Mar 19, 2019 commonly appearing at or near the beginning of a paragraph, a topic sentence expresses the main idea of a paragraph. Alert the reader to the topic or main point of the paragraph. Topic sentences and thesis statements reveal the reason for. This is usually done when the writer needs two paragraphs to deal with the same topic. All topic sentences analyze your topic and are not just statements of fact. The actual questions that you ask, however, depend upon the topic sentence itself.
A topic sentence that is too broad outlines more territory than a paragraph can comfortably cover. Using word 2000, the exported file opens with each word on a separate line. Topic sentences are not the only way to organize a paragraph, and not all paragraphs need a topic sentence. A brief guide to writing paragraphs wesleyan university. A similar way to help readers follow a writers reasoning is to mention the same familiar information in the topic sentences of two or more paragraphs. The find and replace function in word can help you to merge multiple lines into one paragraph, please do as this. Sentences and paragraphs summary solent university. Matching game with nine paragraphs missing the topic sentence in the shape of fish. How to merge or combine multiple lines into a single. This makes your essay have an overall connectedness, which is exactly what a reader wants to see. Topicsentences statethemainidea, includeorsummarizereasonsthatsupportmainidea,and makeaclaimaboutthemainideaoftheparagraph. The topic sentence tells the topic of the paragraph and the general idea regarding the topic that is going to be discussed.
A wellorganized paragraph supports or develops a single controlling idea, which is expressed in a sentence called the topic sentence. Signify how the writer will approach the topic or main point of the paragraph. It is usually used with no article, though some is sometimes used before it. These two sentences show how the reader can compare thesis statements and topic sentences. Their backbones and ribs are attached to the flat bony plates of their shells. Write whats good or bad about the possible topic sentences below each example. A topic sentence is a sentence that indicates the main idea or thesis of a paragraph. This new creation wont be a true paragraph because itll be weirdly choppy and overly long, but it should be a functional microcosm of the text. Read each paragraph below and choose the topic sentence. A topic sentence paragraph can help us to ensure that all is well. Now that your students are writing complete sentences, it is time to transition into paragraph writing. Merging lines into a single paragraph word 2010 im editing someone elses bibliography in word 2010. Highinterest topics include guinea pigs, a recipe, and frogs.
I wrote eight short paragraphs and taped them each to a bag. To develop a paragraph from a topic sentence, all you have to do is to ask the topic sentence questions. An effective paragraph always begins with the topic sentence that supports the main idea of the entire paragraph. The paragraph and topic sentence is a powerpoint presentation that details out what a paragraph is. The paragraph is wellsupported with details and concrete examples. It can be short or long, depending onif the topic or idea you have been covering hasbeen fully explored in that paragraph. While they edit the paragraphs, they are are learning about staying on topic and the flow of a correctly written paragraph. To make sure every topic sentence and paragraph serves your argument, follow these steps. What questions would you ask for the following topic sentences. They put their sentences in the bags, and later we pulled them out and read the huge variety of topic sentences that they had written. Problem, need, difficulty, dilemma, challenge, issue, answer, propose, suggest, indicate, solve, resolve, plan it presents and explains a problem. Then, groups went around the room and wrote topic sentences for each of the paragraphs.
Writing paragraphs the writing centre university of ottawa. These sentences combine to express a specific idea, main point, and topic and so on a number of paragraphs are then combined to write a report, an essay, or even a book. And then, click home find advanced find to go the find and replace dialog box, in the find and replace dialog box, under the find tab, please enter p into. Everything else works with the topic sentence all other sentences give support. Though it doesnt necessarily have to go at the beginning of a sentence, that is often where your reader is looking for it, and putting it at the beginning will definitely make your intentions clear. Use this quizworksheet combo to check what youve learned about the key components of topic sentences. All topic sentences relate to your thesis statement. This sentence is basically a summary of the argument youre making in the paragraph. He bases this on the idea that paradoxically, perversely, even, it makes a lot more sense for. The author made hanging indents by putting paragraph marks after each line and putting tabs at the start of a new line.
Most importantly, turtles shells serve as the base for their skeletons. Seldom in academic writing is a one sentence paragraph appropriate. As you can see, the topic sentences are all very different. Placing the topic sentence at the beginning of a paragraph offers a number of advantages.
A complete paragraph is one which fulfills the promise of the topic sentence. Since fixing this 7page document manually would have taken forever, i decided to whip up some macro code to fix each real paragraph in a split second. Writing effective topic sentences better toefl scores blog. Because a topic sentence encapsulates the idea of your body paragraph, it introduces to your. Then, decide what is wrong with the other sentences too specific, too general, not complete sentence. Topic sentences a topic sentence is a statement at the beginning of each body paragraph, indicates the topic of the entire paragraph, and reflects one of the main points of the thesis statement. All topic sentences relate to the ideas in the rest of the paragraph. If that is true for you, you can use this handout to help you craft topic sentences. A paragraph is basically a group of at least three to five sentences that discuss a central topic.
Heres an example to illustrate the difference between the two. Unfortunately, whenever i copy and pasted the pdf text, every single line was its own new paragraph. It might be helpful to think of a topic sentence as working in two directions simultaneously. Opinion paragraph writing model topic, detail, and closing sentence a dog for bones bones the detective should be allowed to have curly the dog. The topic sentence is a sentence that gives the readers an idea of what the paragraph is about. Matching topic sentence to paragraphs by colleen mcandrew tpt. Not all paragraphs have clearcut topic sentences, and topic sentences can actually occur anywhere in the paragraph as the first sentence, the last sentence, or somewhere in the middle. A paragraph is a group of related sentences that develop a main thought, or idea, about a single topic. Matching topic sentence to paragraphs by colleen mcandrew. Writing topic sentences that fit a topic sentence also provides direction by precisely outlining the territory the paragraph will cover. Then you take the answers to these questions, and write a paragraph out of them. Thesis statements are used for essay writing when the writer expresses an opinion, takes a position, or makes an argument.
The paragraph and topic sentence linkedin slideshare. Oct 15, 2014 a topic sentence paragraph can help us to ensure that all is well. The topic sentence is the first sentence in a paragraph. Select the paragraphs that you want to merge into one paragraph. After reading a set of supporting sentences, students come up with a topic sentence that tells the main idea of the sentences in that paragraph. Your responses will not save or report to a gradebook. The topic sentence states the main, or controlling, idea. A topic sentence states the main idea of a paragraph.
This main idea of each paragraph is usually expressed somewhere in. They put their sentences in the bags, and later we pulled them out and read the huge variety of. Topic sentences are used for paragraph and report writing when the writer is explaining facts. The writer tells what she thinks and backs it up with reasons. However, i still cant get the individual lines of each citation to merge into a proper paragraph. Notice how all the parts combine to express the author. The total time allowed for this quiz is 10 minutes.
I recently read an article called so many englishes by paul roberts, in which he argues for the abolition of the native speaker assistant or the abolition or the native speaker teacher. Highlight or underline the topic sentence in each paragraph. In general, the purpose of a paragraph is to express one point, idea or opinion. Therefore the topic sentence of each paragraph starts by mentioning the same familiar information. Practice identifying the topic sentences in paragraphs.
A good paragraph must contain a good topic sentence. Each paragraph has only one main idea start with your topic sentence a nice, clear statement of the main idea. Paragraphs can be described as a collection of sentences. For example, paragraphs that describe, narrate, or detail the steps in an experiment do not usually need topic sentences. Moreover, this pp will focus more on one essential part of a paragraph, which is the topic sentence its function and its position in the paragraph. Writing workshop brief guide series a brief guide to. Students often ask how many sentences there are or should be in a paragraph. The first step to developing your topic sentences is to make sure you. How to write a topic sentences with supporting details stepbystep.
Topic sentences arent the first or the last thing you write youll develop them throughout the writing process. Recognizing perfect topic sentences practice worksheet 2 the following paragraph is missing a topic sentence. Combining sentences into paragraphs eteachingonline. However, you may want to link this paragraph to the previous one, and a linking sentence can go first. Cut the tails off the fish topic sentence after printing and laminate pieces. I am forty years old, rather tall and i have blue eyes and short black hair.
A topic sentence that is too narrow draws the boundaries of the paragraph uncomfortably small, usually by focus. A topic sentence should not contain supporting details. Then, write the best topic sentence on the line above the paragraph. Matching topic sentence to paragraphs topic sentences. Although topic sentences may appear anywhere in a paragraph, in academic essays they often appear at the beginning. Turtles could not survive without their marvelous shells. A paragraph is a group of sentences about onemain idea. Almost every piece of writing you do that is longer than a few sentences should be organized into paragraphs. For example, you might be able to omit a topic sentence in a paragraph that. Writing effective topic sentences just as sentences in the paragraph relate to the topic sentence, the topic sentence should relate back to a key point in the thesis. Read this example of a descriptive paragraph, notice how descriptive paragraphs are arranged by putting together all the sentences about the same thing. To begin with, it can help the writer keep an eye on paragraph unity by providing a guide for selecting details for the rest of the paragraph.
With these 5 worksheets, have your kiddos practice editing paragraphs that each have one off topic sentence. How to teach paragraph writing paragraph writing, topic. This is good for independent practice or give each student a piece to find who has their paragraph or sentence. Commonly appearing at or near the beginning of a paragraph, a topic sentence expresses the main idea of a paragraph.
A paragraph is a series of sentences that are organized and coherent, and are all related to a single topic. Topic sentence combine topic and controlling idea first. This exercise offers practice in creating topic sentences that will attract the interest of your readers. English words and examples of usage example sentences for merger the newly merged bankamerica corpthe merger of the two companies resulted in the loss of hundreds of jobs. Not all paragraphs have clear cut topic sentences, and topic sentences can actually occur anywhere in the paragraph. Select print activity to print or save your responses.
Topic sentences a topic sentence is a sentence that indicates the main idea or thesis of a paragraph. Topic sentences are useful, however, in paragraphs that analyze and argue. The parts that make up the text are related in meaningful ways to each other. Write a topic sentence for the group of sentences provided. Below is a list of possible topic sentences for the paragraph. Further, as is the case with the thesis statement, when the topic sentence makes a claim, the paragraph which follows must expand, describe, or prove it in some way. A topic sentence also known as a focus sentence encapsulates or organises an entire paragraph, and you should be careful to include one in most of your major paragraphs. Paragraph practice find the off topic sentence by happy. These lessons are broken down into 3 mini lessons 567 topic sentences, relevant details and closing sentences. On the other hand, topic sentences let the reader know what will be discussed in a particular paragraph or section of your essay. Then write the sentences with correct capitalization and punctuation on the lines below. Examples of linking ideas with model topic sentences and paragraphs. Compare what you wrote in activity 1 to the information in each paragraph.
743 558 1556 351 554 1210 907 953 4 65 794 714 1423 424 1072 1348 1078 1104 806 523 778 670 1247 795 171 662 913 1488 519 1575 379 1078 884 324 496 1223 1084 639 868 883 674