If you are a student, then during your scholastic life, you must deal with writing various types of academic papers. The primary aim of writing is to make your readers understand your thoughts and ideas on any topic. Significantly, when writing, in order to present your main points and sub-points of the topic in an understandable format, you should logically organize your ideas. In specific, when it comes to non-fiction writing, you need to create a topic sentence for your introductory paragraph, conclusion paragraph, and all the other supporting paragraphs. Do you know what a topic sentence means? If you have no idea, then this blog is for you. Here, along with examples, you will learn about the definition of a topic sentence, its purpose, and how to write a topic sentence effectively in an essay.
Continue reading to update your knowledge of topic sentence writing.
What is a Topic Sentence?
A topic sentence is an opening sentence in a paragraph. Generally, a topic sentence in the paragraph will give brief information to the readers about what the paragraph is all about. It usually guides the readers by introducing the subject of discussion and also provides a clear structure to a paragraph and the whole piece of writing.
When and Where to Use the Topic Sentence?
As said earlier, you can use the topic sentence in non-fiction writing. Some common forms of non-fiction writing where you can use the topic sentences are
- Essays
- Articles
- Blogs
- Speeches
Usually, the topic sentences will be placed as the opening or first sentence in a paragraph. However, it is not always mandatory to have the topic sentence at the beginning of a paragraph. You can open a paragraph with a hook sentence or statement to grab the reader’s attention and then include a topic sentence.
Topic Sentence vs. Thesis Statement
So, how is a topic sentence different from a thesis statement? A thesis statement is a statement that focuses on the main idea of an essay or research paper. It is usually written at the end of the introductory paragraph to let your readers know about your essay topic and your claim about that topic that will be discussed in the entire essay. However, a topic sentence is used to support the thesis by explaining the topic of each paragraph.
Now, let us have a look at how a topic sentence is different from a thesis statement with an example.
Topic Sentence: Green Tea is enjoyed for its beneficial properties
Thesis Statement: The compounds present in green tea have positive effects on a person’s health while drinking.
Here, the thesis statement emphasizes the compounds present in green tea and its benefits. So, when writing an essay, you need to create multiple paragraphs to discuss all the compounds present in green tea and its benefits to human health. Each paragraph should focus on one compound and the topic sentence for that paragraph should be like “Healthy bioactive compounds in green tea“ or “How green tea helps to lose weight”. Both these topic sentences support the thesis statement.
Learn How to Write a Topic Sentence
Till now, we have learned about the topic sentence and how it is different from the thesis statement. Next, let us move on and learn how to write a topic sentence effectively.
When writing a topic sentence for all the paragraphs in your essay, remember to follow the below-mentioned steps.
Create a thesis statement
Before identifying your topic sentence, first, create a thesis statement that sums up the purpose of your essay or research paper. The thesis statement should clearly explain to your readers the topic of discussion in the paper.
Spot the main points
Next, think about the topic you have selected to write and then sketch an outline covering all the main points supporting the thesis statement. With the outline you have prepared, you can easily decide how to explain your ideas to your readers in multiple paragraphs with an impressive opening sentence.
Draft the topic sentences
After gathering the main points, go ahead and pick an impressive opening sentence or a topic sentence suitable for each paragraph. Create a crispy topic sentence by connecting your main idea with the what and why structure. When writing a topic sentence, you should state what the topic is and why it matters.
What: Green Tea is enjoyed
Why: For the beneficial properties it has
Revise the topic sentences
The topic sentences consist solely of straightforward statements. Make sure to revise the topic sentences in accordance with the content of each paragraph after you have written them.
A thorough explanation should not be provided in your topic sentence. It should merely describe what the reader can anticipate reading that paragraph. If you write your topic sentences clearly and concisely, they will be regarded as good. A topic sentence should have a controlling idea and a topic.
Emphasize and expand
You need to use transition words to include smooth transitions in order to establish a solid connection between each paragraph and present it in a logical manner. You can present your ideas or argument by comparing and contrasting, emphasizing and expanding, or summarizing and anticipating in order to create a logical transition between the paragraphs.
If the paragraph provides additional details or another illustration to better illustrate the same concept, the topic phrase may include terms that suggest emphasis or similarity (for example, furthermore, indeed, in fact, also).
Compare and contrast
The topic phrase might use terms that show difference or conflict if the paragraph compares or introduces opposing material (for example, in contrast, however, yet, on the other hand).
Anticipate
If the topic sentence refers to a different aspect of the same subject, it can summarize the preceding paragraph and hint at the new information that will be presented in this one.
Points To Remember When Writing Topic Sentences
Keep in mind the following guidelines when writing topic sentences.
- Write a topic sentence that is interesting to the readers rather than an obvious statement. As a topic sentence, don’t just use a fact statement. Use creative and innovative means to present your topic sentence.
- Always use compound and complex sentences to strengthen your topic sentence. Coordinating conjunction and a comma can join two separate clauses to form a compound sentence. A comma and subordinating conjunction can join a subordinate clause and an independent clause to form a complex sentence.
- Use transition words like “although,” “even though,” “another,” and so on to present your topic sentence in a logical manner.
Topic Sentence Examples
Here is an example of the topic sentence. You can refer to this and learn how to derive a topic sentence from a thesis statement.
Thesis statement: Spring is the best time of the year because of the more hours of sunshine, warmer climate, and the blooming time of plants.
Topic Sentences:
Paragaraph1: One of the greatest things about spring is that the sun stays out for a longer period and gives us more hours of sunshine every day.
Paragraph 2:More sunshine keeps the weather warm and is also one of the reasons to love spring.
Paragraph 3:The best thing about spring is that it makes everything around us beautiful and lively, especially the fresh flowers, the new grass, and the new leaves on the trees.
Related post: TEEL Structure | Know the Crucial Points to Write Great Assignment
Conclusion
We hope you are now clear about how to write a topic sentence. If you wish to create impressive topic sentences for each paragraph of your essay, then make sure to follow the steps discussed above. In case, you still have confusion on how to coherently structure the paragraphs in the academic papers with the topic sentences, call us immediately.
1. What is an example of a topic sentence?
A good example of a topic sentence in a paragraph on a movie/web series you last watched can be: Last night, I watched Chernobyl with my sister and we were literally shaken by the breathtaking dramatization.
2. What are 3 examples of a topic sentence?
Last night, I watched Chernobyl with my sister and we were literally shaken by the breathtaking dramatization.
I went to the US to pursue my career in marketing and my first day at work was more eventful than I expected.
ABC company’s last 5 years sales performance is just OKAY and its sales strategy needs modification for better results.
3. What are the 4 types of topic sentences?
Last night, I watched Chernobyl with my sister and we were literally shaken by the breathtaking dramatization.
I went to the US to pursue my career in marketing and my first day at work was more eventful than I expected.
ABC company’s last 5 years sales performance is just OKAY and its sales strategy needs modification for better results.
Students are more addicted to Smartphones as other activities fail to interest them,
