What is a topic sentence?
A topic sentence is a statement that introduces a single paragraph and gives a general idea of what the paragraph entails. Also known as the focus sentence, it assists in the organization of the paragraph by summing up all the information in the paragraph. Topic sentences introduce the paragraphs and link them to the thesis statement of your paper. A good topic sentence has two main parts namely:
- The Topic: The topic informs your readers what the paragraph covers and connects the paragraph to the thesis statement.
- The Controlling Idea: This is the central idea that a writer develops in a writing. The controlling idea usually reflects a firm position or approach toward the essay’ssubject.
An effective topic sentence is detailed enough to give the reader a good picture of what to expect from the paragraph but general enough not to reveal all the information.
What are some of the purposes of a topic sentence?
- They help make the main idea of a paragraph clear and cohesive
- Plays the role of a mini-thesis statement by making a claim
- Explains the idea of the paragraph
- Provides uniformity for the rest of the sentences in the paragraph
- Connects the paragraph to the main idea of the paper
- Supports all the claims made in the paragraph
- Assists in maintaining the overall flow of the writing by linking paragraphs in a way that makes sense, hence making reading easier.
- Set the tone of the paragraph