Writing Topic Sentences
Imagine reading one long block of text, with each idea blurring into the next. We are likely to lose interest in writing that is disorganized and spans many pages without breaks. Paragraphs separate ideas into logical, manageable chunks. By exploring one idea at a time, the writer has a chance to explain and support that idea. The reader can then digest the idea before moving on to the next related paragraph.
A topic sentence is a sentence that summarizes the main idea of a paragraph, just as a thesis summarizes a whole essay. As the unifying sentence for the paragraph, the topic sentence is the most general, whereas other supporting sentences provide more specific information, such as facts, details, or examples. Each topic sentence should clearly relate to the essay’s thesis.
What makes a Good Topic Sentence?
The goal of a topic sentence is to help readers focus on and remember the main idea of the paragraph. So the trick is to write a sentence that covers all the points of the paragraph but does not cram in too many words or details. We want to give a sense of what the paragraph will contain without listing all the specifics.
Vague topic sentence: “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.
Revised version: “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.
In addition, we want to make sure that the topic sentence gets right to the point. A good topic sentence is clear and easy to follow.
Confusing topic sentence: “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 convoluted sentence structure and unnecessary vocabulary bury the main idea, making it difficult for the reader to follow the topic sentence.
Revised version: 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. In the supporting sentences, the writer can include examples of what kinds of writing can benefit from outlining.
Where Should I Put a Topic Sentence?
In academic writing, the topic sentence is usually the first or second sentence of a paragraph and expresses the main idea. It is followed by supporting sentences that help explain, prove, or enhance the topic sentence. In most college essays, placing an explicit topic sentence at the beginning of each paragraph (the first