Topic Sentences Activity

Topic Sentences Activity

Topic sentences are “signposts” that guide your reader through your argument. Effective transitions can make a major difference in the strength and readability of a paper’s argument. Just as a thesis states the main argument for your paper, each topic sentence should state the main argument of its paragraph. Use this activity to form better topic sentences and transitions.

1) First, pick out the topic sentences from the essay and cut them out. Don’t just choose the first sentence of each paragraph, but make sure the sentence states an argument or main idea of the paragraph. (Topic sentences are usually the first sentence, but not always. The topic sentence should be the sentence that states the main argument of the paragraph.)

2) Next, test each topic sentence:

First of all, does the topic sentence:

1) include the main idea of the paragraph? Yes No

2) make an argument that is proven in that paragraph? Yes No

Suggestions:______

Next, determine how well the topic sentence:

Low / Med / High
introduces the topic of a paragraph without announcing it?
hooks the reader with an intriguing argument?
plants questions in the reader’s mind?
uses thought-provoking or vivid words?
appears as the first sentence of the paragraph? If not, is it in a logical position?
provides a transition from the previous paragraph?

Suggestions:______

3) Once you’ve tested all of the topic sentences, reorganize them according to how the ideas “flow” most logically. Think about how each sentence is related to the other topic sentences.

4) Finally, rewrite each topic sentence, based on your criteria analysis, and add transitions to make each topic sentence relate to others.

5) Once your topic sentences are revised, go back and revise their accompanying paragraphs to be sure that each sentence in the paragraph goes along with the topic sentence or proves its argument in some way.

Criteria adapted from: Lorcher, Trent. “Lesson Plan: Writing a Good Topic Sentence.” Bright Hub. 20 Sep., 2009.

http://www.brighthub.com/education/k-12/articles/15419.aspx >