Topic Sentences
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The topic sentence includes the main idea of a paragraph.
It tells the reader the topic of the paragraph.
It shows the focus of that topic.
It is important to include both the topic and the focus; otherwise, the topic sentence will be too
general.
The topic sentence should not be too specific.
Examples:
Too General: Writing is fun.
*There is too much to say about this topic to only develop one paragraph.
Too Specific: I practice reading English for an hour every night before I go to bed.
*There is not enough to say about this topic to develop one paragraph.
Good Example: Reading every day has many beneficial effects on my English language
development.
*This topic sentence can be supported and developed into a paragraph. It is not too general or too
specific.
Practice: Read the following topic sentences. Write OK by those that are effective topic
sentences. Write S by those that are not good topic sentences because they’re too specific. Write G
by those that are not good topic sentences because they’re too general.
1. ________ My plane ticket to Rome, Italy cost more than $1000.
2. ________ Genetically modified food is not acceptable for several reasons.
3. ________ Music is important to society.
4. ________ Zebras have stripes.
5. ________ Texting and driving is a very dangerous habit, and there are many reasons why it
should be illegal.
Practice: Write a topic sentence for the following paragraph. Be sure it states the main idea.
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_____ Most often, people keep pets for companionship. In fact, many people consider their pet to be
part of the family. They also serve as emotional outlets for the elderly or the childless. In addition to
their value as loving companions, pets serve practical purposes, such as protecting homes, destroying
insects, and even providing transportation. Recently, the benefit of using pets in therapy has been
demonstrated. Finally, some people keep pets for their beauty or, in the case of birds, for their songs.