Choose the best topic sentence
key notes :
What is a Topic Sentence?
- A topic sentence is the first sentence in a paragraph that tells the reader what the paragraph will be about. It introduces the main idea or main point.
Characteristics of a Good Topic Sentence
- Clear and Concise: The topic sentence should be simple and to the point, giving a clear idea of the paragraph’s focus.
- Interesting: It should grab the reader’s attention and make them want to read more.
- Focused: It should cover only one main idea.
How to Identify a Good Topic Sentence
- The best topic sentence will:
- Introduce the main idea of the paragraph.
- Not include too many details—that comes later in the paragraph.
- Stay on the same subject as the rest of the paragraph.
Examples of Good Topic Sentences
- General Topic: My Favorite Hobby
- Good Topic Sentence: My favorite hobby is painting because it allows me to be creative.
- (This sentence introduces the idea that the paragraph will be about painting and why the writer likes it.)
- General Topic: A Rainy Day
- Good Topic Sentence: Rainy days are perfect for staying inside and reading books.
- (This sentence tells the reader that the paragraph will talk about why rainy days are good for reading.)
Steps to Choose the Best Topic Sentence
- Read the Paragraph: Understand the main idea of the entire paragraph.
- Ask: Which sentence best introduces the main idea of the paragraph?
- Eliminate Details: Don’t choose a sentence that gives too many details or focuses on something not directly related to the main idea.
How to Create a Strong Topic Sentence
- Think of the Main Idea: Before writing, think about the one main point you want to share.
- Be Specific: Avoid being too general, but don’t add too many details either.
Examples:
- Dogs are loyal pets. (Good topic sentence)
- I love my dog because he always follows me everywhere. (Too detailed for a topic sentence)
Read the paragraph. Then, add the better topic sentence.
___ In the 1700s, the cats on this island kept mice away from the silkworms that made silk for people’s clothing. Later, in the 1800s, the island’s fishermen believed the cats were good luck. They fed them and even built a cat temple on the island. There are just a few people left on the island today, but they still take care of the cats who live there.
- On the island of Tashirojima, people and cats have helped each other for a long time.
- Humans have been helping animals for many years on Tashirojima Island.
The paragraph tells how people and cats have helped each other on Tashirojima. So, this is the better topic sentence:
✓ On the island of Tashirojima, people and cats have helped each other for a long time.
This sentence is too broad:
x Humans have been helping animals for many years on Tashirojima Island. The paragraph only talks about how humans help cats on Tashirojima.
Read the paragraph. Then, add the better topic sentence.
__ In 1852, Marsh had a hard time climbing Mount Washington, the tallest peak in the Northeastearn United States. He wanted to find an easier way to get up the mountain. A train would make it easy, but most trains could not go up a steep mountain. To solve this problem, Marsh invented a special train that used wheels with teeth to hang on to the tracks. This system, which was the first of its kind, helped trains climb all the way to the top of Mount Washington.
- Sylvester Marsh built the first mountain-climbing railway.
- There are several mountain-climbing railways in the United States.
The paragraph tells how Sylvester Marsh built the first railway that could climb mountains. So, this is the better topic sentence:
✓ Sylvester Marsh built the first mountain-climbing railway.
This sentence is too broad:
x There are several mountain-climbing railways in the United States. The paragraph talks about only one mountain-climbing railway.
let’s practice!
Read the paragraph. Then, add the better topic sentence.
___ In the 1700s, the cats on this island kept mice away from the silkworms that made silk for people’s clothing. Later, in the 1800s, the island’s fishermen believed the cats were good luck. They fed them and even built a cat temple on the island. There are just a few people left on the island today, but they still take care of the cats who live there.
Results
#1. Read the paragraph. Then, add the better topic sentence.
Read the paragraph. Then, add the better topic sentence.
____ A disease called foulbrood can kill bees if it isn’t found quickly. It takes beekeepers a long time to check each beehive for signs of disease. However, dogs have a strong sense of smell, so they can sniff out sick hives quickly and easily. When a dog smells a diseased hive, it points it out to the beekeeper by making a special sign.
Results
#1. Read the paragraph. Then, add the better topic sentence.
Read the paragraph. Then, add the better topic sentence.
____In the UK, there are doughnuts. In the Netherlands, small balls of fried dough called oliebollen are eaten on New Year’s Eve. People in Poland eat paçzki, small cakes filled with jam or cream. In Nepal, you can find sel roti, ring shaped treats made with rice flour. And in Kenya, there are fried mandazi, which are sometimes made with coconut or peanuts.
Results
#1. Read the paragraph. Then, add the better topic sentence.
Read the paragraph. Then, add the better topic sentence.
_____ As a little girl, Hilde went to work with her father, who wrote for a newspaper. Then, at the age of eight, she started her own newspaper, the Orange Street News. By age nine, she was writing news stories about important events. By the time Hilde was ten, people had visited her online newspaper hundreds of thousands of times.
Results
#1. Read the paragraph. Then, add the better topic sentence.
Read the paragraph. Then, add the better topic sentence.
_______ Because orcas hunt using sound, loud boats make it hard for them to find food. Instead of following them with boats, scientists observe the orcas from their lab. They put cameras and microphones all over the orcas’ home. That way, the scientists can quietly watch and listen. They learn a lot about the orcas, and the orcas stay happy and healthy.