Topic Sentences
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Every good paragraph starts with a topic sentence. The topic sentence tells the reader what the whole paragraph is about!
What Is a Topic Sentence?
A topic sentence is the first sentence of a paragraph. It tells the main idea - what the paragraph will be about.
Think of it like a headline for your paragraph!
Where Does the Topic Sentence Go?
The topic sentence goes at the beginning of your paragraph. It is usually the very first sentence.
This helps readers know right away what they will learn.
What Makes a Good Topic Sentence?
A good topic sentence:
- Tells the main idea of the paragraph
- Is not too long or too short
- Makes readers want to learn more
- Is clear and easy to understand
Topic Sentence vs. Other Sentences
The topic sentence is different from the other sentences in a paragraph:
- Topic sentence: Tells the main idea
- Other sentences: Give details about the main idea
Worked Examples
Example 1: Finding the Main Idea
Paragraph about: Why dogs make good pets
Good topic sentence: "Dogs make wonderful pets for many reasons."
Why it works: It tells readers that the paragraph will be about why dogs are good pets.
Example 2: Comparing Topic Sentences
Topic: My favorite season
Weak topic sentence: "Summer."
Better topic sentence: "Summer is my favorite season because of all the fun things I can do."
Why it is better: It tells us the main idea AND makes us want to know more!
Example 3: Writing About School
Topic: What I do at recess
Topic sentence: "Recess is my favorite part of the school day."
The rest of the paragraph would tell why recess is the favorite part.
Example 4: Writing About Animals
Topic: Facts about butterflies
Topic sentence: "Butterflies are amazing insects with many interesting features."
The rest of the paragraph would tell facts about butterflies.
Example 5: Writing About Food
Topic: My favorite food
Topic sentence: "Pizza is my favorite food in the whole world."
The rest of the paragraph would explain why pizza is the favorite.
Practice Problems
Practice writing and identifying topic sentences!
Problem 1: Which is a better topic sentence about cats?
a) "Cats."
b) "Cats are playful and fun pets to have."
Show Answer
b) "Cats are playful and fun pets to have." It tells us what the paragraph will be about!
Problem 2: Write a topic sentence about your favorite game.
Show Answer
Example: "Hide and seek is my favorite game to play with friends." Your answer tells the main idea - what your favorite game is!
Problem 3: What is the topic of this paragraph? "I love going to the beach. I can build sandcastles. I can swim in the ocean. The beach is so much fun!"
Show Answer
The topic is going to the beach. The topic sentence is "I love going to the beach."
Problem 4: Write a topic sentence about your family.
Show Answer
Example: "My family likes to spend time together." or "I have a wonderful family."
Problem 5: Fix this weak topic sentence: "Apples."
Show Answer
Better: "Apples are a delicious and healthy snack." or "Apples are my favorite fruit."
Problem 6: Write a topic sentence about winter.
Show Answer
Example: "Winter is a magical time of year." or "I love playing in the snow during winter."
Problem 7: Is this a good topic sentence? "There are many reasons why reading is important."
Show Answer
Yes! It tells us the paragraph will be about why reading is important.
Problem 8: Write a topic sentence about your favorite animal.
Show Answer
Example: "Lions are the most amazing animals in the world." or "Dolphins are my favorite animals."
Problem 9: Where does the topic sentence go in a paragraph?
Show Answer
The topic sentence goes at the beginning of the paragraph (usually the first sentence).
Problem 10: Write a topic sentence about your school.
Show Answer
Example: "My school is a great place to learn." or "I love going to my school every day."
Check Your Understanding
Question 1: What is a topic sentence?
Show Answer
A topic sentence is the first sentence of a paragraph that tells the main idea.
Question 2: Where does a topic sentence go?
Show Answer
The topic sentence goes at the beginning of the paragraph, usually as the first sentence.
Question 3: Why is a topic sentence important?
Show Answer
A topic sentence helps readers know what the paragraph will be about. It is like a headline!
Question 4: What makes a good topic sentence?
Show Answer
A good topic sentence tells the main idea, is clear and easy to understand, and makes readers want to learn more.
Next Steps
- Practice: Look for topic sentences when you read books
- Write: Try writing topic sentences for different topics
- Next Lesson: Learn about supporting sentences that follow your topic sentence!
- Challenge: Can you write a topic sentence and then add 2-3 sentences about it?