one that requires readers to mentally organize the piece themselves. Thoughtful organization and development of each body paragraph leads to an effectively focused, developed, and coherent essay.
An effective paragraph contains three main parts:
Topic sentence
Supporting sentences (body)
Concluding sentence
In informative and persuasive writing, the topic sentence is usually the first sentence or second sentence of a paragraph and expresses its main idea, followed by supporting sentences that help explain, prove, or enhance the topic sentence.
If the paragraph contains a concluding sentence, it is the last sentence in the paragraph and reminds the reader of the main point by restating it in different words. The following figure illustrates the most common paragraph structure for informative and persuasive college essays.
Topic Sentence (topic + comment, judgement, or interpretation):
Supporting Sentence 1:
Supporting Sentence 2:
Supporting Sentence 3:
Supporting Sentence 4:
Supporting Sentence 5
Concluding Sentence (summary of comment, judgement, or interpretation):
*Note: The number of supporting sentences varies according to the paragraph’s purpose and the writer’s sentence structure.
The foundation of a paragraph is the topic sentence, which expresses the main idea or point of the paragraph. The topic sentence functions in two ways: it clearly refers to and supports the essay’s thesis, and it indicates what will follow in the rest of the paragraph. As the unifying sentence for the paragraph, it is the most general sentence, whereas all supporting sentences provide different types of more specific information, such as, facts, details, or examples.
An effective topic sentence has the following characteristics:
A topic sentence provides an accurate indication of what will follow in the rest of the paragraph.
Weak example: First, we need a better way to educate students.
Explanation: The claim is vague because it does not provide enough information about what will follow, and it is too broad to be covered effectively in one paragraph.
Stronger example: Creating a national set of standards for math and English education will improve student learning in many states.
Explanation: The sentence replaces the vague phrase “a better way” and leads readers to expect supporting facts and examples as to why standardizing education in these subjects might improve student learning in many states.
A good topic sentence is the most general sentence in the paragraph and thus does not include supporting details.
Weak example: Salaries should be capped in baseball for many reasons, most importantly so we don’t allow the same team to win year after year.
Explanation: This topic sentence includes a supporting detail that should be included later in the paragraph to back up the main point.
Stronger example: Introducing a salary cap would improve the game of baseball for many reasons.
Explanation: This topic sentence omits the additional supporting detail so that it can be expanded upon later in the paragraph, yet the sentence still makes a claim about salary caps improving the game.
A good topic sentence is clear and easy to follow.
Weak example: In general, writing an essay, thesis, or other academic or nonacademic document is considerably easier and of much higher quality if you first construct an outline, of which there are many different types.
Explanation: The confusing sentence structure and unnecessary vocabulary bury the main idea, making it difficult for the reader to follow the topic sentence.
Stronger example: Most forms of writing can be improved by first creating an outline.
Explanation: This topic sentence cuts out unnecessary verbiage and simplifies the previous statement, making it easier for the reader to follow. The writer can include examples of what kinds of writing can benefit from outlining in the supporting sentences.
A topic sentence can appear anywhere within a paragraph or can be implied (such as in narrative or descriptive writing). In college-level expository or persuasive writing, placing an explicit topic sentence at the beginning of each paragraph (the first sentence) makes it easier for readers to follow the essay and for writers to stay on topic, but writers should be aware of variations and maintain the flexibility to adapt to different writing projects.
The following examples illustrate varying locations for the topic sentence. In each example, the topic sentence is underlined.
After reading the new TV guide this week I wondered why we are still being bombarded with reality shows, a plague that continues to darken our airwaves. Along with the return of viewer favorites, we are to be cursed with yet another mindless creation. Prisoner follows the daily lives of eight suburban housewives who have chosen to be put in jail for the purposes of this fake psychological experiment. A preview for the first episode shows the usual tears and tantrums associated with reality television. I dread to think what producers will come up with next season and hope that other viewers will express their criticism. These producers must stop the constant stream of meaningless shows without plot lines. We’ve had enough reality television to last us a lifetime!
The first sentence tells readers that the paragraph will be about reality television shows, and it expresses the writer’s distaste for these shows through the use of the word bombarded. Each of the following sentences in the paragraph supports the topic sentence by providing further information about a specific reality television show and why the writer finds it unappealing. The final sentence is the concluding sentence. It reiterates the main point that viewers are bored with reality television shows by using different words from the topic sentence. Paragraphs that begin with the topic sentence move from the general to the specific. They open with a general statement about a subject (reality shows) and then discuss specific examples (the reality show Prisoner). Most academic essays contain the topic sentence at the beginning of the first paragraph.
In each of the following sentence pairs, choose the more effective topic sentence.
Pair 1:
This paper will discuss the likelihood of the Democrats winning the next election.
To boost their chances of winning the next election, the Democrats need to listen to public opinion.
Pair 2:
The unrealistic demands of union workers are crippling the economy for three main reasons.
Union workers are crippling the economy because companies are unable to remain competitive as a result of added financial pressure.
Pair 3:
Authors are losing money as a result of technological advances.
The introduction of new technology will devastate the literary world.
Pair 4:
Rap music is produced by untalented individuals with over-sized egos.
This essay will consider whether talent is required in the rap music industry.
Read the following statements and evaluate each as a topic sentence.
1. Exercising three times a week is healthy.
2. Sexism and racism exist in today’s workplace.
3. I think we should raise the legal driving age.
4. Owning a business.
5. There are too many dogs on the public beach.
Create a topic sentence on each of the following subjects.
Write your responses on your own sheet of paper.
1. An endangered species
2. The cost of fuel
3. The legal drinking age
4. A controversial film or novel
"Writing Paragraphs" from "Advanced Community College ESL Composition: An Integrated Skills Approach" by Jenell Rae, Jacob Skelton, Edgar Perez, and Sara Beseta is licensed under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license. Adapted by Laura Paciorek.