Topic Sentence
What is a topic sentence?
The topic sentence, also called a focus sentence, is defined as a sentence that summarizes the idea of the whole paragraph. Although the topic sentence may take different positions in the paragraph, it is usually the first sentence in that paragraph.
The topic sentence summarizes the main idea of the paragraph. It also helps organize supporting details within the paragraph.
Other sentences in the paragraph support the topic sentence by providing more information and details about the topic. These sentences are called supporting sentences.
Example of a topic sentence
In each paragraph below, underline the topic sentence.
| The best trip my family ever took was to New Orleans, Louisiana. We drove there in two days. I didn’t think it would be very interesting, but I was wrong. We saw the Mississippi River, rode a horse carriage in the French Quarter, and visited a cemetery where everyone was buried above the ground. I liked the food best, especially the New Orleans doughnuts called beignets. |
| No one likes to eat with a dirty knife, fork, or spoon. It is important to completely wash all utensils before using them. Clean utensils won’t transmit germs and bacteria. They also are more pleasant to eat with. |
| Many people think poetry is old-fashioned and uninteresting. They don’t realize that every time they hear a song sung, they are hearing poetry in the form of song lyrics. Just like many written poems, many song lyrics use rhythm, rhyme, and literary imagery. It turns out that poetry isn’t old fashioned; it’s as modern as the latest hit song! |
| Growing a garden can be fun, good exercise, and will provide fresh fruits and vegetables for the gardener. It is interesting to watch the seeds pop their heads above the soil for the first time. It is sometimes hard to believe that a little seed can become a large vine or plant in just a few weeks. Planting the seeds and pulling weeds is a good exercise for anyone. Then, after watching the plant grow and produce, the gardener ends up with delicious tomatoes, beans, or other yummy produce from the garden |
All texts are retrieved from K12reader.com
Here are the topic sentences in each paragraph
| The best trip my family ever took was to New Orleans, Louisiana. We drove there in two days. I didn’t think it would be very interesting, but I was wrong. We saw the Mississippi River, rode a horse carriage in the French Quarter, and visited a cemetery where everyone was buried above the ground. I liked the food best, especially the New Orleans doughnuts called beignets. |
| No one likes to eat with a dirty knife, fork, or spoon. It is important to completely wash all utensils before using them. Clean utensils won’t transmit germs and bacteria. They also are more pleasant to eat with. |
| Many people think poetry is old-fashioned and uninteresting. They don’t realize that every time they hear a song sung, they are hearing poetry in the form of song lyrics. Just like many written poems, many song lyrics use rhythm, rhyme, and literary imagery. It turns out that poetry isn’t old fashioned; it’s as modern as the latest hit song! |
| Growing a garden can be fun, good exercise, and will provide fresh fruits and vegetables for the gardener. It is interesting to watch the seeds pop their heads above the soil for the first time. It is sometimes hard to believe that a little seed can become a large vine or plant in just a few weeks. Planting the seeds and pulling weeds is a good exercise for anyone. Then, after watching the plant grow and produce, the gardener ends up with delicious tomatoes, beans, or other yummy produce from the garden |
Comments
