1.2: Topic Sentences
- Page ID
- 151199
\( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)
\( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)
\( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)
( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)
\( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)
\( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)
\( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)
\( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)
\( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\)
\( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\)
\( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\)
\( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\)
\( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\)
\( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\)
\( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\)
\( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\)
\( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\)
\( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\)
\( \newcommand{\vectorA}[1]{\vec{#1}} % arrow\)
\( \newcommand{\vectorAt}[1]{\vec{\text{#1}}} % arrow\)
\( \newcommand{\vectorB}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)
\( \newcommand{\vectorC}[1]{\textbf{#1}} \)
\( \newcommand{\vectorD}[1]{\overrightarrow{#1}} \)
\( \newcommand{\vectorDt}[1]{\overrightarrow{\text{#1}}} \)
\( \newcommand{\vectE}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash{\mathbf {#1}}}} \)
\( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \)
\( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \)
Topic sentences
The two parts of a topic sentence are the topic and the main idea (sometimes called the controlling idea). The topic tells the reader what the whole paragraph will be about.
The sentences below are all topic sentences taken from different paragraphs. Highlight the topic and underline the main idea in each one.
A. Global warming is one of the most serious problems facing society today.
B. Of all the academic skills, one of the most important to practice daily is reading.
C. For most people, changing dietary and exercise habits can be very challenging.
D. American students have more educational debt than ever before.
Choose the best topic sentence for this paragraph from the sentences below.
_____________________________________________________. As a dog owner, the child must take care of the animal's daily needs. The dog must be fed and exercised every day. A dog is completely dependent on its owner for all its needs, including the need for good health and a safe environment. Therefore, being responsible for a dog also means taking care of the dog so that it stays healthy. Furthermore, the owner must take responsibility for the safety of the dog and the safety of the people it comes into contact with. If the child forgets any of these duties, or ignores any of the dog's needs, the dog will suffer. This teaches the child that their responsibility to the dog is more important than their desire to play with toys, talk on the phone, or watch TV. This is true not only for the care of a dog, but also for the care of oneself, another person, or one's job. Learning how to look after the health and welfare of a dog leads to learning how to take responsibility for oneself.
A. Dogs are better for young children than toys, phones, or TV.
B. Having a dog helps a child learn how to act responsibly.
C. There are many negative results when ignoring a pet dog.
Write a topic sentence for this paragraph. To write a good topic sentence, read all of the supporting sentences carefully to decide what the writer’s main idea is. Then look carefully at the concluding sentence.
________________________________________________________________________________________________________. Most people go through a lot of planning when they do it. Besides finding financial support, they also need to spend time searching for the right house. The right house should be the right size for the family now and in the future. If a family is planning to grow, finding a house with enough space for all family members is important. Once the right size house is found, the next step is to investigate the neighborhood. Many people omit this step, but it may be the most important step before buying a house. The neighborhood is the place in which people invest, expect to raise children, and plan to live for a long period of time. A bad neighborhood can have a higher crime rate, poor schools, and might be located in areas with a lot of traffic, noise, and air pollution. With careful consideration, buying a house can be one of the best investments a person can make in their future.