Creating a good Topic
Sentence (TS)
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The job of a topic sentence is to establish
THE POINT YOUR PARAGRAPH WILL PROVE.
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Your topic sentence can make or break your paragraph!
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If your TS is weak, when you go to write your commentary, you won’t
have much to say.
If your TS is strong, when you go to write your commentary, you’ll be able
to dig into the reasoning behind your TS and evidence.
It does not state a “fact” that is already stated
in your story.
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Instead, it identifies something that has
been “indirectly” shown by your story.
It can also show a conclusion you’ve drawn
that wasn’t directly stated in the story.
Further, it shows that you’ve made an
inference… you’ve pieced the clues
together to come up with an idea.
A BAD EXAMPLE:
Atticus Finch has agreed to take
the Tom Robinson case, and
this makes some people in town
treat his children badly.
This is pure summary. It restates what
happens in the novel without offering any
interpretation.
This is better because it makes a judgment
about the character and shows an insightful
interpretation.
A GOOD EXAMPLE:
Atticus Finch is a man of
integrity and honor who chooses
to live his life as a model for his
children.
It does not state a simple or obvious idea.
 
The idea you are proposing should not
be summed up in one word.
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The idea should be focused on an
essential idea that has “layers” to it.
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Further, it implies the direction that you
will go in the paragraph.
A BAD EXAMPLE:
Atticus Finch is a good father.
While it is true that this is a evaluation of the
character, it is far too simplistic. This actually
makes it harder to build a good paragraph.
This is better because it elaborates upon the
interpretation by using specific language and
by offering a preview of what you will prove
about Atticus.
A GOOD EXAMPLE:
Atticus Finch is a man of
integrity and honor who chooses
to live his life as a model for his
children.
It only states what can be supported with
text evidence.
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Realize that you have to prove
EVERYTHING in your topic sentence.
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Don’t go beyond the scope of the text.
Avoid generalizing.
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A good TS will enable you to piece
together multiple text examples in order
to prove your point.
A BAD EXAMPLE:
Just about any kid all over the
world would react the way
Scout did.
Can you really prove how people all over the
world react? No, you cannot.
This is better because it identifies what
Scout’s reaction was, and it can be proven
with evidence from the text: she talks several
times about the way people spoke to her and
how it triggered her reaction.
A GOOD EXAMPLE:
Scout’s violent reaction to Cecil
and Francis shows that she
reacts more to how she is treated
than to what people actually
say.
POOR EXAMPLES
STRONG EXAMPLES
 
Miss Maudie is a funny lady.
 
Miss Maudie has a carefree and
optimistic attitude, even when
she faces tragedy.
 
Jem is more mature than Scout.
 
Because Jem is older, he is able
to understand the world around
him more clearly than Scout
can.
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Atticus is a caring father.
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The relationship that Atticus has
with his children may be austere
at times, but he is very focused
on being a good, caring father.